Fuel Depot

Description of fuel depot

A fuel depot is a suitable facility for the storage of petroleum products, gases, fuels, chemicals or conventional liquids. Fuel depots or tank farms can be underground, above ground or located in a spatial system. They are used to store crude oil, natural gas, chemicals, water and other liquids. This also applies to gas storage; the gases are often highly flammable and pose a real danger in this way.

Fuel depots are usually large facilities with several fuel tanks. In some cases, however, they can be smaller and simpler. The tanks can be made of different materials such as steel, stainless steel or plastic. They must be constructed in such a way that they protect the contents from environmental influences such as wind and weather.

Special requirements are usually placed on fuel storage. The most important question that arises is, of course, which gases are to be stored in a tank farm. This is because not all gases are suitable for storage in a tank farm. For example, volatile gases such as ethanol can only be stored in small quantities. Furthermore, care should be taken to ensure that the gases to be stored are not too highly reactive. Otherwise, dangerous reactions can occur during storage. Safe and long-lasting storage is important both directly in the storage facility and at the respective transhipment point.

To create a fuel depot, one must first create the necessary infrastructure. First and foremost, this includes a suitable plot of land that offers sufficient space for storing the gases. The property should also have a concrete surface on which the tanks can be placed. In addition, it is advisable to provide a separate area for the storage of the gases. This area should be separated from the other parts of the property and have a separate access road.

When constructing the tanks themselves, care should be taken to ensure that they are made of stainless steel. In addition, the tanks must be equipped with a rubber membrane to prevent the gases from escaping. The tanks should also be equipped with pressure relief valves to allow the gases to escape in the event of a pressure increase. To ensure optimal storage of the gases, it is also advisable to check and maintain the tanks regularly.

To meet the high standards of tank storage, the tanks are often made of materials such as steel or concrete. Reinforcing plastic is also often used to better secure the tanks. In order to be able to store the liquids in the tank safely in the long term, fixed roof tanks are preferred in storage and warehousing. These are often equipped with an internal floating roof, which significantly increases storage comfort. The exact construction and design of the warehouse always depends on the respective product characteristics.

In addition, cryogenic storage tanks are also conceivable, through which substances can be stored in liquid form at low temperature. Deviations in temperature usually lead to gaseousness. Due to the lower density of the gases in relation to the liquid, the latter rises to the surface.

Safety regulations for tank storage

Tank storage is the safe storage of gases, liquids and other hazardous substances (dangerous goods storage) in tanks. Storage is carried out under strict safety precautions to minimise the risk of explosion or leakage. In order to ensure security of supply in the context of tank storage, there are some safety regulations to be observed during implementation.

Aspects such as level monitoring as well as active checking of the associated temperature are among the most important requirements for tank storage. Sound concepts for fire fighting as well as in the area of overfill protection are also required in order to benefit from well thought-out concepts in tank storage at all times.

Tank farms are often used by companies that work with hazardous chemicals, as they have sufficient safety devices. However, it can also make sense for private households to set up a tank farm. For example, tank farms usually have to be equipped with water and extinguishing foam connections to ensure the necessary fire safety. Additional safety is also provided by the enormous waterproofing, which prevents leakage into the groundwater even in the event of damage. Additional catch basins are therefore standard in tank storage. If these safety regulations are observed during tank loading, storage remains safe at all times.

Advantages of a fuel depot:

• Relatively space-saving storage of gases and liquids
• Costs can be reduced - only as much is stored as is needed

Disadvantages of a fuel depot:

• High safety requirements
• Complex installation of the tanks
• A lot of space is needed
• Costly to build and maintain
  
  

Find the right storage facility for your logistics at LAGERflaeche.de now!

Well thought-out tank storage is the key to the safekeeping of gases, liquids and other hazardous substances. It is therefore worth renting a suitable warehouse and benefiting from the advantages of tank storage. We at LAGERflaeche.de and our partners will be happy to provide you with an overview of tank farms in Germany and help you choose the best possible location. This makes it easy to decide on the right storage location and to benefit from storage logistics that always work. We look forward to providing you with ideal support in the context of tank storage.