Industrial storage tanks are used to store materials such as water, oil, food, and other products. Their purpose is to keep materials safe, accessible, and prolong their longevity. Many industries require storage tanks for everything from food production to chemical and fuel operations.
Often, these types of storage tanks are specially designed to hold specific materials, and sometimes they need to be temperature controlled in order to prevent freezing or degradation of the contents. Storage tank insulation is one way to help regulate the temperature of materials in storage.
Understanding Industrial Storage Tanks
There are many industries that use storage tanks. Here are some examples of materials that require temperature-controlled storage solutions:
Food Storage
Beverage and food ingredients that are stored in bulk may be kept in industrial tanks. These include edible oils, syrups, dairy products, grains, juices, and more. Industrial tank insulation, along with cooling and heating systems, helps to maintain proper temperature ranges.
Water Storage
Water storage is required in large tanks for factories, municipal water treatment, agriculture, manufacturing, and more. Water is susceptible to evaporation in hot temperatures and freezing in cold temperatures. That’s why water storage tanks require insulation systems in order to prevent loss or damage to the contents.
Fuel Storage
Storing gasoline and other fuels requires specialized tanks that reduce the risk of fire. Double-walled tanks can provide additional protection for potentially hazardous contents. Fire-resistant materials should also be used and the temperature should be controlled to safe ranges.
Insulation for Industrial Storage Tanks
Whether you’re insulating a tank for water, fuel, or food—storage tank insulation systems can help keep the temperature stable and safe. There are two main methods to insulate industrial storage tanks: vertical and horizontal storage tank insulation installation.
Vertical Insulation
Insulation for cold water storage tanks may be installed vertically. Vertical insulation panels run the entire height of the storage tank and fit together to form continuous insulation that is held in place by cables.
Horizontal Insulation
Another common insulation method for cold water storage tanks is horizontal insulation panels. They must be held together with bands and require specialized equipment to lift custom-fit panels that have a radius to match the tank circumference.
Spray Foam Insulation
Spray polyurethane foam insulation is another option sometimes used to insulate industrial storage tanks. However, it requires specialized equipment and the cost of material and installation can be significantly higher than foam insulation boards.
Insulation Types
Both vertical and horizontal foam storage tank insulation are made with foam insulation materials, such as polyiso. Polyiso offers a high thermal performance per inch, which means that you can achieve the desired R-value with a thinner thickness. Polyiso offers an R-value of R-6 per inch. Other foam materials, like EPS or XPS, are available but carry a lower R-value.
Polyiso is also moisture-resistant, which showcases its low permeability and vapor transmission rates. It is ideal for temperature-controlled contents so that condensation is minimized and when it does occur, it doesn’t affect the integrity or performance of the insulation.
Foam insulation is lightweight and easy to install which makes it ideal for insulating industrial storage tanks.
Environmental Considerations
By insulating your temperature-controlled storage tank, you’re already conserving energy and reducing heating and cooling costs. You can make an even bigger difference by choosing the right type of insulation.
Choosing insulation for your industrial storage tank that is environmentally-friendly can help you conserve energy while also making a positive impact on the environment. Materials that contain recycled content or are recyclable after initial use are more sustainable than those insulating materials that are harmful to the environment.
Some foam boards, like XPS and EPS, produce greenhouse gases during manufacturing and are not biodegradable after use. Recyclability varies, so be sure to check with the insulation manufacturer when deciding which type of insulation to use.
Often, you can find information about recycled content on the product data sheet found on the manufacturer’s website. See the Rmax sustainability section for more information on what we’re doing to preserve our environment and make a positive impact.
Rmax Polyiso Insulation
Rmax offers a variety of polyiso insulation products. Rmax Durasheath® is an affordable quality polyiso insulation with inorganic coated glass fiber mat facers. Rmax Thermasheath® upgrades the facer material to reinforced aluminum facers.
The Rmax ECOMAXci® FR Air Barrier doubles as an air and vapor barrier when installed with seam tape. Each of these polyiso insulations can be customized to fit specific needs for industrial tanks.
Get Insulation from the Experts
There’s no question that insulation helps keep contents inside storage tanks optimally maintained. If you’re ready to see what your options are for your industrial tank insulation systems, Rmax can help. Reach out to our team today to discover a customized solution for your storage tanks!