A tank container is an intermodal container for the transport of liquids, gases and powders in Bulk.
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The tank container is built to the ISO Standard, making it suitable for different modes of transportation. In tank containers both hazardous and non-hazardous products can be transported.
A tank container is a vessel of stainless steel surrounded by an insultation and protective layer of usually Polyurethane and aluminum. The vessel is in the middle of a steel frame. The frame is made according to ISO standards and is 20 feet (6.06 m) long, 8 feet (2.44 meters) wide and 8 or 8.6 feet (2.44 to 2.60 m) high. The contents of the tank ranges from 14,000 liters to 27,000 liters. There are both small and large tank containers, these usually have a size different from the ISO sizes. The trade organization ITCO estimated that in 2009 around 250,000 tank containers were in use, which did around 675,000 loads. [1]
The concept for the tank container is designed by Bob Fossey, [2] an engineer who worked for Willimas Fairclough in London. In 1964 he made a swap body tank for combined transport by truck and train, this tank was not yet constructed according to ISO standards. In 1966, the first commercial production occured and one year later the first tank container according to ISO standards was developed. The first mass-produced tank containers were purchased by Trafpak, a part of Pakhoed. Early 70's tank container evolved to its current form and the production was also well underway. Where production in the early days, especially in Europe took place in 2010 is especially in China and South Africa produced.
A tank container can be loaded and unloaded from the top and the bottom. On a standard tank container there is a manhole and at least one valve on the top, is a valve at the bottom. Loading and unloading is done by connecting hoses of the loading and unloading facility to the valve of the tank. The loading or unloaded is often done using a Pump. Depending on the installation and regulation of certain products it is determined how the tank container should be loaded or unloaded.