stainless steel tank lid strengthening

[NBHAYLO]

looking for a strong and light solution to strengthening a rhodium storage tank lid to make accessable for maintenance and data sampling. the tank is made of 10mm thick stainless steel, not sure what kind of s/s, asuming 304. my idea consists of criss-crossing s/s channels, welded together and welded to lid making provisions for holes in lid for instrumentation. the dia of the tank is 3,2m and the height of the tank is around 5m. this tank is currently in use and the lid is sagging from the weight of the users.

 

[Ron]

How about straightening the existing lid and putting a sign on it....do not walk or stand on lid.

 

[NBHAYLO]

THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET TO THE INSTRUMENTS, BY WALKING ON THE LIDS OF THESE TANKS. THE OTHER OPTION IS TO DESIGN AND BUILD WALKWAYS OVER THESE TANKS, BUT THAT WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE AND THESE LIDS NEED TO BE REMOVED BY OVERHEAD CRANE FOR MAINTENANCE IN AND AROUND THE TANKS.

 

[ztengguy]

WHATS THE DIAMETER OF THE LID?

 

[dig1]

NBHAYLO,

Your idea will work; I have done this several times on tanks larger than your tank that operate under a slight vacuum. What was done is add a grillage of beams/channels/etc as necessary to gain the required strength. Grating was put on the members to provide a uniform walking surface (tripping over the members is not an acceptable design). The lid can be straightened as well. If you don't want to have grating the channels they can be welded to the bottom side and be installed in a future outage; I have done that as well.

Make sure you use appropriate safety measures when welding on an operating tank.

This will be more expensive than your initial idea but less expensive than a full blown platform.

BR,

Patrick