Lipp have developed a stainless-steel diaphragm roof for covering large-scale steel and reinforced concrete storage containers. The legislative requirements for meeting clean air emissions targets exist for safe regulation of containers with problematical content; either from a toxicity or odour control perspective. The self-supporting, light-weight, diaphragm design is made of stainless steel, with high mechanical strength and resistance to ageing, which enables containers with diameters of up to 100m diameter to be spanned. The sheet material simultaneously assumes a supporting shape that closes off the internal space and can withstand snow loads and high winds.
It is corrosion-resistant, gas and vapour diffusion resistant and is not susceptible to UV radiation or damage. The lightweight design of the diaphragm is excellently suited to covering volatile substances. As the design of the completed stainless steel diaphragm is both strong and highly flexible, the tank cover arrives on site as a large roll on a transporter. The cover is then fitted and sealed to the existing tank with a bolted and sealed ring which provides a water and gas tight seal at atmospheric pressure. Once installed on to the tank the diaphragm roof can then be subsequently fitted with various valve and pressure relief systems.
