Tanks, Scrubbers, Vessels, Towers
RPC Technologies Pty Ltd has been a leading manufacturer of Fibreglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) tanks for chemical processing and storage applications for over 30 years.
FRP tanks are manufactured from premium grade polyester and vinyl ester resins that provide an inert, non-toxic and extremely cost-effective solution to corrosion problems.
RPC manufactures a wide range of sizes and types of cylindrical and rectangular tanks each designed and built to the specification required.
FRP Tanks are used:
- Adhesives
- Aluminium
- Alum
- Acetic Acid
- Caustic Soda
- Cider, Beers and Wines
- Dyes and Bleaches
- Ferric Chloride
- Formic Acid
- Hydrochloric Acid
- Hydrofluorosilic Acid
- Hydrofluoric Acid
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Liquid Detergents
- Liquid Fertilisers
- Potable Water
- Phosphoric Acid
- Sodium Hypochlorite
- Sulphuric Acid
VERTICAL CYLINDRICAL TANKS
Vertical tanks are ideally suited for storage, mixing and general processing applications involving a wide variety of corrosive reagents. These tanks generally required continuous bottom support, they are suitable for free-standing applications and have exceptionally high wall strength and stability.
HORIZONTAL TANKS
Horizontal tanks are commonly used for above and below ground storage applications, where access is limited or where tanks are required to be transportable.
RECTANGULAR TANKS
Rectangular tanks are commonly used where space requirements are at a premium or where specific processes are involved.The rectangular tank dimensions are determined by the capacity required. Wherever possible, they are fabricated in one piece or can be produced in modular sections for field assembly.
Continuous bottom support must be provided, girth flanges and vertical ribs are designed and located to ensure minimum practical deflection on the side wall.
Note:
Where the economical limit of FRP is reached, FRP linings may be applied to both steel and concrete to provide an effective and viable solution to future corrosion problems.
AGITATED TANKS
In medium and heavy duty applications, agitated FRP tanks are commonly used to prevent settling of solids in solution or to aid in various aeration processes.Agitators can be either top or side wall mounted with structural FRP baffles (if required) and suitably abrasion resistant to meet the design criteria.
VACUUM SERVICE
FRP tanks can be designed for vacuum service by adjusting the wall thickness and adding vacuum ring at the proper locations. Dished or conical heads are commonly used.
ADVANTAGES OF FRP TANKS/VESSELS
- Corrosive Resistance - Each resin is carefully selected for the particular application to ensure maximum corrosion resistance in a wide range of service temperatures from -30º to 120º C (in immersion conditions).
- Low Maintenance - FRP tanks offer excellent resistance to weathering, will not rust or corrode, and do not require special coatings for protection from industrial fumes or spillage.
- Ease of Installation - Weighing approximately 1/3 of the equivalent steel tanks, FRP tanks can be transported, installed or relocated more easily and more economically than vessels of alternate materials.
- Heat Resistance - maximum service temperatures will vary with specific chemical conditions. Depending on resin selection, operating temperatures in excess of 120º C may be obtained.
- Translucency and Colour - FRP tanks may be fabricated with unpigmented resins to permit external gauging or pigmented to nominate service classification.
- Thermal Conductivity - Low thermal conductivity reduces heat losses and eliminates the need for insulation.
- Ease of Modification - Additional nozzles, drains, manholes or similar modifications can easily be made after installation.
- Long Life - A design life in excess of 15-20 years may be anticipated for most service conditions.
- Versatile - Numerous shapes, sizes and variations of tanks/vessels may be fabricates to suit the individual requirements.
- Cost Economics - At current prices for equivalent capacities, rubber lined steel tanks run about 2.5 times as much as FRP tanks/vessels, and stainless steel ones about 2.0 times as much.
UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS
The major benefit directly attributable to the non corrosive characteristics of FRP (Fibre Reinforced Plastic) is the products ability to eliminate one of the most significant factors that causes tank failure - corrosion.
Fibreglass Reinforced Plastics (FRP) tanks are not affected by soil conditions or bacteria, and therefore, need no corrosion resistance treatment. They resist both internal and external corrosion and do not require special coating or cathodic protection, both additional costs when considering steel tanks.
Used as specified, FRP tanks result in substantial savings over the life of the installation.
Oil and Gas Industry
FRP tanks are currently used to store petroleum products with specific gravities up to 1.1 and temperatures up to 65º C at atmosphere pressure.These include fuel, oil, gasoline, de-icing fluid jet fuel, auxiliary fuel supplies for power plants and many other liquids.
Although the initial cost of a FRP tank is higher than an unlined steel tank, the ongoing maintenance costs will be less. Non-corroding FRP tanks will last the economic design life of most facilities.
Sewage and Water Treatment
Fibreglass tanks are virtually unaffected by the bacterial action caused by raw sewage.They are non-porous hence eliminating the possibility of contaminating nearby water supplies and they are also resistance to sulphur compounds inside the tank or soil conditions outside.
FRP tanks are light weight, easy to handle and install, highly corrosion resistant and can be fabricated to suit the particular design requirements.
Chemical Storage
FRP tanks can be designed to store such corrosive materials as hydrochloric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sulphuric Acid and other chemicals without running the risk of internal corrosion and failure.
FRP tanks are made of polyester and vinylester resins reinforced with continuous glass rovings and range in size from 1000 l to 17500 l. Engineering tests have shown that properly installed, FRP tanks with a minimum of 750 mm cover are more than strong enough to withstand constant traffic from the heaviest axial loads.
