How Storage Tank Insulation Can Help Save On Maintenance Cost In Fuel Refineries

The majority of today’s machines are powered by oil and gas. Fuel refineries play a critical role in producing these products and, therefore, in keeping several industries operating smoothly. But for refinery facilities to perform their job well and for a long time, you have to invest in adequate storage tank insulation.

Insulation helps maintain the ideal temperature inside a tank. If your tank hits a higher temperature than usual, the fuel it holds will evaporate more quickly. That means less product quantity and reduced profit. On the other hand, if your temperature gets too low (e.g., during winter), the liquid inside it can freeze and your tank can crack.

In the long run, storage tank insulation can save you on maintenance costs, primarily because it can keep your tank at a consistent temperature. It also does so in the following ways:

Prevents corrosion and rust

Insulating coatings create a barrier that hinders corrosive materials from coming into contact with your substrates. However, you have to be careful about your choice of coating.

If you rely on conventional ones, they can trap water, oxygen, and other corrosive elements and give birth to corrosion under insulation (CUI). Your substrates will rust, and your tanks will undergo premature wear and tear.

Ultimately, the fuel that they contain will also be contaminated. As these coatings also remain firmly glued to your surfaces despite being exposed to high temperatures, you can ensure that you’ll enjoy their anti-CUI properties for a long time.

Withstands extreme weather conditions. Is your facility located in humid and typhoon-prone conditions? Or does your area get too hot and dry during the dog days of summer? If so, you must pay extra attention to the coating you’ll apply to your tanks and terminals.

As mentioned, your tank and fuel can be affected by weather conditions. Insulating coatings act as a thermal barrier that prevents the outdoor condition from impacting what’s inside your storage solutions. They also get to protect the very structural integrity of your tanks. No matter the season, you can minimize damage and lessen the chance of having your tanks repaired.

The innate durability of the coatings also means that you don’t have to deal with insulation breakdowns after major weather disturbances.

Helps Extend service life. CUI or even regular corrosion can be damaging to your fuel containers. You’d have to shell out money on detection and repair. And if they’re beyond repair, you have to spend for their replacement. These expenses come on top of the potential profit you’ll lose because of the downtime. By equipping your tanks with proper insulation, you can prevent these costly consequences from happening. You can maximize the lifespan of your tanks.

Throughout the lifetime of your tanks, you can also protect your personnel. They won’t have to be exposed to overly hot (or cold) surfaces because of the thermal protection that storage tank insulation provides. Reducing workplace accidents and injuries means bigger savings in the long run.

TIME BUSINESS NEWS