Merits And Demerits Of An Above Ground Storage Tank

By Krystal Branch


An above ground storage tank are one of the two types of storage tanks. These tanks are situated either on the ground or on a slightly raised ground. Their capacity is regulated to 10,000 litres for those whose contents are any other liquids other than water. One thing to note is that they both have advantages and disadvantages over the other designs.

The reasons for the choice of these designs are numerous. One of these is that they are relatively cheap when it comes to installation costs because it involves fewer activities. One needs to find a space where to construct their tanks of which the only costs involved include construction of a foundation of which it is not a must for those placing their tanks above their houses. This mostly applies to water tanks. For those that require raising the grounds, less cost is involved because there is no excavation cost.

Like any other tanks, they are prone to damages through corrosion and physical damage by individuals, animals or natural calamities. The good thing with these designs is that they are exposed to observation and inspection. This enables early detection of damages and easy repair as it is accessible. This results into minimization of losses as a result of leakages and spillage.

They are also quick and cheap to repair in case there is a problem such as rust in case it is a metallic tank or cracks in case it is a plastic tank. Their location makes them more accessible and thus easy to mend them. To repair, all that one needs to do is to get the required materials and take the necessary cause of action. This will take both less energy and manpower.

They not only have pros but they do have cons as well. The major disadvantage of using these designs is that they are very susceptible to adverse weather conditions. These conditions the exposure of the tanks to risks associated with them such as breakages and corrosion. They are mostly raised above ground but in an open space free from shades thus increasing their exposure to too much heat from the sun during the day and very low temperatures during the nights. The difference in these conditions will result to expansion and contraction that may cause bursting. Other adverse conditions like thunderstorms have a negative effect.

These tanks also have their disadvantages for example they require additional space. To establish these tanks one needs to have an additional space because they cannot be constructed in open air but in a piece of land or above a building. For oil tanks they are constructed in a field and thus taking up space that could have been used for better purposes. Unlike with underground one cannot use the same space for two purposes because when set up, that space is completely out of use.

They are also affected negatively by adverse weather conditions such as too much solar or high temperature conditions. Such conditions may result to corrosion of the tanks and in other situations they may even cause them to burst especially in the case of plastic tanks. For one to avoid such situation it means construction of a structure that will protect the tanks from such effects. This will call for additional costs which will make the whole project expensive.

It is therefore clear that above ground storage tank are more effective than the other type of tanks as it has many advantages. Despite this fact, it is necessary for one to analyze all the reasons for and against these types of tanks depending on the preference and priorities.




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