Environmental Science & Engineering - www.esemag.com - May 2004
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Containing harsh chemical solutions in storage tanks cost-efficiently
By Joseph Schaefer
Kentain Products Ltd.
In the mid to late 70s, the main
users for PVC liners were municipalities
and plating industries.
Because of the one piece construction,
and the liners being virtually
maintenance free, they began to prove
to the chemical industry just how
durable they were.
In 1972, two underground concrete
storage tanks had been constructed at
the City of Barrie Water Pollution
Control Centre. The two tanks were
used to contain liquid alum. The lining
began to crack from the expansion and
contraction of the tanks, causing the
tanks to leak.
In 1982, on the advice of Gore and
Storrie Ltd. (now CH2M HILL),
Kentain Products Ltd. proposed a
heavy gauge 40 mil (.040") flexible
PVC bag type liner. The liner was
installed without removing the existing
lining. The PVC liner was not adhered
to the tank surface and was not affected
by the expansion and contraction or
small cracks left in the walls. The liners
were pre-fabricated at Kentain’s
facility in Kitchener, Ontario, and
delivered to the job site in one piece.
They were closed top liners with provisions
for the manway opening and the
other fitting connections. Kentain also
provided an installation supervisor and
two helpers who worked in conjunction
with the City of Barrie employees,
installing both liners in two weeks.
Early in 1999, after 17 years of
trouble free service, discussions began
between the City of Barrie and Kentain
to have the existing PVC liners
replaced for preventative measures.
Working from the existing shop drawings,
Kentain manufactured the
replacement liners in their plant and
made arrangements with the City of
Barrie to set up an installation date.
Providing only an installation supervisor,
Kentain once again worked with
the City of Barrie employees to install
the new replacement liners. Because of
the high standards of tank preparation
completed when the tanks were originally
lined in 1982, the installation for
the two replacement liners was completed
in one week, half the original
time.
Working from technical drawings
showing the inside dimensions of a
tank, and additional detailed drawings
showing the length, locations and
diameter of all fittings, Kentain can
construct a liner to fit a tank in one
piece. The PVC rolled goods used are
die-electrically welded together to
form a liquid and vapour tight seal.
The entire inside surface of the tank is
completely protected. Also, a unique
leak detection system provides early
awareness should a leak ever occur.
For tanks such as FRP, Wood Stave
and Steel that expand and contract
from fluctuating temperatures of the
solutions being stored during filling,
Kentain liners are customized so they
are not affected by this process.
As long as the existing tanks are
structurally sound, a Kentain liner can
prolong the life of a leaking tank for
many years. This has been proven
many times over the past 28 years to be
more cost-efficient than having the
large cost of replacing the tank. In
some cases, a section of the wall or
roof housing the tank would have to be
removed to install a new replacement
tank.
Contact, e-mail: joseph@kentain.com
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