Welding Drain Port in Old 700 Gallon Diesel Storage Tank

[Egon]

pipe exhaust from car/truck/tractor to flush it out./QUOTE]


Exhaust from a gasoline motor should not be used. It is an explosive vapour.

In industrial situations steam may be used to clean the vessel. Then detectors used to check for oxygen. Tank would then be purged with nitrogen and again checked for oxygen and nitrogen. When only nitrogen is present would any welding be allowed.

The nitrogen purge would be maintained during welding.

Note: there are guidelines on how to do the N2 purge to eliminate pockets of vapours in the tank.

 

[brucew44guns]

In my opinion, you did not get a good deal, although it seemed that way to you. With no drains in the bottom, it likely has more crud than you might know about or want to know about. To just put a pump in the top and pull fuel out is ok, but the crud will get worse over the years.. Buy yourself a nice new tank. No crud in it, you'll have clean fuel, and set it up at a slight slope toward your drain. You can draw off any water, and get rid of any bit of crud that may get in over time. Clean fuel, and your safety, and your peace of mind, is more important that a cheapo tank in the short term. I bought an old 8-N Ford a few years ago, very nice one, and re-done pretty much 100%=======EXCEPT, the gas tank. The guy told me that he had steamed it out, and rinsed it good, but that a little bit of rust accumulated in the sediment bowl occasionally, just to drain it out. I drained it out all right, every day, every hour, for weeks. Finally, I bit the bullet, bought a new tank. That tank was rusty, and dirty. No problems now, and you won't have problems either with a new storage tank.

 

[MillWeld]

Don't fill it with water either........bad bad idea.

I was going to suggest water, too. Completely full. I don't understand why this could cause a problem. Can anyone explain?
Bob

 

[aczlan]

I was going to suggest water, too. Completely full. I don't understand why this could cause a problem. Can anyone explain?
Bob

If you have the right chemicals in the tank, the water when heated can release hydrogen which could explode when exposed to fire and air.

Aaron Z

 

[SimS]

Maybe you could install a bung/through wall fitting? If you can gain access through the existing 4" openings you may be able to drill/holesaw a hole for the fitting directly below the existing opening and snake in the fitting nut, washer, etc. from above. You can put a deep socket or crowsfoot on a looong extension to hold the nut from above. Definitely a two man job though. But no flames or sparks involved. As far a mounting it on a skid you could make the skids with a cradle that would support the tank, place the tank in the cradle and strap it to the skid structure with some form of band clamps, metal strapping, etc. Just nuts and bolts, again no ignition sources. Be careful, as others have mentioned, fuel tanks can go boom.

SimS

 

[psj12]

I have done this for the US Army. They require that the tank be steamed for 4 hours prior to welding and then purged with nitrogen during welding and cutting proceedures.

 

[tcartwri]

Tragic story here this spring. Pretty awful when your shop instructor is teaching dangerous practices.

'We're still in shock': Family of teen killed in blast | Ottawa & Region | News | Ottawa Sun