Different Types of Fuel Storage Systems

January 28, 2016

Fuel demands are the single biggest concern on our small globe. Petrol, gasoline to our American visitors, storage vessels are situated underground in every major street in every city, with each container pumping enough hydrocarbon-based life blood to keep 1.2 Billion cars on the move. Gas and liquid petroleum reservoirs pool the rest of our fuels into vast fuel storage systems that fill either overland or subterranean containment facilities. And let's not forget the biofuels and renewable energy sources that are currently on the horizon, for they are destined to be the new rising stars as fossil fuels come to their inevitable end.

Ethanol Storage

On questioning the function of the storage unit, its base design classes the product as suitable for its role in the field. Ethanol systems, for example, employ a series of blend labels. This fuel mixture standardization guide instructs vessel designers on what materials to avoid and what filters to install. If you're not aware of this fuel source, ethanol is derived from corn, sugar, and other farmed sources.

The Above Ground or Subterranean Question

It's a classic engineering question, the choice to fit fuel storage systems on the surface or several metres below ground. The above ground option invokes the use of a metal infrastructure and the associated climbing aids that arise as a result of installing vessels above the ground. Conversely, an entirely different set of guidelines rules the below-ground environment. The soil possesses alkaline or acidic properties, meaning some form of corrosion protection has to be installed.

Specific Examples for Fuel Storage Systems

Double-walled vessels cope with the briny air of a marina while filling the fuel tank of a ship. Aviation fuel is kept in zinc-free and copper-free vessels, with all system fittings avoiding these and other reactant metals. The highly combustible energy source is kept contaminant-free within expertly welded vessels, reinforced tanks that sport ballistic-proof extras. Next comes the utilitarian services of boiler fuel tanks and vessels that supply the fluid energy for electric generators. Such storage assemblies usually adopt a more decentralized appearance, with pipes penetrating thick walls so as to isolate the flammable material from the flame of the boiler and the spark of the generator.

Different storage solutions impact the design of the vessel and its associated pipes and valves. The stored gas or liquid comes in at a set pressure or exhibits caustic properties, negating certain alloys. Meanwhile, weathering influences and the decision to adopt either an above ground or underground configuration will have every bit as much of an effect on the system as the contained gas or liquid.

Contact Details

Fusion - Weld Engineering Pty Ltd
ABN 98 068 987619

1865 Frankston Flinders Road,
Hastings, VIC 3915

Ph: (03) 5909 8218

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