Raw material bulk storage & blending systems

Hennecke storage and blending solutions are available in a range of types, sizes and modular configurations. We offer cost-optimized, standardized bulk storage concepts for the storage of polyols, isocyanates, pentane, and flame retardants as well as individual solutions optimized for your demands.

Bulk storage systems for larger volumes of chemicals include unloading stations for materials delivered by tanker truck or rail car, storage tanks, transfer pumps and all required controls, valves, instrumentation, safety devices and piping.

Raw material storage systems sized to customer needs

Stable storage and handling of polyol, isocyanate, blowing agents and additives ultimately lead to higher quality products. Hennecke’s state-of-the-art equipment and technology for intermediate and bulk storage solutions are designed to maintain raw materials at the optimum processing condition.

The following standard features are included in our tank farms for the polyurethane industry:

Isocyanate pumps with magnetic coupling
Continuous level measurement with radar
Overfill protection (supermax)
Ring line from storage tanks to production

Bulk unload stations with pump or pressure transfer

Bulk unload stations are designed for safe, efficient unloading of liquid raw materials delivered by tanker truck or rail car.

The delivery tanker begins unloading chemicals by connecting to pipe couplings and valves mounted in an unload station box. For high viscosity chemicals or longer distances, unload pumps move the chemical from delivery tanker to the bulk storage tank. For short distances and low viscosity materials, a pressure transfer method may be used. A blanket of dry air or nitrogen pressurizes the delivery tanker to push the chemical from tanker to the bulk storage tank. For very high viscosities, a combination of pressure superposition and pumping may also be necessary.

Transfer pumps and temperature control

Chemicals used in polyurethane processing are sensitive to temperature and flow fluctuations. Pumps, equipped with variable speed drives, are selected for the type and viscosity of chemical being transferred from storage tanks to blending or metering systems. Tempering devices, such as heat exchangers, temperature control units and chillers, in a closed cooling system ensure appropriate conditioning of primary components.

Preassembled pump skid

Specialized bulk systems for flammable materials

Hennecke experts have the know-how for safe processing of the eco-friendly blowing agent pentane. Because pentane can create an explosive atmosphere at certain gas concentrations our Pentane Process Technology (PPT) comprises a catalogue of primary and secondary safety measures to prevent emergence of explosive mixes right from the start. Our years of global experience with these systems means we can offer you a suitable concept that complies with national and international directives as well as local regulations and requirements.

The pentane safety system contains:

Gas warning sensors
Grounding monitoring
Permanent technically tight connections
Flame arrester
Overflow valves

While pentane is mainly stored above ground in the USA, we naturally also offer underground storage tanks, which is the preferred solution for our European customers. The dome shafts can be supplied in either a walk-on or even drive-over design. With the underground system, the storage tank is filled without a pump, using gravity.

Aboveground storage of pentane

Survive & Succeed, Reliable solutions in a volatile raw material market

Hennecke has been supplying and educating customers of the advantages of Bulk Chemical Storage and Blending Systems. Even under the best of circumstances, raw materials present an almost constant concern and quite frankly, headache, for manufacturers. When combining the positive impact of the increase in global demand with many other unpredictable and unforeseen negative factors the end result is a situation that has often been observed in recent years: chemical shortages and extreme price hikes. Unfortunately, this will happen time and time again.

Concept studies

If you are unsure about the optimal design of your tank farm, Hennecke also offers engineering services as part of the preliminary planning of a project.

Here’s how we help:

Precise P&ID creation tailored to your automation and safety requirements
3D layout studies to determine space needs, ideal tank sizes, and pipe routing
3D scanning for brownfield sites - minimizing errors, enabling prefabrication, and saving time and costs during implementation

CASE STUDY: PIR Panel Bulk System

Hennecke regularly supplies complete bulk chemical storage systems in conjunction with complete plants producing PIR insulation panels for commercial roofing applications. Due to the very high production volume of these lamination systems, these plants require multiple Poly and Iso bulk tanks along with bulk tanks for additives such as pentane, surfactant, flame retardant, and other catalysts. Hennecke’s know-how on the process and on the equipment enables us to work with the customer and recommend the appropriate bulk system solution for their specific production requirements. One such system recently supplied by Hennecke includes 14 total tanks! The system was installed and commissioned and is now running seamlessly for the customer and is helping drive customer profitability with his process.

More products

In addition to our individualized tank farm solutions, we also offer largely standardized and highly efficient systems for blending processes and IBC management.