Cylindrical fuel storage tank with fixed roof and internal floating roof. Capacity approx 2,000,000 litres

Storage tanks are containers that hold liquids, compressed gases (gas tank; or in U.S.A "pressure vessel", which is not typically labeled or regulated as a storage tank) or mediums used for the short- or long-term storage of heat or cold.^[1] The term can be used for reservoirs (artificial lakes and ponds), and for manufactured containers. The usage of the word tank for reservoirs is uncommon in American English but is moderately common in British English. In other countries, the term tends to refer only to artificial containers.

In the USA, storage tanks operate under no (or very little) pressure, distinguishing them from pressure vessels. Storage tanks are often cylindrical in shape, perpendicular to the ground with flat bottoms, and a fixed frangible or floating roof. There are usually many environmental regulations applied to the design and operation of storage tanks, often depending on the nature of the fluid contained within. Above-ground storage tanks (ASTs) differ from underground storage tanks (USTs) in the kinds of regulations that are applied. Above ground storage tanks can be used to hold materials such as petroleum, waste matter, water, chemicals, and other hazardous materials, all while meeting strict industry standards and regulations.^[2]

Reservoirs can be covered, in which case they may be called covered or underground storage tanks or reservoirs. Covered water tanks are common in urban areas.

Storage tanks are available in many shapes: vertical and horizontal cylindrical; open top and closed top; flat bottom, cone bottom, slope bottom and dish bottom. Large tanks tend to be vertical cylindrical, or to have rounded corners transition from vertical side wall to bottom profile, to easier withstand hydraulic hydrostatically induced pressure of contained liquid. Most container tanks for handling liquids during transportation are designed to handle varying degrees of pressure.

Capacity table for horizontal cylindrical storage tank ^[3]

In addition to their design and application, the maintenance and inspection of storage tanks play a critical role in ensuring their safety and efficiency. Regular inspections are essential for identifying potential issues such as corrosion, leaks, structural weaknesses, and compliance with environmental regulations. These inspections can vary in frequency and detail depending on the type of tank, the material stored, and the regulatory requirements applicable in the location where the tank is used. For instance, tanks storing hazardous materials may require more frequent and thorough inspections compared to those used for non-hazardous materials. Maintenance protocols, including cleaning, repairs, and preventative measures, are equally important to prolong the lifespan of the tanks and prevent environmental contamination or accidents. Advanced technologies, such as remote sensing, ultrasonic testing, and robotic inspection tools, like ROV drones, are increasingly being employed to enhance the effectiveness and safety of these inspection processes. Understanding and implementing appropriate inspection and maintenance schedules is paramount for operators of storage tanks to ensure operational reliability and adherence to safety standards.^[4]

In order for volume measurements from the tank to be used, it shall have a capacity table created using appropriate standards.^[3] Each row of capacity table contains fill level value and corresponding volume value (and other related data).

A large storage tank is sometimes mounted on a lorry (truck) or on an articulated lorry trailer, which is then called a tanker.

In the U.S., air emissions, which correspond to losses for usable liquid commodities and/or salable products, are typically required to undergo air quality permitting under the Federal Clean Air Act. Quantification of potential emissions for permitting purposes is most often accomplished by applying emission equations published in Chapter 7.1 of the U.S. EPA's AP-42: Compilation of Air Emission Factors.

Special features

Spherical gas tank farm in the petroleum refinery in Karlsruhe MiRO

Since most liquids can spill, evaporate, or seep through even the smallest opening, special consideration must be made for their safe and secure handling. This usually involves building a bunding, or containment dike, around the tank, so that any leakage may be safely contained.

Some storage tanks need a floating roof in addition to or in lieu of the fixed roof and structure. This floating roof rises and falls with the liquid level inside the tank, thereby decreasing the vapor space above the liquid level. Floating roofs are considered a safety requirement as well as a pollution prevention measure for many industries including petroleum refining.

In the United States, metal tanks in contact with soil and containing petroleum products must be protected from corrosion to prevent escape of the product into the environment.^[5] The most effective and common corrosion control techniques for steel in contact with soil is cathodic protection. Outside the United States and at some locations in the United States, elevated tank support foundations with a sand bitumen mix finish are often used. These type of foundations keep the tank bottom plates free from water, therefore preventing corrosion.

For refineries

Tanks for a particular fluid are chosen according to the flash-point of that substance. Generally in refineries and especially for liquid fuels, there are fixed roof tanks, and floating roof tanks.

1. Fixed roof tanks are meant for liquids with very high flash points, (e.g. fuel oil, water, bitumen etc.) Cone roofs, dome roofs and umbrella roofs are usual. These are insulated to prevent the clogging of certain materials, wherein the heat is provided by steam coils within the tanks. Dome roof tanks are meant for tanks having slightly higher storage pressure than that of atmosphere (e.g. slop oil).
2. Floating roof tanks are broadly divided into external floating roof tanks (usually called floating roof tanks: FR Tanks) and internal floating roof types (IFR Tanks).

