This is the second article in Poly Processing’s Innovation Series, where you’ll discover the many innovations that we have introduced to the chemical storage industry.
One of the biggest challenges in vertical tank design is maintaining the tank’s integrity while still allowing for the tank to be fully discharged, cleaned, and properly maintained.
Traditional tank maintenance can be a challenge with many chemicals — so Poly Processing Company has developed a unique full discharge system that helps minimize the hazards associated with traditional vertical tank maintenance.
Poly Processing’s Integrally Molded Flanged Outlet (IMFO®) Tank, is a homogenous flange system that is molded as part of the tank while it is being manufactured, making it a stress-free part of the tank. The flange is created from the same material as the tank — it’s not an insert added during or post-production.
Some companies create tanks out of one substance, but they either mold in a threaded metallic flange for drainage and discharge, or they install it post-production. This is simply to save money on investing in proper mold tooling to make the right tank. An inserted metallic flange is common in the tank industry, but there are critical benefits to using a molded full discharge fitting or IMFO.
Let’s take a look at the main differences between a molded full discharge fitting, and a post-production or molded metallic insert.
One-piece construction enhances long-term integrity, both for the tank as a whole and in the knuckle radius — the point where the floor of the tank meets its sidewall. The knuckle radius is the thickest part of the tank, so adding an insert post-production or during production can compromise the tank. An insert can impact the tank’s hoop integrity as well, which puts the entire tank at risk of structural stress from volatile chemicals.
Since the insert is made of metal, you can run into a whole new set of problems. Chemical reactions in the place where the tank material meets the metal of an insert can create a stress point for the plastic itself. This can cause leaks or cracks over a short time. Also, there are different expansion and contraction coefficients between the plastic and metallic materials which can cause leakage.
An IMFO Tank delivers a number of benefits to a chemical tank storage system that a metallic insert simply can’t offer. These include:
A molded full discharge system can empty the tank completely, versus a post-production flange or metallic insert that is installed one or two inches above the knuckle radius. That inch or two makes a big difference when the chemical being stored creates sediment — such as sodium hypochlorite does, for example.
A tank that can’t discharge the bottom sediment will mean manual cleaning, a dangerous confined space situation, and time-consuming processes. The ability to fully discharge the tank is a big advantage to molded full discharge.
The Vertical IMFO Tanks are available up to 15,500 gallons and the Sloped Bottom IMFO Tanks are available up to 15,000 gallons.
Get more details about the IMFO system and discover the advantages over other discharge systems. Download our full discharge eBook.