Special-purpose container
A special-purpose railway container is a container used for the transport of certain goods
delivery, and in accordance with this has a special structure.
According to maximum gross weight special-purpose containers are divided into:
- Low-capacity container (max gross weight less than 2.5 tons);
- Medium-capacity special-purpose container (from 2.5 tons to 10 tons);
- High-capacity special-purpose railway container (max gross weight over 10.0 tons);
By design features special-purpose containers are divided into:
- those that match the parameters with general-purpose containers;
- those that do not coincide in the design and parameters with general-purpose containers;
- Including hard, soft and combined ones.
Structural difference of special-purpose containers from general-purpose containers is that
within the structural framing there is a tank, bunker or other container located upon placement of
the freight.
Tank containers (tanks) are designed to carry liquids and liquefied gases. A tank-container
is a container that consists of a frame (frame elements), tanks, complete with hardware and other
devices with unloading as by gravity or under pressure.
Convenience and safety of cargo
Tank containers make it significantly easy to transport - they are very convenient for loading and
transportation. Basic transport module is a 20-foot container (20’x 8’x8’6"), that is why the tank
container can be transported by road, rail and water transport. Use of tank containers ensures the
safety and security of transportation.
Products recommended for transportation and storage in tank-containers:
Food products – alcohol-containing liquids (beer, wine, brandy, vodka), edible oils, food additives,
concentrated fruit juices, mineral water and milk. Industrial products - oil and petroleum, oil and
lubricants, liquefied gases, chemicals, paint, salt solutions, and fatty acids.
Reliability and quality
Tank containers are made from materials that are resistant to the effects of transported
products and do not affect them, and come with a layer of insulation and stem-heating system,
which greatly facilitates unloading in winter.
Tank container
The purpose of the presentation is focused on the description of tank containers (tanks), including
evaluation of the applicability of such equipment for the transport and storage of various kinds of
liquid products.
General design of tank containers (tanks):
Tank containers are used for transporting liquids by road, rail or sea, as well as for storage of food
production.
The container consists of two main parts:
- frame
- The tank (tank).
Design of the frame:
The size and mechanical limitations of tank containers design, as well as of more traditional
containers for general purpose (dry), are based on regulations of GOST and ISO and have the
following dimensions:
- Length 20 '(20 feet = 6.06 m)
- Width 8 "(8 feet = 2.44 m)
- Height 8'6'' (8 feet 6 inches = 2.59 m)
The different frames of the design are used in the production of tank-containers (tanks). They vary
from manufacturer to manufacturer. All tanks, however, have the same dimensions.
Materials of tank container:
The vast majority of tank containers are made of stainless steel 316 Ti (sometimes 304 Ti).
Capacities vary depending on the specifics, necessary requirements, but most of the tanks available
in the secondary market vary by volume ranges from 20,000 to 21,000 liters.
All tanks for the transport of chemicals that can cause pressure have pressure relief valves (safety
valves) set for different values depending on the product transported.
The mechanical design of the tank depends on the transported products for which it is intended.
Products and classifications:
Products are classified by the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code)
produced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, and the tanks are
manufactured with the mechanical specifications of products.
Products are classified in accordance with the specification in the different categories, ranging from
IMO0 (food) to IMO7 (cryogenic gases). This presentation considers tanks of categories IMO0,
IMO1 and IMO2 that are designed for liquid chemicals and IMO5, which is used for the transport
of gases.
Category IMO0:
Tanks of category IMO0 are used exclusively for the transport of non-hazardous products, such as
food. These tanks are in contrast to all other categories are not considered as intended for high
pressure, because its construction will not sustain any internal pressure that may occur during
transportation of the product. These tanks are used primarily for the transportation of water, milk,
wine, oil.
Category IMO1:
IMO1 category includes tanks for transport of "hazardous chemical" products that have higher
working pressure. Because of the danger of these products tanks are designed in stricter rules of
production to ensure transport safety. These types of tanks are necessary for the transportation of oil
derivative products such as gasoline, aviation gasoline.
Category IMO2
IMO2 category includes tanks for transport of "not hazardous chemicals" with a lower working
pressure, but more heated products. These types of tanks are needed to transport oil derivatives:
petrol / diesel, lubricants, kerosene.
