Storage tanks play an essential role in industries such as oil and gasoline, water management, and chemical processing. That role is simple: to house a key liquid or gasoline safely, while ensuring its integrity, and keeping the surrounding community and environment safe as well. Understanding the classification of tanks and their uses is crucial. This article provides an overview of the three primary types of tanks—pressure, atmospheric, and vacuum—used in various industries, highlighting their differences and applications.
What Are the Three Types of Tanks?
When exploring tank classifications, the three main types include pressure tanks, atmospheric tanks, and vacuum tanks. Depending on operational and environmental requirements, each type serves specific needs.
- Pressure Tanks: Designed to store gases or liquids under pressure (higher than atmospheric pressure), pressure tanks are essential for industrial processes requiring compressed substances, like oil and gasoline.
- Atmospheric Tanks: These tanks are mainly used to store liquids like water or oil at or near atmospheric pressure (non-pressurized).
- Vacuum Tanks: Designed for substances lower than atmospheric pressure, vacuum tanks are used in specialized applications, such as waste collection and certain types of chemical processing.
What Are the Three Types of Storage Tanks?
Storage tanks can be further classified based on their design and purpose:
- Aboveground Storage Tanks (ASTs): Used for visible, easy-to-access storage solutions, often for fuel, chemicals, or water. These tanks are easier to inspect and maintain.
- Underground Storage Tanks (USTs): Ideal for space-saving needs, commonly used for petroleum products. USTs minimize environmental risk by being below ground, but are also heavily regulated to prevent leaks that could contaminate soil or water.
- Vertical and Horizontal (Bullet) Tanks: Designed for specific storage capacities and suitable for locations with space constraints.
What Are the Different Types of Tanks?
A comprehensive understanding of tank types includes their usage in oil and gasoline, water management, and industrial processes:
- Plastic Storage Tanks: Lightweight and resistant to corrosion, plastic storage tanks are a preferred choice for chemicals and potable water storage. That’s because they’re lightweight, durable and resistant to many chemicals.
- Steel Storage Tanks: Durable and capable of handling extreme temperatures, steel storage tanks are among the most commonly used in industrial applications. They are ideal for fuel and oil storage.
- Fiberglass-Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Tanks: Rust- and corrosion-resistant, FRP tanks are suitable for underground applications. Often used for water treatment or chemical processing, their lightweight construction makes them easier to install than steel.
What Are the Three Types of Water Storage Tanks?
Water storage tanks are critical for municipal, industrial, and residential applications. There are three primary types of tanks which include:
- Cylindrical Tanks: Designed for maximum water capacity in limited spaces, cylindrical tanks can be either horizontal or vertical in nature. Vertical orientation is more popular for water storage as it optimizes pressure distribution.
- Rectangular Tanks: Ideal for modular installations and ease of transport, rectangular tanks are highly efficient in their use of space—especially in square or rectangular areas. They can be placed close to walls and corners.
- Elevated Tanks: Used for creating pressure in water distribution systems, the tank is high above ground level, providing pressure through gravity.
What Are the Different Types of Fuel Storage Tanks?
Fuel storage tanks must be designed to safely contain flammable liquids like oil and gasoline. Common types include:
- Fixed-Roof Tanks: With a permanently attached roof, these tanks are cost-effective solutions for storing non-volatile fuels as they also minimize vapor loss.
- Floating-Roof Tanks: Used for volatile liquids, floating-roof tanks feature a roof that rises and falls with the level of the liquid within to prevent vapor accumulation and minimize evaporation losses.
- Underground Storage Tanks (USTs): Secure and space-efficient, USTs are ideal storage tank solutions for gas stations or storing other hazardous materials. They protect stored materials from environmental exposure.
Understanding the types of oil storage tanks in addition to how many types of tanks in oil and gas industry—and their configuration and specification possibilities—are crucial for making informed decisions.
What Are the Different Types of Tanks Used in the Oil and Gas Industry?
In the oil and gasoline sector, tanks are indispensable for separation, processing, and storage. The primary classifications are:
- Separator Tanks: Horizontal or vertical, separator tanks are used to segregate oil, gas, and water mixtures so they can be individually processed and transported. These tanks are pressure vessels.
- Day Tanks: Smaller tanks that store oil/fuel for immediate processing, these tanks act as fuel reservoirs, so drawing from bulk storage isn’t always necessary.
- Bulk Storage Tanks: Designed for storing large volumes of crude oil, large tanks can store millions of barrels.
Understanding the various types of storage tanks is essential for effective resource management and operational success.
We have many examples of field-erected tanks that we have built and maintained—storing all types of industrial materials. Use our expertise to help you determine the right tank for your operational needs—contact Kennedy Tank today.
