Chemical tank

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BASF Chemical Plant Portsmouth Site in the West Norfolk area of Portsmouth, Virginia. The plant is served by the Commonwealth Railway.

Chemical tanks are storage containers for chemicals. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and are used for static storage, mixing, and transport of both raw materials and finished chemical products.

Chemicals require containers that are not only made of a material resistant to that chemical, but are able to operate within the given mechanical parameters. Compatibility is the most crucial component of chemical tank design. Chemical containers may be impacted by; heat, cold, vacuum or pressure and the aggressive nature of the chemical.

There are short term and long term goals associated with the engineering and specification of the correct material for a chemical container. While economic considerations are a factor, the design of chemical storage containers and how they may impact the environment is crucial.

Typically, there will be a chemical profile report know as a "MSDS" (Material Safety Data Sheet) which is provided by most chemical manufacturers or distributors and should be the starting point for chemical tank design.

Chemical tanks will often be designed in conjunction with the chemical manufacturer, insuring compatibility.

[edit] External links

[edit] Standards

NACE - National Association of Corrosion Engineers http://www.nace.org/nace/index.asp
NACD - National Association of Chemical Distributors http://www.nacd.com/
AICHE - American Institute Of Chemical Engineers http://www.aiche.org/index.aspx
ASME - American Society of Mechanical Engineers http://www.asme.org/