Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Metal or Plastic Fuel Tanks – Deciding the Better of the Two

Plastic Fuel Tanks, Chemical Storage Tanks
Different manufacturers design and produce metallic as well as Plastic Fuel Tanks across a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes. At the outset they seem similar to each other with little to no discernible differences. Similarities make it difficult to select the better of the two because for someone new to the process cannot find anything strikingly different between a steel and plastic fuel tank. Let us lay out the advantages and disadvantages side by side and help you make up your mind.

The good about steel tanks
  • Steel is better for security; it prevents thieves from drilling into the tank to extract oil, something that is quite possible with plastic tanks.
  • Steel fuel tanks come in large capacities; you will easily find a tank big enough to hold 120,000 liters of oil.
  • Steel is highly durable and lasts longer
  • There is also a lot of scope for flexibility within the design of steel fuel tanks. Custom tanks can easily be made in a variety of complex designs
Why you should not buy steel tanks
  • Steel is heavier than plastic and therefore difficult to maneuver.
  • Corrosion is a big concern with steel.
  • The integrity of a steel tank is as good as the welding done to hold it together. Over time, leaks can appear along weld lines and threaten the integrity of steel tanks.  
Over years plastic has become more desirable over steel and the reasons for that are as follows:

  1. Easier to install than steel as its lighter and easier to move about
  2. Almost no limits to the shapes that these tanks can take, although you have to order an off-the-shelf-design
  3. Because plastic is an insulator, the transfer of heat to the fuel is delayed
  4. Most plastic fuel tanks are seamless, so are less prone to failure, even if it deforms, plastic has an ability to regain its natural shape