Question

1. How do you define the underground storage tank and major causes of tank failure?

Answer 1

To store and carry petro-chemical substances and certain hazardous substances above the ground level has many drawbacks, as in case of failure it may affect the ground soil, underground water, and the environment surrounding it. The Underground storage tank concept came in chapter many years back when the failure of ground tank occurs huge losses. A tank containing minimum of 10% under the ground is called underground storage tank.

There are multiple causes of tank failure as of -

Tank location- location of tank in which soil it has been fitted can cause failure if the soil is easily displaceable.

Capacity - Overfilling than its capacity can cause a failure of tank.

Age - Everything has its particular time period to serve for, after that time it may cause failure.

Construction - the type of storage tank and its connecting pipes can cause failure due to inappropriate assembling and installing line, there are multiple type of tanks design as circular tank, hydraulic tank, cylendrical tank and every has its own functional type.

Fluid storage - Fluid type,as it must not store at a place more than a particular time period, otherwise it may cost corrosion or reaction with the material of tank or many others.

corrosion - corrosion of tank due to presence of lequid

Improper installation of tank - building tank storage area error

Fuel delivery error- method of delivering fuel to the tank may cause failure.

Customer error- the delivery end may not able to handle the pressure or flow which may cause blocking and then cause failure of tank

Natural disasters - Earthquake, tsunami, heavy rainfall, which may cause tank failure.