More knowledge does not hurt

Over the past six decades, we have accumulated a great deal of knowledge about containers and tanks, materials and equipment, original uses and alternatives, regulations and laws, as well as transport and customs. We are happy to share this knowledge, especially when it comes to introducing young technicians and engineers to this specialized field of process engineering.

 

Tank Glossary

The A to Z of Tanks and Containers

The Heuer team has built a great deal of knowledge of tanks and containers in the decades of working with them. We would like to share some of the more interesting and helpful bits of information with you. Should you miss a term or definition in this list, please let [us know], we are always looking to expand this section. Thank you.

A

Tanks are often equipped with agitators or mounts for them. Common forms of agitators are planetary-, zeta-, trapezoid-, anchor-, spiral- and triple-blade-agitators, transverse and spiral mixers as well as wall scrapers, propellers, impellers and dissolvers. The mounting location is mostly necessitated by the agitator model and variant. Generally, the output of an agitator is measured in kilowatts. Other important characteristics are the revolutions per minute (rpm) and the voltage required for operation.


C

When talking about tanks, you differentiate between atmospheric or unpressurized tanks and pressure tanks, which are engineered to store liquids and gases at specific pressures. The minimum and maximum compression strength on these is generally provided as a range of bar.


Tank conditions are categorized as either “new”, “unused” or “used”. New tanks are often built to specification, but common sizes might be in stock at a tank manufacturer or vendor. Well maintained used tanks are very well suited to be integrated in new construction. When a used tank is damaged or in any other way compromised, this information is assumed to be provided with the listing.


A container is any item that is hollow on the inside and serves the primary purpose of separating its contents from the environment outside. Container is the widely used term, although most of the time tank would be more accurate. These days, both terms are used interchangeably.


D

Certain tanks need a design approval certificate. You would always get the from your vendor.


The Dimensions of tanks and containers are provided in millimeters (mm). Apart from height, width and depth of the tank itself, you would also need the total height and length, which includes any feet or nozzles. The inner and outer diameters of the head, shell and floor.


A flat dished floor takes up less space on a pressurized tank than the more optimal spherical shape which only needs to be compensated for with a slightly thicker material. The floor is made of a dished calotte and the outer brim which are connected by a short cylindrical body. Generally, the brim is then welded onto the main body of the tank.


Any service-oriented container reseller will offer their customers dismantling assistance. Tanks, as opposed to pipes and similar parts, are large, heavy and unwieldy. A lot of expertise is required to remove these, while leaving the tank itself as well as the surrounding machinery and building intact.


F

Many containers and tanks are equipped with a fill level display. These come in various types and can measure contents by surface level or via internal pressure.


The floor and head are the bottom and top ends of your tank. Variations for these include Torispherical ends, conical ends or both flat floors and inverted tilted towards an outlet direction. Heads can be open with or without removable lids or with a single or multi part flipping lid.


H

Handholes are small access hatches in tanks and containers that allow access to the material within for monitoring purposes, such as taking samples. As with manholes, handhole sizes are generally provided as diameter in millimeters.


For tanks equipped with a heat exchanger, the details given usually are their area in square meters and their throughput in kilowatts.


I

Any service-oriented container reseller will offer installation services. Just as dismantling an installation requires a lot of expertise, the same is true for the installation. Building and existing installations could be damaged during installation when not accurately handled.


Various materials are used for the insulation of tanks and containers. Isolation wool, PU foam, cork as well as Styrofoam are in wide use. Purpose, operating temperature and environmental factors are considered to select the best insulation material for each tank.


L

Depending on your requirements, the last use of the tank may be significant. The most common distinctions are Food Stuff, Chemicals, Fine Chemicals, Pharmaceutical and whether the tank was used as a CIP water reservoir or used in CIP processes. In case the last use is unknown, that information should also be provided.


Lifting lugs are installed on tanks and containers that are too big or too heavy to be transported via pallet. These allow for lifting equipment to be attached so that the vessel can be moved via crane.


N

Most important about the nozzles is their number and diameter in millimeters. Nozzles connect the tank to the pipe systems that lead to and from the tank.


P

Based on European legislation regarding the free movement of good, the so-called “New Approach to Technical Harmonisation and Standards“, pressure tanks can be categorized as ‘simple pressure vessels’ (Directive 2009/105/EG) or pressure equipment (Directive 97/23/EG). Pressure Test Certificate Should design and intended use require a pressure test certification, it is generally provided. In cases where it is not present it can usually be obtained by request.


Pressure tanks are enclosed tanks that maintain pressure above or below their respective environments. Unlike pressurized transport vessels for liquid and gas transfers, these are intended to remain stationary.


