Customer story
GETEC: ‘With the new storage tanks, our steam supply is now secure’
Gpi delivers two 250 m³ stainless steel tanks to GETEC PARK.EMMEN
Peter Nillesen, Manager Utility Operations at GETEC, explains how the request came about:
“We have a combined heat and power plant on site for electricity generation. We use the residual heat from this process and add demineralized water to produce high-pressure steam. Our existing demineralized water storage tank had reached the end of its service life, so we started looking for a more robust and better-insulated solution.”
Choosing Gpi
Peter explains the decision to choose Gpi: “We requested a quote from Gpi. The process went very smoothly and moved along quickly. Gpi offered exactly what we needed—well-insulated tanks that also comply with our ISO 50001 energy management standard. Gpi was also able to deliver on a short timeline, which ultimately tipped the balance in their favor.”
The project
GETEC commissioned Gpi for the engineering and delivery of two stainless steel storage tanks, each with a capacity of 250 m³. The previous tank had a capacity of 500 m³.
“We deliberately opted for two smaller tanks instead of one large one, so we always have a backup. If one needs to go offline, we can continue operating with the other. That ensures the continuity of our steam supply,” Peter explains. The tanks are made from stainless steel 304L and stand 9.3 meters tall, including the top railing.
The tanks are used to mix 100 °C condensate from the steam production process with demineralized water, resulting in a blend with a temperature between 60 and 70 °C. To maintain this temperature, the tanks are equipped with insulation.
"Gpi offered exactly what we needed and was able to deliver quickly."
Production, transport, and installation
To meet the desired delivery schedule, it was decided to carry out the project in collaboration with Gpi Tanks XL, a division of Gpi that specializes in the construction of large storage tanks at an external production site. This allowed for a fast production start and ensured the project could be completed on time. After production, the tanks were successfully delivered to GETEC PARK.EMMEN.
Installation took place at night due to daytime congestion on site. Peter is enthusiastic about how the tanks arrived on location: “A detailed lifting plan was drawn up to hoist the tanks over existing installations. It was quite an operation, but everything went flawlessly. That requires real craftsmanship.”
"Communication was good, everything was clear and properly followed up. As far as I’m concerned, definitely worth repeating."
The collaboration
Peter is also positive about the collaboration with Gpi: “The process went smoothly, without a hitch. Communication was clear, everything was well-coordinated and properly followed up. From my point of view, definitely worth repeating.”
The result
Peter reflects positively on the new stainless steel tanks:
“The tanks are performing exactly as expected. The demineralized water is mixing perfectly with the condensate and remains stable in temperature, which is essential for reliable steam production.”
With the installation of the new storage tanks, GETEC now has a reliable and future-proof solution for demineralized water storage for steam production. “The tanks are critical for the industrial park. Without them, things would be very difficult here. We now have a robust solution and, by using two tanks instead of one, the system is more flexible and secure.”
