Bolted tanks offer an attractive alternative for your business

Large-capacity storage tanks are critical to many businesses and organizations, including manufacturing facilities, food processors, municipal water systems, wastewater treatment facilities, power plants, the oil and gas industry and fire protection systems. They are often used to store potable water for municipal water systems, chemicals for manufacturing, fire suppressants, food, drilling fluids, dry goods or fuel, and they must be watertight, easy to maintain and repair to perform well.

 

Traditionally, large tanks are either made of steel, welded together and finished in the field, or made of concrete and poured in place at the facility. Both types of tanks perform well, but both have some serious drawbacks. Steel tanks that are welded on site are difficult to finish properly on site, leading to an increased potential for corrosion, and the welds must be thoroughly inspected after completion to ensure the tank does not leak. Concrete tanks are very heavy, require a lot of time to cure, and need to be constantly resealed to prevent leaks.

 

A third option is a bolted tank, which uses laser or die-cut steel plates that are bolted into place in the field. Bolted tanks provide the strength of steel, are quick to install and easy to maintain or repair.

 

Bolted tanks offer several distinct advantages over concrete or field-welded steel tanks.

1. Pre-finished

Unlike field welded or concrete tanks that must be sealed and coated in the field, bolted tanks use pre-finished sections. Each section is fabricated in an environmentally controlled manufacturing facility where the metal is formed and welded, and then coated with a surface coating before corrosion occurs. The bare metal is coated with a silica and zirconium liquid sealer that inhibits corrosion and promotes adhesion of the final surface coating, an electrostatically sprayed and thermally cured epoxy powder coating to ensure a durable, corrosion-free finish. The finishing process involves less contamination and waste because the metal fabrication and finishing work is done at the fabrication plant.

 

Welded steel and concrete tanks are completed in the field, which often involves spraying sealers that can have environmental consequences if not applied properly, and the process can easily be delayed by inclement weather such as rain or wind, which can inhibit the curing of the sealer or lead to overspray. In some municipalities, there may be restrictions on how or when sealants can be applied, which can lead to delays or high compliance costs. No on-site finishing is required, and bolted tanks are more convenient and environmentally friendly.