Should design and intended use require a pressure test certification, it is generally provided. In cases where it is not present it can usually be obtained by request.


S

For certain tanks and containers you may need to have an engineer assess the static of the environment. Please ask your vendor and construction engineer beforehand.


The overwhelming majority of tanks is cylindrical. However, they can be found as oblong, rectangular or as a double cone. They generally get inserted into a production environment stand up, but can be found lying down or hanging.


Tanks can be supported in multiple ways. You generally differentiate between: Attached feet, such as weighing feet, clamps, steel feet or stainless-steel feet. Frames, such as steel mounted and concrete mounted frames. Storage consoles and steel and stainless-steel racks, including those with tilting mechanisms.


T

A tank is a container most commonly used for the storage and processing, storage and transport of gases and liquids. They can be found in almost any shape and size.


To get a visual impression of its contents, a tank light on the inside is recommended. Depending on the stored material and associated processes, it can be mounted in the head, body or even floor of the tank.


Depending on the processes involved, different areas of the tank can be cooled or heated to different temperatures. This could be the body, the head or the floor.


There are various systems used to heat and cool tanks and the materials in them. These include interior- and half-pipe coils, double shells immersion heating and cooling plates.


Any tank and container that is used in production processes has a maximum and minimum temperature within which it is safe to operate. These are generally provided in Degrees Celsius.


Any tank and container that is used in production processes has a maximum and minimum temperature within which it is safe to operate. These are generally provided in Degrees Celsius.


When a tank requires test certification for its operation, it will be provided at purchase.


V

The volume of a vessel is measured in liters. For double shell and isolated tanks, the relevant volume provided is always the inside volume.


 

Tank FAQ

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about Tanks and Containers.

“Storage tanks are containers that hold liquids, compressed gases or mediums used for the short- or long-term storage of heat or cold.” According to Wikipedia. In a way, both are correct, but not necessarily specific enough. Commonly when thinking of tanks, people refer to fuel tanks for vehicles or even armored vehicles. For containers, people often think of shipping containers or even Tupperware.


These acronyms describe two variants of stainless steel. V2A (material number 1.4301) and V4A (1.4571) belong to the group of corrosion- and acid-resistant steel types. V2A is not suitable for media containing chlorine, unlike V4A (due to its 2% molybdenum content). V2A is often used in the food industry, while V4A is used more in the production of pharmaceutical and chemical products.


Tanks and containers have a multitude of uses in the fields of chemical and food production as well as general storage. They are utilized for the storage of various types of liquids including non-toxic substances like water, toxic materials such as acids and alkalis, flammable liquids like oils and fuels, and liquefied gases like propane and butane. In addition to storage, they are commonly utilized in production processes for mixing, cooking, and as cooling or heating vessels. Tanks are an essential component for storing raw materials, semi-finished products, and finished products in a multitude of industries.


The type of certification required depends on your local and national jurisdiction. Most commonly certification is required when storing hazardous or flammable material, but please make sure you check with your local authorities.


Every jurisdiction has their own regiment for certification, recertification and the types of tanks that applies to. Please bear in mind that often regulation is tied to the size of the container and the materials stored in them, so please ensure you include that in your inquiry to local authorities.


The legal requirements for correctly installing a container should be determined by your engineer, as they should be aware of all applicable regulation. The best practice for installing a tank or container includes that you verify the resistance of the assembly against temperature as well as mechanical and chemical influences. It needs to be fixed on solid foundations and immobilized to ensure that it remains airtight. Cladding to prevent collision with vehicles or pallet trucks is often recommended.


If water-hazardous substances are stored in a tank or container, a collection tray is only required is that container does not have a double-shell. Otherwise, escaping substances must be able to be retained. The collection volume of the storage tank must correspond to the maximum amount that can be released in the event of a malfunction. For possible exceptions and further legal obligations regarding collection trays and hazard prevention, please refer to your local jurisdiction.


Tanks, as we offer them, are expensive to manufacture: the material, mostly stainless steel, is expensive, planning, construction, and production require significant personnel resources. Additionally, high-quality tanks are just as functional after many years as they were on the first day. Moreover, the cost savings from using used tanks helps make new plants more affordable. This is precisely why many plant builders first look for a used tank before commissioning a new one. The fact that the existing tank can be inspected, purchased and integrated with minimal delays adds additional benefits to help with what is often a very complex construction project in its own right.


Depending on the size and weight of the tank, multiple transport solutions can be offered, which would be priced individually. This also includes possible insurance fees and pricing for transport based on distance. Therefore, all transport costs are quoted individually based on your location and requirements.


