The Things You Need to Know About Process Tanks

Process tanks and storage tanks are industrial containers which can be configured in many ways, depending upon orientation, wall configuration, dimension and placement. They can be used for a wide range of applications such as blending or mixing, metering, and short term or long term storage. It’s the type of material used for construction that will determine the suitable application of the tank.

The most significant factors when specifying process tanks are their dimension and capacity.

Capacity is measured as the internal volume of space available for storing the material.
 

Tank orientation can either be horizontal or vertical. The horizontal units are usually mounted on saddles or stands and may be equipped with access ports on top or bottom. On the other hand, vertical process tanks have access ports on bottom and stand vertically. They can be placed either underground or above ground, which depends on their construction, while portable tanks are movable using wheels or other devices. Likewise, wall construction can also affect how the tank will be used for. Applications that require higher pressure call for double wall tanks while single wall tanks are applicable for various uses.

Moreover, process tanks can be made from various materials. Some may have special linings for special processes, including glass lined or special coatings. Specifically, they can be made from a variety of materials as follows.

Steel: this material offers a variety of physical properties which depends on its composition. Usually, it is a rolled sheet steel that is used for tank construction. Other variations include stainless less which can resist corrosion and galvanized steel which surface is treated with zinc for further protection.

FRP or Fiberglass Reinforced Polyester: this material is very lightweight but is strong with excellent corrosion resistance properties. It is made from glass fibers embedded in a resin, which can be formed into different shapes.

Titanium: same as FRP, process tanks made of titanium is lightweight and very strong. They are preferred where extreme temperatures and stresses are expected in an application.