IMO5 Category
IMO5 category includes tanks for transportation of liquefied or compressed gas, which
typically has an operating pressure over 7 bar. Variety of gas transported in the tanks is numerous,
and there is no "standard" specifications for these tanks on the operating pressure. View of the tank
will depend on the characteristics of the product carried. In all cases, the exact nature of the product
for transportation must be known to determine the required operating pressure. These tanks are used
for products such as butane, propane, liquefied petroleum gas.
Assignment of tanks for transportation:
IMO0 tanks are to be used exclusively for the transport of foodstuffs. The use of such tanks for
chemicals makes it impossible for use to transport food because of the high likelihood of food
contamination. Suitability of tanks for transportation of food products is determined by a chemical
analysis of air contained in the empty tank.
It should be noted that the tanks for IMO1 products can equally be safe to use IMO2 products, but
not vice versa. Only in case of an emergency after a thorough cleaning of stainless steel tanks, it is
probable to avoid food contamination.
IMO5 tanks used for gas should not be used for any other type of product.
Serviceableness of tanks for inspection is determined during tests which are conducted by
authorized organizations, in accordance with international regulations (IMDG) rules. It should be
noted that IMO0 tanks do not require any regulatory approval for the transport because of harmless
nature of the product.
These tests usually consist of:
- Leak test or hydraulic test (to test the integrity of the tank)
- Pressure test (to test the mechanical strength of the tank-container)
- Measurement of the tank wall thickness (to verify compliance with the IMDG Code)
- Inspection of the high pressure valve
- External examination of the design
- External examination of labeling (identification of the tank)
After all test "certificate" on the type of goods for carriage by IMO category is issued.
This certification is mandatory for international traffic, and the tanks must undergo periodic tests
every 2½ or 5 years. IMO certification is not required for domestic traffic, which is usually less
strictly regulated by regulations or storage rules of IMDGC (International Maritime Dangerous
Goods Code) / ICDGR (International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road).
Operations, loading and unloading:
Tanks operate as classic containers for transportation. They can be put on each other for easy
storage, whether full or empty.
Loading and unloading of goods is the same as for the road-tankers:
- Loading: through a manhole or designated hole in the top of the body frame
- Unloading: by gravity (natural flow) or pumping through the bottom outlet valve
Bottom discharge valves are standard for the transportation of liquid products and typically are 3''
(3 inches).
Designation IMO0 type
IMO1 type
IMO2 type
IMO5 type
Product
type
Water, wine, oil, Petrol / Kerosene Petrol / Kerosene
milk
Liquefied
gas,
butane, propane
Capacity
minimum 20m3
minimum 20m3
minimum 20m3
minimum 13m3
Tare
over 3.5 tons
over 3.5 tons
over 3.5 tons
over 5.5 tons
Max. weight Over 24 до 30 Over 24 до 30 Over 24 до 30 tons Over 24 до 30 tons
tons
tons
Load
approx. 20.5 tons approx. 20.5 tons approx. 20.5 tons
approx. 18.5 tons
Max.
pressure
0.6 Bar
4.5 Bar
2.62 Bar
16.89 Bar
Operating
pressure
0 Bar
3.0 Bar
1.75 Bar
11.24 Bar
Discharge
bottom 3''
bottom 3''
bottom 3''
bottom or top 3''
Refrigerator containers
Refrigerator containers are used to transport and store goods requiring special temperature
conditions. Refrigerator containers can be used as a mobile warehouse, which combines the quality
of the refrigerating chamber and heated warehouse.
What is the refrigerator container?
It is a container that can support predetermined temperature range from +25 º C to -25 º C inside its
insulated case.
Why use a refrigerator container?
The container is used for storage of products requiring a certain temperature. It can also be used as a
heated warehouse or refrigerating chamber as well as for the storage of goods in transit.
Types of refrigerator containers:
Ref. containers are divided into types by two main parameters - the size and type of refrigeration
unit.
Refrigerator containers by size:
Ref. Containers can be 20 and 40 feet in length. Moreover there are ref. containers with increased
cubic capacity - HiCube (OOG).
20 foot container:
20-foot refrigerator containers
Height: 2.6 m, overall
Length: 6 m
Internal volume: 28 cubic meters.
40 foot container:
40-foot refrigerator containers
Height: 2.6 m, overall
Length: 12 m
Internal volume: 59.81 cubic meters
40 foot HiCube container:
40-foot high cubic capacity - HiCube
Height: 2.9 m, oversized
Length: 12 m
Internal volume: 68.03 cubic meters