Chemical storage poses a serious threat to the environment, including health and safety, and therefore maintaining it properly becomes an important task. Chemical storage tanks are critical infrastructure which is now being used in a range of industries to store chemicals. These industries include petroleum, chemicals, food processing, and pharmaceuticals. The FRP chemical tanks designed plays a key role in safely storing harsh and hazardous chemicals and liquids, ensuring that there is no threat to the environment and workplace. However, installing a chemical storage tank in your manufacturing space requires careful planning and considerations. The tank designed to store the chemical must follow all the safety standards and other operational requirements. So, in this guide, we will learn some key points that need to be kept in mind before a chemical storage tank installation.
Understand the Type of Chemicals to be Stored
The very first step in designing and installing a chemical storage tank is by understanding what type of chemical you will be storing. There are a range of chemicals used in industries, and each chemical can vary widely in their scientific and physical properties, like stainless steel, coated steel, or fiberglass-reinforced plastic. There are chemicals that are highly flammable, temperature sensitive, and highly reactive. So, for the investors, choosing the right tank as per the chemical properties is important to prevent any kind of mishappening or accident.
Material Selection and Compatibility
When it comes to storing chemicals that can be hazardous to the environment, compatibility and material selection is important. This is because the constructed material in which the chemical will be stored impacts the longevity, safety, and performance of the system. Therefore, it is important to go throw a deep research on FRP chemical tanks. For instance, you can also contact a PP+FRP chemical storage tank manufacturer and supplier, like Arvind Corrotech. For quick knowledge, some common materials used in chemical storage tanks include stainless steel, carbon steel, fiberglass, and polyethylene. On one hand, where carbon steel is suitable for non-corrosive or mildly corrosive chemicals, stainless steels are used for its resistance to corrosion. In the same way, polyethylene (HDPE) is good for storing chemicals like bases and acids. To control the effect of temperature, fiberglass FRP tanks are the best.
Tank Size and Capacity
After reading about the tank material and properties, it is important to consider PP+FRP tank’s size and capacity. It will be defined by the volume of chemicals you are planning to store. While looking for a chemical storage tank, consider investing in one that has enough capacity to store the required volume without exceeding the safety features and operational limits. However, along with this, extra large tanks can lead to unnecessary space usage, inefficiencies, and higher cost maintenance. If there are chances that the chemical storage needs might grow in future, plan for potential scalability and expansion. Last but not the least, keep operational needs of the tank in mind as this will influence the total space requirement.
Regulatory Compliance
Investing in a chemical storage tank is a small expense, and as it stores harsh chemicals, it is subject to various federal, state, and local regulations. These regulations are important as they are designed to ensure the safety of the environment, workers, and the public. These regulatory compliance is essential to avoid serious legal issues, penalties, or shutdowns. Some important key regulatory bodies include Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). All these regulatory bodies check the whole operation before installation and ensure that the tank meets all the guidelines that are related to fire safety, structural design, hazardous chemical handling, and capacity limits.
Ventilation and Pressure Relief
To ensure safe operations, especially when dealing with reactive and volatile substances, proper pressure relief and ventilation is important for the chemical storage tanks. An excellent and well designed ventilation system can help in preventing the buildup of hazardous vapors and gasses. This is important because it can lead to toxic exposure and explosions. Vapor control and pressure relief valves are important to release harmful vapors and increased pressure. In addition to this, investors should also consider industry standards and other local safety codes.
Secondary Containment Systems
This is a critical safety feature which is used in chemical storage tanks. It refers to the installation of a backup containment system which captures spills, any unseen leaks, and overflow of the primary storage tank. Secondary containment systems include liner systems, dikes or berms, and catch basins or sumps. In addition, as per experts and PP+FRP tank manufacturers, secondary containment should be designed to hold at least 110% of the tank’s capacity, this will ensure that any spill can be contained without causing any environmental damage.
Tank Inspection and Maintenance
Doesn’t matter whether your tank is from the best manufacturer or has all the safety standards, it always requires inspection and regular maintenance. This helps in identifying issues before it converts into big accidents or failures. As a smart investor, always go for corrosion checks, this inspects if the tank has signs of degradation or corrosion, especially in areas that come in direct contact with the chemical. In addition to this, go for leak detection systems. Leak detection systems use monitoring devices to detect leaks with the help of sensors that monitor temperature and pressure. In addition to this, over the period of time, it is important to flush and clean the tank. This helps in removing any residues that can degrade the quality and material of the tank, and can lead to chemical reactions. We can say that a complete inspection program should take place to meet regulatory requirements to ensure safety and longevity.
Foundation and Tank Placement
For the long-term and safe operation of a chemical storage tank, proper foundation design is important. In addition, tank placement is important as it ensures stability and prevents sinking or shifting of the tank. So, to ensure that the foundation is strong and can handle the size and weight of the tank, check the soil condition and make sure that it’s stable enough to prevent uneven settling. In addition to this, make sure that the tank is stored in an area that minimizes the risk in case of spills and leaks. But it is also easily accessible for maintenance and inspection. Along with this, avoid placing the tank near water sources, poor drainage areas, or high-traffic areas. You can also ask the chemical tank manufacturer to use concrete pads as it distributes the weight of the tank evenly, which prevents chemical leaks, and spills.
Careful attention, regulatory compliance, and operational consideration is important while installing a chemical storage tank. This is definitely a complex process but by understanding all the details mentioned above, you can ensure that everything is running smoothly and effectively. Furthermore, plan for long-term decommissioning and maintenance as it will help you protect your investment and will minimize environmental risks.
