Ball valve for Austria’s most important oil tank farm
Discover how KLINGER's valves and gaskets ensure smooth petroleum emergency supply operations at the ELG tank farm in Austria.
In the event of an emergency, the Republic of Austria stores petroleum products in the storage tanks of the ELG Group. When such an event occurs, KLINGER's gaskets and valves ensure that the emergency supply runs smoothly.
This is documented in the Petroleum Stockholding Act 2012: Austria obligates itself to maintain oil reserves in case of an import supply collapse. The republic is expectd to sustain itself for up to 90 days with these compulsory emergency reserves. The “central stockpiling office”, Erdöl-Lagergesellschaft m.b.H. (ELG), operates tank and handling facilities in Linz, Lannach and Vienna-Lobau, and is responsible for ensuring the reserves are filled. As the backbone of Austria’s energy supply, ELG has been working with KLINGER Gebetsroither for years.
Contacts mentioned in the article:
Markus Fröller, Technical Sales manager at KLINGER Gebetsroither
Strategic reserves of petroleum products are held at the Erdöl Lagergesellschaft tank farm to ensure a 90-day supply for Austria.
Fact box
Did you know …
… that valves from KLINGER in the ELG tank farm are consistently digitized? This allows important parameters to be monitored remotely.
... that KHI ball valves with their special sealing system from KLINGER do their job in the ELG tank farm during and well beyond the warranty period?
... that KLINGER also offers fire-safe valves for special applications?
... that approximately 2.7 million tons of crude oil are held in the ELG tank farms in Linz, Lannach and Vienna-Lobau for the Republic of Austria’s emergency supply?
... that Austria, as a member state of the European Union, is obligated to maintain minimum stocks in the form of mandatory emergency reserves to ensure energy supply?
... that the release of 200 tons of petroleum as part of the emergency reserve in autumn 2022 went smoothly?
Fire-safe double block & bleed valves
“We use KLINGER valves that have been reliable in service for 40 years,” says Otmar Hochreiter, site manager at the Linz depot. Approximately 200 ball valves bear the “KLINGER” label, and at the customer’s request, the gaskets used are also produced by KLINGER Gebetsroither. The high safety requirements come with operating a storage tank of this size also affect material requirements: to guarantee the maximum tightness, KHI ball valves in Double Block & Bleed design with a drain ball valve are used. Valves can thus be tested for leaks under pressure while still installed. They meet the fire safety requirements according to EN ISO 10497 (testing of valves – fire type-testing requirements) and are equipped with a pneumatic actuator that is placed in a safe position by a spring drive during power outages.
„We are subject to the strictest safety and environmental regulations, and the technology prevents any form of oil leakage.“
Otmar Hochreiter, site manager at the Linz depot of ELG (Erdöl-Lagergesellschaft m.b.H.)
Markus Fröller, who has been with KLINGER Gebetsroither for 30 years and spent the last 15 of those as a technical consultant in the field, knows everything there is to know about the valves. For him, the cooperation with ELG is “a success story for both companies.” The partnership has also survived the use of valves from other manufacturers that were not satisfactory for ELG: “It was anything but pleasant when a valve started leaking within a year and we discovered a drip loss under a ball valve. Such things should not happen with a new valve, so we went back to KLINGER products because they just work,” says Hochreiter. As with many things, this experience also had a silver lining: the partnership with KLINGER was renewed and intensified, and leaks became a thing of the past.
Both filling and emptying the tank farm are energy-intensive processes.
Saving energy
ELG is also thinking about the future and pursuing alternative ways to save energy. Both oil storage and retrieval are energy-intensive processes, so pumps with more economical motors are being considered. “We save energy even in the smallest areas, starting with the lighting and heating of our buildings,” says Hochreiter. When asked about the post-fossil future, he explains:
„ELG could also be called an energy storage company. The stockpiling and storage of pellets as an alternative source of energy can certainly be seen as realistic. There are also many other approaches, but the end of oil is still a long way off.“
Otmar Hochreiter, site manager at the Linz depot of ELG (Erdöl-Lagergesellschaft m.b.H.)
Markus Fröller and Otmar Hochreiter inspect a valve at the ELG tank farm in Linz
Fact box
Energy reserves worldwide
The member states of the IEA (International Energy Agency) are required to maintain an oil reserve that guarantees a secure supply for at least 90 days. The capacities of the individual countries can vary greatly. While in 2022 the US reserves lasted for up to 2,437 days, the IEA countries of the Asia-Pacific region only provided for an average of 182 days. In Europe, the average supply security is around 87 days, with Austria having a mandatory emergency reserve to sustain itself for up to 90 days. It is worth noting that these reserves are intended for use in the event of a crisis or an interruption in oil supply rather than for regular consumption.
How does Austria's emergency reserve capacity compare to other countries? As a member state of the European Union, Austria is obligated to maintain minimum stocks in the form of mandatory emergency reserves to ensure energy supply. In comparison to other countries, Austria's 90-day supply falls close to the European average of 87 days. In contrast, the United States had reserves lasting up to 2,437 days in 2022, while the Asia-Pacific region's IEA countries provided an average of 182 days.
How does KLINGER contribute to the operation and safety of the ELG tank farm? KLINGER provides gaskets and valves, including fire-safe double block & bleed valves, to ensure smooth operation and prevent oil leakage at the ELG tank farm. The valves meet the fire safety requirements according to EN ISO 10497 and are equipped with a pneumatic actuator to ensure a safe position during power outages. KLINGER's products have been reliable for over 40 years and have played a crucial role in maintaining the safety and efficiency of the facility.
Which valves are installed in the ELG tank farm? KHI ball valves in Double Block & Bleed design with a drain ball valve are used.
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