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Ian Wade, Belzona Polymerics, UK, outlines the benefits of protecting storage tanks with sprayable, polymeric coatings.
slow-down in bulk liquid usage is putting increasing pressure on tank farm assets to either maintain, replace, or expand their current storage tank capacity. In these unprecedented times, maintenance and inspection of tank integrity may be overlooked or ignored. This is especially true for newer tanks, as these should be constructed with the addition of a corrosion protection lining. However, this is not always the case due to costs or the expectance that any corrosion allowance will be minimal.
There is an added pressure on the turnaround times of any planned scheduled maintenance or inspection intervals. These also may be delayed, resulting in reactive measures (such as weld repairs or the introduction of a lining) which can cause irreversible deterioration of the substate with through-wall defects and loss of containment, ultimately landing the asset owners with hefty costs and fines. If planned maintenance does go ahead, it is important to identify the following key areas to sustain the fit-for-purpose use of storage tanks.
39 Summer 2021 3
