Technology Zone

Fluid Storage

Fluid storage holds liquids and gases safely between process steps. This zone covers tanks, vessels, containers, tank equipment and the monitoring and safety systems around them.

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Fluid Storage in the Equipment Guide

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Frequently asked about fluid storage

Liquid storage

Storage means a semi-permanent or permanent holding or leaving of material. It does not include a temporary accumulation of a material used in or a waste generated or resulting from authorized activities, such as servicing, maintenance, or repair. Storage tanks and aluminum covers are ideally suited for different industrial liquid applications.

Bulk liquid storage provides a vital interface between sea, rail, road, and pipeline logistics for various substances, including chemicals, transport, and heating fuels. Storing liquid waste safely helps protect the environment. Businesses need to store and manage liquids the right way because of the following reasons:

  • a liquid leak or spill can damage the environment and harm people's health
  • a hazardous liquid leak or spill can cause lost work time clean-up costs and damage your business's reputation
  • EPA can take legal action over leaks and spills
Liquid storage silos

Silos are large structures that are used to separate and store different types of bulk materials, such as grain, coal, cement, carbon, and more different bulk goods. It generally consists of a vertical cylinder and a sloping. A liquid silo, on the other, is used for the storage of several liquids, such as slurry, clean, or wastewater. Silos for liquids are designed for chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries for long-term and short-term storage of soft and hard water, solutions, and different chemically non-aggressive mediums. Their storage is possible at any time of the year in regions with a warm, moderately cold, and cold climate.

Liquid storage tanks

There are loads of storage tanks worldwide for operations, including grease, oil, diesel, and other industrial fluids used in industrial processes. Most of these tanks use a filter device known as a breather that must be maintained and monitored.

Maintaining breather filters on industrial fluid tanks that contain industrial liquid is essential to ensuring fluid cleanliness. Failure to do so can introduce airborne contaminants and moisture that will affect the operation of the machines that rely on the fluids. It is estimated that 80% of mechanical failure in the hydraulic system is contamination.

To ensure that these breathers are functioning and protecting the fluids in the tank, they must be checked regularly by inspecting the filter. Depending on the type and location of the tanks, workers may have to climb up or squeeze under challenging areas, creating unnecessary safety hazards.

Storage terminals for Bulk Liquids

Liquid terminals and above-ground storage tank facilities connect with and provide services to the various modes of liquid transportation, including ships, rail cars, barges, tank trucks, and pipelines.

Liquid bulk terminals handle cargoes in liquid and gaseous forms, such as crude oil, oil products, LNG, and LPG. These products are shipped by oil tankers, chemical tankers, parcel tankers, and gas carriers.

  • The oil tanker fleet consists of various ship sizes. It has been particularly prone to economies of scale considering the global demand for petroleum, one of the most extensively traded commodities.
  • LNG carriers are tank ships designed for transporting bulk liquefied natural gas. LNG carriers can be grouped into different sizes depending on the trade route concerned and service a market with rapid growth.
  • Chemical and parcel tankers are designed to carry an assortment of liquids, as chemicals, or different grades of a liquid, like petroleum, at one time.
The importance of bulk liquid storage

Bulk liquid storage companies provide a vital interface between sea, road, rail, and pipeline logistics for various substances, including chemicals, transport, and heating fuels. They play a critical role in the supply chain required to import and export goods. In principle, any liquid product transported in bulk can be stored in a bulk liquid terminal. Terminal operating companies could store a single product or multiple products and provide supplementary services such as blending, packaging, drum filling, water treatment and analysis, warehousing, and bonded alcohol storage.

Why is the location important?

Terminal locations are strategic and aim to satisfy the market's needs and broader supply chain. They may also be placed to capitalize on product patents. For certain products, for example, transport fuels, terminals may be considered Critical National Infrastructure by Governments due to their importance in providing essential services to a country. When considering the location of a terminal, it is necessary to consider access to logistical connections.

Why are regular inspections of storage tanks, pressure equipment, and boilers important?

Regular inspections of storage tanks, pressure equipment, and boilers are important because they help owners comply with laws and regulations, ensuring safe operation and preventing serious injuries or fatalities. Additionally, these inspections can reveal quality issues that can be addressed to improve production and product quality.

What is the difference between this Technology Zone and the Equipment Guide?

The zone is the editorial side: news, case studies, videos, newsletter editions and field experts. The Equipment Guide is the directory side: equipment types and the manufacturers that build them. This page links to its Equipment Guide category and back.

How do I find a manufacturer of fluid storage equipment?

Open the Equipment Guide category for this zone, pick an equipment type and open a manufacturer profile. Partner profiles carry direct contact details; other listings link to the company website.

Can I ask a technical question before I buy?

Yes. Ask the Expert puts your question to a field expert in this zone. The answer comes back to you by e-mail; when we publish it, other readers benefit too.

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