×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Water Tank Corrosion Allowance

Water Tank Corrosion Allowance

Water Tank Corrosion Allowance

(OP)
Preliminary design of a water storage tank to be located in a coastal area of California (saltwater environment) using the Storage Tank data sheet provided by the API Std 650 requires corrosion allowance values.  Can anyone tell me what appropriate values should be used (in inches) for roof, shell, bottom, and structurals, and what the basis is for determining such values?
Replies continue below

Recommended for you

RE: Water Tank Corrosion Allowance

Corrosion rates are dependant on the materials of construction and the environment.  One thing I can suggest is that all materials should be the same if possible, if not then as close together on the galvanic series as possible to prevent galvanic corrosion (which is worse in a saltwater atmosphere).  One good source for data is the Kennedy Space Center Corrosion Testbed (http://corrosion.ksc.nasa.gov/).  They have done extensive testing with samples exposed to the ocean atmosphere.  In my dealings with NASA they are extremely helpful.

RE: Water Tank Corrosion Allowance

BLN is correct in stating that the corrosion rates can be extremely variable.  In the chemical industry, the common corrosion allowance on carbon steel tanks is 0.125".  Most tank corrosion failures tend to be in the floor plates.  It is not uncommon to double the corrosion allowance on the floor to 0.25".  

RE: Water Tank Corrosion Allowance

(OP)
tahnks for the tip- the tank is proposed to be welded steel

RE: Water Tank Corrosion Allowance

Adamo,
If this tank is for storing sea water, the average corrsion rates would be in the order of 10 - 15 mpy (mils per year). Atmospheric corrosion (bare carboon steel) in a marine environment is about 25 - 20 mpy (Measure at Point Reyes CA @ 19.7 mpy over two years.)

It is always good to consider the use of internal epoxy linings and external paint systems for corrosion protection. Cathodic protection should also be considered.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members! Already a Member? Login



News


Close Box

Join Eng-Tips® Today!

Join your peers on the Internet's largest technical engineering professional community.
It's easy to join and it's free.

Here's Why Members Love Eng-Tips Forums:

Register now while it's still free!

Already a member? Close this window and log in.

Join Us             Close