Welding on Diesel Storage Tank Steel

[Pennsylvania Weldor]

My weld shop is close to trucks stops on I-81 here in Central PA. Prior to my retirement I welded many aluminum fuel tanks damaged on the Interstate. My requirement: Drained, off the truck, and clean the grease off the outside (for my benefit).

I TIG welded, and sometimes MIG welded them all. Never flushed, but, always had ALL openings OPEN. Never had an incident. Diesel tanks are relatively incident free, if one knows what they're doing. If in doubt, don't do it.

I have welded gasoline tanks, AFTER steam cleaning for 2 hours, and exhaust in the tank while welding. Welding must be done immediately after the steaming operation to prevent gas fumes from again accumulating from the welded seams inside the tank. The exhaust eliminates oxygen as another poster remarked.

As for welding the NUT on the stripped nut, I would do it, but I've been welding for 45 years. I'd be extremely careful not to arc on the tank and possibly rupture it and lose the fuel. Explosion would not concern me, the mess would.

 

[patrick_g]

This happened today.

Tank Explosion Sends One To Hospital

Tank Explosion Sends One To Hospital - Denver News Story - KMGH Denver

Think twice before welding on that tank.

Interesting story but except for a tank being involved I can't make a connection with the discussion here. We all agree a tank can be dangerous to weld or work on in any manner capable of creating a spark or source of ignition. There were suggested ways to reduce/eliminate the risk.

We have no details regarding the tank in the news story and no way to see a parallel. Maybe it happened in daylight and the take home message is to never repair anything during the daylight hours.

Pat (not anti-safety but pro thinking about what you are doing)

 

[SteveInMD]

I used to work for a company that would remove leaking or unwanted tanks. Cutting the tank wasn't my job, but I saw it done many times. Normally the crew would put dry ice into the tank before cutting. The ice turns to CO2 which pushes any air out. Then, they would start cutting. I saw this happen maybe 100 times without incident.

 

[AlanB]

I used to work for a company that would remove leaking or unwanted tanks. Cutting the tank wasn't my job, but I saw it done many times. Normally the crew would put dry ice into the tank before cutting. The ice turns to CO2 which pushes any air out. Then, they would start cutting. I saw this happen maybe 100 times without incident.

But I would bet that if done by a competent company, there was also an explosive gas meter or "sniffer" there and it was monitored while the cutting was going on.

Not the average testor that the home shop guy has.

 

[mjncad]

Interesting story but except for a tank being involved I can't make a connection with the discussion here. We all agree a tank can be dangerous to weld or work on in any manner capable of creating a spark or source of ignition. There were suggested ways to reduce/eliminate the risk.

We have no details regarding the tank in the news story and no way to see a parallel. Maybe it happened in daylight and the take home message is to never repair anything during the daylight hours.

Pat (not anti-safety but pro thinking about what you are doing)

Since the TV web sites here are like the on air broadcasts...lacking in details, or consistency from what they air and what they post. One station reported the tank was a waste oil tank.