A-36 Plate Steel for Sulphuric Acid storage tanks
A-36 Plate Steel for Sulphuric Acid storage tanks
(OP)
Need to build a storage tank farm for concentrated Sulphuric Acid (96-98%).
some literature states that ASTM A-36 , steel is not allowed, for building storage tanks.
Couldn“t find more specific data , that supports the above statement
Will appreciate long term experience using A-36 on sulphuric acid storage tanks.
Regards
some literature states that ASTM A-36 , steel is not allowed, for building storage tanks.
Couldn“t find more specific data , that supports the above statement
Will appreciate long term experience using A-36 on sulphuric acid storage tanks.
Regards





RE: A-36 Plate Steel for Sulphuric Acid storage tanks
Steve Braune
Tank Industry Consultants
www.tankindustry.com
RE: A-36 Plate Steel for Sulphuric Acid storage tanks
RE: A-36 Plate Steel for Sulphuric Acid storage tanks
The following grades should be considered: A516, A573, A662, A131 Gr. B, all normalized over 3/8"
RE: A-36 Plate Steel for Sulphuric Acid storage tanks
Steve Braune
Tank Industry Consultants
www.tankindustry.com
RE: A-36 Plate Steel for Sulphuric Acid storage tanks
Please advise me about the specific document (NACE RP xxxx).
RE: A-36 Plate Steel for Sulphuric Acid storage tanks
RE: A-36 Plate Steel for Sulphuric Acid storage tanks
Of the concentrated sulfuric acid tank you have delt with, what is the ASTM designation you most commonly find ?
I have personally inspected a 30 year old A285 carbon steel tank ( with 0.5000 wall) that was used for storage of 93% sulfuric acid. No real corrosion on the shell after 30 years......some flow induced corrosion on one nozzle.
Sulfuric,
How does the sulfuric acid distingush between ASTM grades of carbon steel ? Either carbon steel is acceptable for the sulfuric acid at the storage temperature or it is not... How can pressure vessel quality steel make a diference ? What is your source of this knowledge....???
If the steel is produced to ASTM specification it should make no difference....
References.....not opinions ...please !!!
http://www
-MJC
RE: A-36 Plate Steel for Sulphuric Acid storage tanks
A283 and A36 was common for the most tanks. Have seen A516-70 to a much lesser extent. A very sophisticated acid producer in Canada had a pretty tight spec for their larger tanks (100ft+) that included tougher grades such a A516 and some of the CSA WT grades. The toughness was base on DMT issues, not acid service. Regardless of grade, always remove mill scale for this acid service.
Steve Braune
Tank Industry Consultants
www.tankindustry.com
RE: A-36 Plate Steel for Sulphuric Acid storage tanks
RE: A-36 Plate Steel for Sulphuric Acid storage tanks
Steve Braune
Tank Industry Consultants
www.tankindustry.com
RE: A-36 Plate Steel for Sulphuric Acid storage tanks
I have see sulfuric acid tanks built of carbon steel that have been in service for 15-20 years. Unfortunately I don't remember the grade of steel!
I believe A36 is not considered a killed carbon steel, whereas A516 Gr70 would be... But this probably has little bearing on sulfuric acid service. I guess what I'm saying is there are some metallurgy differences between the steel grades as well, but doubtful enough to make a difference.
I suspect the literature on storage tanks you mentioned discouraging A36 storage tanks has more to do with structural reasons than corrosion. A36 also doesn't go as low temperatures as other grades.. if MDMT were a consideration.
Whatever grade of carbon steel you go with - sulfuric is more corrosive at lower concentrations. Moisture ingression into the tank would dilute the concentration, consequently increasing the corrosion rate.
What I typically see on sulfuric tanks at cooling towers (for pH control) is atmospheric tanks with a vent dryer on the vent line, because the atmospheric tanks would breathe in during tank unloading.
I realize this is way late from your question, but hope it helps anyway.