Storage tank
Large tanks tend to be vertical cylindrical, with flat bottoms, and a fixed frangible or floating roof, or to have rounded corners transition from the vertical side wall to bottom profile, in order to withstand hydraulic hydrostatic pressure.
[4] The most effective and common corrosion control techniques for steel in contact with soil is cathodic protection.
In addition to their design and application, maintenance and inspection of storage tanks play a critical role in ensuring their safety and efficiency.
Regular inspection is essential for identifying potential issues such as corrosion, leaks, structural weaknesses, and compliance with environmental regulations.
[5] Several environmental regulations apply to the design and operation of storage tanks, often depending on the nature of the fluid contained within.
Since most liquids can spill or seep through even the smallest opening, special consideration must be made for their safe and secure handling.
One form of seasonal thermal energy storage (STES) is the use of large surface water tanks that are insulated and then covered with earth berms to enable storage of seasonal solar-thermal heat that is collected primarily in the summer for all-year heating.
The thermal storage medium is gravel and water in large, shallow, lined pits that are covered with insulation, soil and grass.
[7] Ice and slush tanks are used for short-term storage of cold for use in air conditioning, allowing refrigeration equipment to be run at night when electric power is less expensive, yet provide cooling during hot daytime hours.
[8] Bulk milk cooling tanks are usually made of stainless steel and are constructed to sanitary standards.
Septic systems are commonly used to treat wastewater from homes and small businesses in rural and suburban areas.
They come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and are used for static storage and transport of both raw materials and finished chemical products.
Other parameters to be taken in consideration are heat, cold, vacuum, pressure, exothermic reactivity and the inherent aggressive nature of the chemical (acids, caustic, etc.).
A large tank had only been filled eight times when it failed, and the resulting wave of molasses killed 21 people in the vicinity.
The Boston molasses disaster was caused by poor design and construction, with a wall too thin to bear repeated loads from the contents.
The owner of the tank, United States Industrial Alcohol Company, paid out $300,000 (nearly $4 million in 2012 ) in compensation to the victims or their relatives.
If new welding operations are started, then sparks can easily ignite the contents, with disastrous results for the welders.
The problem is similar to that of empty bunkers on tanker ships, which are now required to use an inert gas blanket to prevent explosive atmospheres building up from residues.
