Introduction to Storage Tanks

Storage tanks containing organic liquids, non-organic liquids, vapors and

can be found in many industries. Most storage tanks are designed and built

to the American Petroleum Institute API-650 specification.

These tanks can have different sizes, ranging from 2 to 60 m diameter or

more. They are generally installed inside containment basins in order to

contain spills in case of rupture of the tank.

Industries where storage tanks can be found are: petroleum producing and

refining, petrochemical and chemical manufacturing, bulk storage and

transfer operations, other industries consuming or producing liquids and

vapors.

Types of storage tanks: Basically there are eight types of tanks used to store

liquids:

1. Fixed-roof tanks: Of currently used tank designs, the fixed-roof tank is the

least expensive to construct and is generally considered the minimum

acceptable equipment for storing liquids.

2. External floating roof tanks: A typical external floating roof tank consists

of an open-topped cylindrical steel shell equipped with a roof that floats on

the surface of the stored liquid, rising and falling with the liquid level.

3. Internal floating roof tanks: That tanks have both, a permanent fixed roof

and a floating roof inside

 4. Domed external floating roof tanks:

5. Horizontal tanks: Horizontal tanks are constructed for both above-ground

and underground service and generally small storage tanks.

6. LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) tanks: A liquefied natural gas storage tank

or LNG storage tank is a specialized type of storage tank used for the storage

of Liquefied Natural Gas. LNG storage tanks can be found in ground, above

ground or in LNG carriers.

Another storage tank types:

A Bolted steel storage tank:
is composed of rolled steel tank panels that are connected together via bolted
connections to form a vertical cylinder used for the storage of liquid and dry bulk
materials.

panel sizes ranging from 4-5 ft in width, by 9-10 ft in length, and available in
diameters ranging from 12 ft-300 ft diameter for liquid storage applications.

Welded storage tank:

This standard specification is used for low-pressure oil storage tanks of various sizes
and capacities for internal pressures not more than 15 psi also it can check the quality
at the lab.

Cone bottom tanks:

This type of tanks keep corrosion at minimum value and also easy to remove water
and keep the tank clean.