Process tanks are large industrial vessels used to hold liquids in many manufacturing and processing applications. Industries such as chemical processing, pulp and paper, plastics, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, oil and fuel, power generation, energy processing and water treatment industries all use process tanks at different stages of production.
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Process tanks are used commonly for long or short term storage applications, as well as for metering, dispensing, and mixing or blending of one or more liquid substances within a controlled process. A variety of types of tanks are made based on certain specifications, including volume, pressure, size and type of liquid. Process tank fabricators are typically involved in more than just the creation of these tanks; they design, manufacture, set-up, maintain and inspect each tank. For the pressure tanks involved in sanitary processes such as food or pharmaceutical, any imperfections could result in product damage or contamination, therefore maintaining fully working tanks is important. Process tanks are measured in gallons, and range anywhere from 50 to several thousand gallons. Custom specifications can be met by tank manufacturers as many applications have different needs in terms of materials, intended location and size etc. There are however standard tanks available too which are able to meet a wide range of processing needs.
There are a number of differences that may occur among ASME tanks depending on their intended use. Gold, nickel and alumina refineries typically use process tanks to hold molten metal while tanks that are used in the pharmaceutical, food or beverage industries are usually made of stainless steel because it is easy to clean and sterilize, and won't contaminate the liquid being processed. They are also made of other metals, including titanium, carbon steel, nickel or aluminum. Sheet metal is rolled and then welded to form metal tanks. For applications that use high amounts of pressure, double-walled cold rolled steel is the strongest, most corrosion resistant material available. For added protection against corrosive substances, the high pressure vessel interiors are often lined or coated with a protective, resistant material. Extra features include: removable or attached lids, horizontal or vertical stands and supports for tanks that are situated on their sides, stairways and ladders for individuals that work around the large tanks, sight glass windows for monitoring the liquid inside, and process plumbing if the application requires that service. Tanks can also be located above ground or underground depending on the substance being held or processed. Process tanks can be designed attached to the back of a large truck and thus used as a portable storage and processing facility.
