Steel: The Metal Of Choice For Pressure Tank Fabrication
by Enzo Vincent
In today's petroleum industry, blended fuels are the norm. Raised awareness regarding the dangers of emissions, the push to become less reliant on crude oil -- these are the instigators that invented synthetic fuel additives and bio-fuels. Everyone is looking for a better, more sustainable way to stay warm, to power motorized equipment, and to manufacture petroleum-based products, and synthetics and bio-fuels are the answer. The question remains -- how does your company store and transport these mixed fuels safely? Try steel -- a metal that's supported the oil industry for decades. Only steel has the unique properties that are required to safely contain nearly any mix of oil, ethanol, and contaminants. If you're looking for customized pressure vessel fabrication to house and transport mixed fuels, the reasons to choose steel are many:
Steel is Strong and Durable
Stainless steel has a minimum life of around 15 to 20 years. But it has the capability, under the right conditions, of lasting much longer -- including 80 years or more. When you choose stainless steel for your pressure tank fabrication, you add longevity to your project. Unlike plastic tanks that are reinforced using fiberglass, steel won't crack, blister, or peel when it's used to store ethanol. The way steel is forged also has a direct bearing on its strength and durability, and unique forging processes create steel that's suitable for any project.
Steel Can be Forged Into Nearly Any Shape or Design
One of steel's biggest claims to fame is its flexibility. Steel is a metal that can be forged into a shape to fit nearly any need without compromising its strength. When your project calls for a pressurized tank that's not standard size or that requires a unique shape to fit into a non-traditional space, steel is the answer. This metal can be hot-, warm-, or cold-forged depending upon its intended use and the unique characteristics that are desired. Cold-forged steel is the strongest, while hot-forged steel has the most constant tensile strength.
Steel is Recyclable
A highly sustainable metal, steel is 100 percent recyclable. This means it can be cleaned, melted down, and reforged over and over again without any loss in quality. When you're looking for a sustainable material that leaves a small carbon footprint, think steel.
Steel is Nearly Impervious to Degradation or Softening Over Time
Fiberglass-reinforced plastic fuel tanks are steel's major competitor when it comes to pressure tank fabrication. But increasing research shows that these types of tanks are far inferior to steel when used to house bio-fuels such as ethanol. These tanks degrade over time because the ethanol content becomes more concentrated the longer it's in storage. Contaminants such as water also play a role in the corrosion of FRP pressure tanks over time.
Steel suffers no such ill effects. No studies exist that prove steel is degraded by ethanol storage. In fact, steel is so impervious to corrosion that it plays an important role in seawater desalinization for drinking water. Even salt, one of the most corrosive minerals on Earth, has a natural enemy in steel.
So when it comes time to approach a fabrication company like BWS Fabrication Inc about manufacturing customized pressure tanks to house and transport your bio-fuels, ask about the benefits of steel. Highly recommended in the oil industry, as well as readily available, steel tanks are easy to find, and this is one metal that's up to the challenge of bio-fuel storage. These blended fuel alternatives are the ones that will power the future, and if you're to remain a top player in the game, learning how best to store and transport them is key.
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About a year ago, one of my warehouse employees got smashed between an indoor crane and the wall. Although he escaped with minor injuries, the incident acted as a huge wake up call for my entire staff. We realized that we needed to do our part to reduce workplace accidents, and so we started evaluating our industrial and manufacturing equipment. After taking an inventory of previous accidents, we were able to create a list of protocols that helped things tremendously. This blog is all about reducing workplace accidents by improving your back room. You never know, a few simple changes could save an employee's life.