Refineries and Other types of tank

The tank used for a particular fluid is selected based on the flash point of that substance.Generally in refineries, especially for liquid fuels, there are fixed roof tanks and floating roof tanks.

1.Fixed roof tanks are suitable for liquids with very high flash points (such as fuel oil, water, asphalt, etc.).Cone tops, domes and umbrella tops are usually used.These are insulated to prevent clogging with certain materials, where the heat is provided by the steam coils inside the tank.Dome tanks are suitable for storing tanks at a pressure slightly above atmospheric pressure (such as used oil).

2.Floating roof tanks are roughly divided into external floating roof tanks (usually called floating roof tanks: FR Tanks) and internal floating roof tanks (IFR Tanks).IFR tanks are used for low flash point liquids (eg ATF, MS. gasoline, ethanol).These tanks are nothing more than cone top tanks with a floating roof inside that moves up and down with the liquid level.This floating roof collects vapors from low-flashpoint fuels.Floating roofs are supported by legs or cables that support them.FR tanks do not have a fixed roof (the top is open), only a floating roof.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

Atmospheric

Atmospheric tanks are containers that hold liquids under atmospheric pressure.The main design codes for welded atmospheric tanks are API 650 and API 620. API 653 is used to analyze in-service storage tanks. In Europe, the design code is EN14015, using load cases from Eurocode 3 (EN 1993) Part 4-2.

High pressure

For liquefied gases such as hydrogen or chlorine, or compressed gases such as compressed natural gas or MAPP, the tank must be able to withstand the enormous pressure sometimes exerted by the contents.These tanks may be referred to as cylinders and, as pressure vessels, are sometimes excluded from the "tank" category.

Storage tank

One form of seasonal thermal energy storage (STES) is the use of large surface tanks that are insulated and then covered with earthen banks in order to harness solar heat collected mainly in summer for year-round heating.A related technology is already widely used in Danish district heating systems.The heat storage medium is gravel and water in large shallow lined pits covered with insulation, soil and grass.Ice tanks and ice water tanks are used for short-term cooling in air conditioners, allowing the refrigeration unit to run at night when electricity costs are lower, but provide cooling during the hotter day.

Milk tank

A bulk milk cooling tank is a storage tank located in a dairy farm's milkhouse used for cooling and holding fluid milk at a low temperature until it can be picked up by a milk hauler.Since milk leaves the udder at approximately 35 °C, milk tanks are needed to rapidly cool fresh raw milk to a storage temperature of 4 °C to 6 °C, thereby slowing growth of microorganisms.Bulk milk cooling tanks are usually made of stainless steel and are constructed to sanitary standards.It must be cleaned after each milk collection.The milk cooling tank may be the property of the farmer, or may be rented by the farmer from a dairy plant.

Septic tank

A septic tank is part of a small sewage system, often called a septic system. Septic systems are commonly used to treat wastewater from rural and suburban homes and small businesses.It consists of the tank and septic tank drainage area. Wastewater enters the tank, solids settle and scum floats in the tank.Anaerobic digestion occurs on settled solids, reducing the volume of the solids. Water released from the system is normally absorbed by the drainage area without any further treatment.

Mobile "storage" tanks

While not strictly a "storage tank," mobile storage tanks share many of the same characteristics as storage tanks.In addition, they must be designed to handle heavy sloshing loads and the risk of collisions or other accidents.Some of these include ocean-going tankers and liquefied natural gas carriers; rail tank cars; and road and road-going tank cars. Also includes water storage tanks, which are used to store toilet waste in RVs, boats and planes.