Unless you prefer to pick up the tank yourself, we will take care of the entire transportation process. We will hire one of several trusted freight forwarders, obtain the necessary transportation permit (if required), and coordinate with you on a delivery date and unloading.


Within Germany, a variety of transport permits will be provided where needed as part of the delivery arrangements. Outside of Germany we will be working with our logistics partners to obtain any necessary permits that would be needed along the route to your facilities.


Yes, up to the point where a tank is unloaded on your premises, we bear the risk of any damage. In the event of such an occurrence - fortunately, this is rare - we will work together to determine whether repair is necessary and reasonable. However, we cannot be held liable for any production losses resulting from a damaged tank preventing timely assembly.


Our experience shows that customers go where they can find the tank they are looking for. That being said, where there are multiple tanks available for the same purpose, the decision on where to make your purchase is often based not just on price but the available financial and logistic services.


While we don’t have exact numbers, we consider ourselves to be among the “Big Five”. Those we consider to be the five largest vendors that routinely have in excess of 1000 tanks in stock. Four of those are found in Germany, one in Belgium. The concentration in Germany also has a lot to do with the strong plant engineering industry in this country.


In all branches of manufacturing industry, plants are regularly renewed - old ones removed, new ones installed. Often, the old equipment has to make way for the new. Since the reuse value of, for example, stainless steel tanks is significantly higher than the material value, they are not scrapped but resold through vendors such as ourselves. They make their bids by phone or on-site. If they are awarded the contract, they often have to dismantle and transport the containers.


No, well, sort of. Each customer can expect a precise description of each individual tank and assume that the condition in the description corresponds exactly to the actual product. It cannot be ruled out that leaks may arise during reconstruction that were not previously detectable. Good vendors offer a crack test in advance, usually for an additional fee.


There are two reasons for this. On the one hand, they can be stored outside because the materials are usually of such high quality that they do not corrode. On the other hand, they must be stored outside because they would require an incredibly large storage area under cover. This would significantly impact prices of used tanks.


Discounts can only be given by those who have previously added unnecessary surcharges. We believe that we should offer tanks at exactly the value they should be to keep the process transparent for our customers. Tanks are not something that a plant engineer likes to buy just because they are on sale.


It depends on how you look at it. There are always some that sell faster than expected. And then there are others that wait for a buyer for years. Then there are times when specific tank sizes or features are in high demand. But this varies greatly and also has to do with whether certain production processes need to be adapted to new regulations or laws, for example.


Sometimes a new tank is cheaper because the distance and therefore the transportation costs or the necessary conversion effort of a used tank are too high.


Certainly. We help with loading and securing your cargo. And we ask in advance whether the choice of truck meets the requirements of the transport volume. However, from experience, we can say that it is often more sensible to have a used tank delivered. Because then the risks of transportation and loading are not borne by you as the buyer, but by the contractor.


Yes, but this is very rare. This is partly due to the fact that private individuals are not allowed to store dangerous liquids in large quantities. And for harmless things like collecting rainwater, there are cheaper solutions than high-volume industrial tanks.


There are several points here. Firstly, one has to mention our high level of recognition and decades of experience. Secondly, our strong dedication to service. We convert tanks in our own workshop and even help with our own teams to remove tanks from plants or to insert them at their new location. Not everyone in our industry can do this as well as we can.

Thank you for the uncomplicated processing!

" Thank you for the uncomplicated processing! Even when we cannot be reached, you still plan ahead to meet our needs. "

G.J., Technischer Leiter eines Pharma-Herstellers, Rhein-Main

Continued loyalty

" Thank you for working hand in hand with us for the last 20 years. Such an enduring partnership is not taken for granted. "

J.W., Inhaber eines Anlagenbauers, Ostwestfalen

Price and Product

" Heuer always offers competitive pricing in line with exceptional quality. We have not had any regrets over all these years. "

K.S., Leiter der Verfahrenstechnik eines Getränkeherstellers, Bayern

Fastest delivery

" Recently we had to choose between tanks offered by different suppliers. Heuer was able to deliver the fastest, which made all the difference for us. "

W.L., Projektmanager eines Maschinenbauers, Rheinland

Logistics on Point

" If only everyone in the business had such a good handle on transportation as you do. "

R.N., Inhaber eines Anlagenbaubetriebs, Sachsen

One Dozen Tanks

" We purchased a dozen tanks over the last 10 years and never had reason to complain in any way. You can be very proud of such an achievement "

H.W.,  Einkäufer eines Lebensmittelwerks, Raum Hamburg

Professional assistance throughout

" It is great that we get to make use of your associates when we need to insert a tank into our plant. Moving large tanks is an incredibly demanding task. "

G.K., Projektmanager eines Anlagenbauers, Raum Hannover

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