Rules for the use of plastic containers

Water tanks are in demand in various fields of activity – everyday life, agriculture, industrial production. Tanks are made mainly of metal and plastic. Plastic tanks differ in capacity, which varies between 50-10,000 liters.

The purpose of the products is to transport and store food and non-food products, chemicals. Tanks are designed to store products and substances whose density does not exceed the density of water – 1000 kg / m3. Plastic products are in high demand, which is due to the advantages:

• low weight – 5 times lighter than metal tanks;
• easy to maintain – dirt is easily removed from the smooth surface;
• chemical inertness – water does not change its taste and properties when in contact with the walls of the tank;
• low price – 4 times cheaper than metal models;
• service life – up to 50 years;
• corrosion resistance – no need for regular surface treatment to protect against corrosion.

Plastic tanks are used to store agricultural products – milk, honey, vegetable oil, sugar, cereals and other bulk products. Suitable for storing and transporting chemicals – acids and alkalis. Plastic tanks are used to arrange autonomous water supply and sewerage systems. The expediency of the purchase is beyond doubt. It remains to learn the rules for operating plastic containers and follow the recommendations.

Design Features

Operating conditions depend on the material of manufacture. Polyethylene products are resistant to ultraviolet radiation and combustion, do not change the taste and chemical properties of stored products. Suitable for use in open areas.

Operating Rules

Compliance with the operating rules increases storage safety and extends the service life of the product. If you neglect the approved standards, the tank may crack, burst, or have damage to the body. Basic recommendations:

• The operating temperature range of polyethylene containers is -30 ° C to + 50 ° C. The polypropylene tank can be used for environments with temperatures from 0 to +100°C.
• Check the tightness of connections when connecting communications and shut-off valves – pipes, branches, valves, heating boilers and other equipment.
• Preliminary rinsing of the inner surface with a disinfectant, if the tank is intended for storing drinking water and food. After rinsing, rinse the tank with clean water to remove any remaining disinfectant or detergent.

Operating rules depend on the type of substances stored. If the tank is used to store oil and oil products, it is necessary to install a breathing valve, which ensures safe operation – prevents fire and explosion. The breathing valve prevents pressure surges inside the tank. The valves maintain tightness and at the same time allow condensate to evaporate into the environment.

Loading and unloading operations and transportation

Preparation for loading a plastic tank includes an inspection, during which the presence of residues of substances stored previously is determined. Containers larger than 1.5 meters in length, height and width are loaded onto the platform using lifting equipment or a forklift. Manual loading of large tanks increases the risk of mechanical damage. Important points:

• Choose a truck whose body corresponds to the dimensions of the product.
• Install the tank on the cargo platform according to its orientation – vertical – vertical, horizontal – horizontal.
• Equip stops for reliable fixation of the product.
• Ensure a stable position of the load with safety belts that will prevent displacement and damage when driving on an uneven road surface.

Transportation by any truck is allowed. The recommended transportation speed is no more than 50 km / h. If the tank is half full, it is necessary to use dampers that reduce the speed of liquid movement.

Installation work

The plastic tank is installed on a prepared horizontal platform. The surface of the platform must be flat and solid, not subject to deformation. The length and width of the platform are ideally 20-30 cm longer than the same indicators of the tank.

Rules for the operation of plastic tanks with underground placement

If underground installation is planned, it is necessary to comply with the relevant rules for the operation of plastic tanks. Before installation, a pit is dug whose dimensions exceed the dimensions of the product. The bottom of the pit is tamped and covered with sand. An alternative option is to create a concrete foundation. The walls of the pit are laid out with bricks or formed from concrete slabs. The walls are needed to prevent soil pressure on the walls of the tank. What to pay attention to:

• The depth of the groundwater. If the groundwater flows above the depth of the tank, it is necessary to arrange a concrete well that will prevent contact with water.
• The thickness of the walls of the tank for underground installation is at least 6-10 mm.
• The distance from the walls of the pit to the product is at least 15 cm.
• Plastic structures are not intended for use under excess pressure. It is necessary to prevent pressure on the walls.
• Soil relief. Tanks are not mounted underground on soils with unstable relief, which threatens landslides.
• Location of the roadway. The product is installed underground at a distance of more than 3 meters from the roadway.

For underground installation, tanks with a tightly screwed lid are suitable, which ensures tightness and prevents leakage. It is recommended to close the pit with a floor slab to prevent pressure on the tank from above.

Operation in winter

Plastic tanks can be used throughout the year. Before the winter period, preparatory measures should be taken. If you store water in a tank in winter, the likelihood of the liquid freezing at low temperatures increases. When freezing, water expands, which can cause a crack to form on the wall of the product. To prevent water from freezing in a tank that is installed outside, it is necessary to perform thermal insulation. Mineral or basalt wool, fiberglass are usually used to create a thermal insulation layer. Pipes that extend from the tank also need thermal insulation. Foam plastic can be used to insulate pipes. How to prevent water from freezing in a tank in winter:

• Choose a larger tank – the more water, the slower it freezes. 
• A round container is the best option. Rectangular products have a larger surface area and, accordingly, a larger heat leakage area.
• Check the surface of the product for cracks that accelerate heat loss.

Plastic tanks are less susceptible to rupture when water freezes than metal ones. Due to its elasticity, plastic copes better with expansion loads.