There was a time when fuel prices were touching the sky, and there was no hope for them to come down anytime sooner. Due to this reason, many transportation and fuel-using entities took advantage of storage tanks. It turns out it’s more economical to buy larger amounts of fuel at a time when the price is low and store it for the long run.
However, maintaining a storage tank and storing fuel for the long run is a daunting task. So, if you want to know how you can effectively store fuel in your storage tank, then make sure to read the guide given ahead.
How Long Can You Store Diesel Fuel?
Before jumping on the tips on how you can effectively store fuel, you need to know the duration for which you can store it. The ideal condition for storing fuel is to store it in such a way that it remains cool and dry.
If these ideal conditions are fulfilled, you can store the fuel for anywhere between six to twelve months. Or, if you want to extend the storage life beyond twelve months, you will need to use methods involving biocides and fuel stabilisers.
Storage Tanks And Regulations
You need to follow certain regulations strictly to store fuel and maintain the tank. Properly maintained tanks can prevent water contamination. However, your priority should be to keep the structure of the tank intact. Otherwise, you will lose a lot of fuel, and in worse-case scenarios, accidents can happen. Below are some of the things that you need to prevent your storage tank from:
Prevention Of Water Contamination
To prevent water contamination, you need to keep the tank’s structure intact and check it for maintenance regularly. Water accumulates in the fuel due to condensation. You can minimise this by decreasing the space left in the tank.
Preventing Oxidative Fuel Breakdown
For efficient power output, you must prevent fuel exposure to light, air and hydrolytic failure. To prevent it, make sure to thoroughly clean the tank and check for any sort of leakages before storing fuel in it. Also, control the water buildup in the tank to prevent hydrolytic breakdown.
Keep The System Microbe-free
Microbial infestation easily happens with ultra-low sulphur diesel fuel. It is because the sulphur reacts with microbicide. Alternatively, you can opt to use Ethanol. Biocide is used to control and kill the existing microbial bacteria.
Use Commercial Grade Treatment To Prevent Sludge Build-up
Excessive buildup of biomass and sludge is the most common problem in storage tanks. To resolve this issue, you will need to employ commercial-grade treatment strategies.
Final Thoughts
So, these are some of the things to take note of while maintaining the storage tank and storing fuel in it for the long run. Apart from the pointers mentioned above, using a competent storage tank is also crucial. Otherwise, all the hard work will be of no use. If you are looking for well-structured storage tanks, then check out the diesel tanks at Trans Tank International.