IFR tanks are used for liquids with low flash-points (e.g., ATF, MS. gasoline, ethanol). These tanks are nothing but cone roof tanks with a floating roof inside which travels up and down along with the liquid level. This floating roof traps the vapor from low flash-point fuels. Floating roofs are supported with legs or cables on which they rest. FR tanks do not have a fixed roof (it is open in the top) and has a floating roof only. Medium flash point liquids such as naphtha, kerosene, diesel, and crude oil are stored in these tanks.

One of the best types found in mining areas is the open roof type tank, usually to store ore slurries. These are the easiest storage tanks to build.

Other classifications which can be made for storage tanks are based upon their location in a refinery:

• COT- crude oil tank-ages
• PIT- product and intermediate storage tankages
• DISPATCH- dispatch area tankages
• UTILITIES- tanks made in the power plant area, for storage water etc.
• OSBL tanks- the first 3 types come under out side battery limit tankages
• ISBL tanks- these are usually mini tanks which are found in the production units of a refinery (as neutralisation tanks, water tanks etc.)

As flash-points of fuels go very low the tanks are usually spherical (known as spheres), to store LPG, hydrogen, hexane, nitrogen, oxygen etc.

Other types of tank

High pressure

Horizontal, cylindrical shell, elliptical heads carbon steel pressure vessel

Main article: Gas cylinder

In the case of a liquefied gas such as hydrogen or chlorine, or a compressed gas such as compressed natural gas or MAPP, the storage tank must be made to withstand the sometimes immense pressures exerted by the contents. These tanks may be called cylinders and, being pressure vessels, are sometimes excluded from the class of "tanks".

Materials of construction

While steel and concrete remain one of the most popular choices for tanks, glass-reinforced plastic, thermoplastic and polyethylene tanks are increasing in popularity. They offer lower build costs and greater chemical resistance, especially for storage of speciality chemicals. There are several relevant standards, such as British Standard 4994 (1989), DVS (German Welding Institute) 2205, and ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) RTP-1^[10] which give advice on wall thickness, quality control procedures, testing procedures, accreditation, fabrication and design criteria of final product.

Tank failures

There have been numerous catastrophic failures of storage tanks, one of the most notorious being that which occurred at Boston Massachusetts USA on January 14, 1919. The 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 tank had not been tested before use by filling with water, and was also poorly riveted. 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.

There have been many other accidents caused by tanks since then, often caused by faulty welding or by sub-standard steel. New inventions have at least fixed some of the more common issues around the tanks' seal.^[11][12] However, storage tanks also present another problem, surprisingly, when empty. If they have been used to hold oil or oil products such as gasoline, the atmosphere in the tanks may be highly explosive as the space fills with hydrocarbons. 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.

Images

• 
  Oxygen and MAPP gas cylinders
• 
  Milk cooling tank
• 
  Fuel tanks
• 
  Septic tank
• 
  Tanker truck
• 
  Several large tanks at an airport. For scale, note concrete highway barriers.
• 
  Underground fuel storage tank for service station

Etymology

The word "tank" originally meant "artificial lake" and came from India, perhaps via Portuguese tanque. It may have some connection with:

• Some Indian language words similar to "tak" or "tank" and meaning "reservoir for water". In Sanskrit a holding pond or reservoir is called a tadaka. Gujarati talao means "man-made lake". These uses of the word were incorporated into the English language.^[13]
• The Arabic verb istanqa`a اِسْتَنْقَعَ = "it [i.e. some liquid] collected and became stagnant".

See also

• Aquarium – Transparent tank of water for fish and water-dwelling species, also known as a "fish tank"
• Ballast tank – Compartment for holding liquid ballast
• Chemical tank – Storage containers for chemicals
• Drop tank – External tanks used to carry extra fuel, in aviation
• Dunk tank – Attraction with the goal of dropping a target into a tank of water
• Fuel tank – Safe container for flammable fluids, e.g., for a vehicle or oil heater
• Irrigation tank – Part of tank irrigation, in India, an artificial lake or reservoir of any size
• Isolation tank – Pitch-black, light-proof, soundproof environment heated to the same temperature as the skin
• Rainwater tank – container used to collect rainwaterPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
• Rotating tank – Fluid dynamics, used for fluid mechanics experiments
• Scuba tank – High pressure compressed gas cylinder used to store and supply breathing gas for diving a container which holds a supply of air for breathing underwater
• Stock tank – drinking water for animals such as cattle or horsesPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback, for watering livestock
• Temple tank – Wells or reservoirs built as part of the temple complex near Indian temples, in India, a well or reservoir built as part of a temple complex
• Underground storage tank – Storage tank that is partially or fully underground
• Water tank – Container for storing water

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Storage tanks.