The fine line between success and

Hakan Altinoz, Jotun Performance Coatings,

Norway, talks through a number of important points to consider when selecting tank linings.

Choosing the right tank lining might not be the first consideration for many processing and storage sites. But with market conditions continually changing in the industry, it is essential that businesses keep ahead of the latest trends and adapt to suit them.

As part of this, the tanks at a facility must be flexible enough to cope with holding a wide range of products to allow the facility to maximise its profitability. The only thing that remains constant is the need to maintain the quality of the stored products/chemicals.

Selecting the correct tank lining can support all of this, as well as save time and money. This article will outline seven of the most important points that should be considered when selecting a tank lining.

Know the tank’s properties and prepare accordingly

What is the tank made of? Is it carbon steel? If so, it will likely need a lining to protect both the tank and the contents. If it is stainless steel, a lining may not be necessary.

Once the decision has been made that the tank requires a lining, preparation is critical to ensure that it is applied properly. Quality application means the tank lining remains in good condition for as long as possible, increasing periods between maintenance.

Blasting and cleaning will likely be required and humidity control is essential for a quality finish. Dehumidification (DH) equipment is often a good idea because it creates a suitable atmosphere for blasting, vacuuming, and coating. Where DH equipment is not used, it is important to control humidity and ensure good ventilation through other means.

What will be stored in the tank?

Will the tank store acidic products? Or amine-based liquids? Either of these can affect the tank lining, as can non-acidic materials like crude oil and hydrocarbon-based fuels. It is important to choose a lining that will protect the contents as well as the tank. If not, there is a high risk of contamination of the stored product.

Jotun has extensive chemical resistance lists for its tank linings, identifying a wide range of stored chemicals, along with storage temperatures and concentrations.

What temperatures will the tank have to handle?

Different products need to be stored at different temperatures. Crude oil, for instance, normally needs to be stored at temperatures of 60˚C or higher to ensure that the stored product remains liquid and can be pumped out of the tank. When storing this product in a lined tank, it is essential that the lining used can withstand the stored product at the required temperature.

Jotun’s Tankguard Plus, a novolac epoxy tank coating, has good resistance to high-temperature products including most sour crude oils and a wide range of chemicals and solvents.

Future-proofing a tank

A range of products and chemicals will likely be stored in a tank over its lifetime. To help with maintenance and ensure it remains operational, it is important to consider lining the tank with a coating that can deal with different products – now and in the years ahead.

A lining that can cope with the most extreme use is beneficial for a tank. While the initial investment might be a little higher, long-term savings can be achieved as it is not necessary to re-coat a tank should the product that it stores change. Making an evaluation as to likely production changes in the future will help to obtain the best protection for the tank and get it up and running again as quickly as possible.

How often will the tank be inspected?

For regular inspections, a lining with a good finish, that is easy to clean and able to withstand tasks such as degassing for tanks holding crude oil is recommended. Where regular inspections are not required, the lining must provide the right level of protection to ensure that it does not need to be regularly checked.

How changing markets affect the chemical processing facility business

It remains difficult to predict with certainty the demand for future storage needs, but it is possible to future-proof tanks by ensuring they can handle a range of products and chemicals that can deliver significant benefits down the line.

Future-proofing the inside of tanks with a coating that has a wide chemical resistance is a relatively low-cost investment when compared to other aspects of tank lining such as scaffolding, blasting, ventilation or dehumidification. It can make commercial sense to upgrade the capabilities of the coating at relatively little cost to ensure peace of mind and confidence in the asset’s ability to meet future performance challenges from unspecified materials.

Different processes and products require varying temperatures. A chemical will typically be stored at a given temperature, so the tank must be able to handle the storage of a variety of chemicals at the temperatures required.

Adequate tank protection will help to ensure that product quality is maintained in the most efficient and profitable manner, and can avoid fears of lining suitability. A versatile product is an effective solution for delivering performance across a range of storage temperatures.

Knowing which tank lining to choose can be difficult. It is important to talk to a coatings manufacturer about which tank linings are best for which chemicals at which temperatures and concentrations. Coatings manufacturer's should also be able to answer a range of questions on back-to-service time, application complexity, and performance to ensure the system suits the specific requirements of the facility.

How quickly can the tank be returned to service?

This is a key consideration for maintenance managers. Time is money and a tank needs to be back up and running as quickly as possible during any shutdown, whether planned or unplanned. Even if a facility has spare tanks, this still means reduced flexibility and potentially operating at a lower capacity than necessary.

Products such as Tankguard SF, which allows wet-on-wet application, can help. Its film thickness versatility means that it can easily be applied in a two-coat wet-on-wet system, with a 20 – 30 minute gap before the next coat can be applied, which results in a safe, sound and solid solution.

Get the right support throughout a project

Choosing the right tank lining is an important and complex business. It is also important to choose a coating provider that can offer support before, during and after the job. When selecting a supplier, consider whether they also invest in rigorous product testing, have a vast amount of experience in tank linings, and a list of satisfied customers.