Button Tales

The aim of this post is to give the reader a clearer understanding of what a bunded oil tank is, what purpose it serves and all the differing styles of bunded oil tanks available. First of all it is important to explain just what a bunded oil tank is. A bunded oil tank is essentially a storage device. They are primarily used to store liquids however, it is quite common for them to be used for the storage of compressed gases as well. In terms of their shape, bunded oil tanks are quite often spherical, at a 90 degree angle to the ground and contain a fixed or temporary roof. The purpose of the roof is to give access to the tanks contents.
Now that we have a clearer picture of what a bunded oil tank is, the article will now discuss some of the difficulties manufacturers go through when constructing these highly functional yet nevertheless breath taking structures. You may think I am being churlish when I call them breath taking but I hope to dispel this belief as the post goes on. In January 1919, a large tank failed and released a wave of molasses over the US city of Boston. The disaster resulted in the death of 21 people and had been caused by poor design and shoddy construction; the tank had not even been tested prior to it being placed in a densely populated area. Bunded tanks, surprisingly, can even be dangerous when empty. If oil has previously been stored in them then the atmosphere can remain highly explosive, so much so that a slight spark could set off a disastrous explosion.
Luckily, in these health and safety conscious times that we live in, bunded oil tank manufacturers have to ensure their tanks go through rather stringent regulations. These environmental regulations vary for each different type of bunded oil tank design which luckily has significantly reduced oil storage tanker accident rates. Even so, if you are looking to commission the construction of these breath taking devices (now you know the importance of good design I am sure you will agree with the adjective) you should ensure that the company you choose is one that is respected, reliable and has a solid history in making safe bunded oil tank. When dealing with fuels, irritable liquids and gases, safety is never something that should be taken lightly.