A New York auto manufacturer has an aluminum sulfate primary
containment tank that was decommissioned about a year ago because
the product it was holding had eaten two holes in the tank wall.
Maple Grove Enterprises was
called to remove the existing glass flake liner and repair the tank.
Since the only access to the tank had been a small hole on the top,
we cut a 24" hole into the side of the tank for easier access
and safety. The new manway was fabricated in our Arcade facility,
delivered to the company, and installed.
(Click on any photo for a full-size
view.)
The original glass flake liner failed, allowing
the acid to eat two holes through the ¼"
steel wall. We thoroughly cleaned the tank walls with solvent,
welded patches over the holes, and then recoated the outside surface
of the tank.
On the inside of the tank, the hole is covered with metal filler.
The tank originally had no access, except for a too-small opening
at the top. Maple Grove cut a 24" hole in the side of the
tank.
We fabricated covers for the hole at our shop and then installed
them on the tank.
After creating access to the tank, we sandblasted
the inside to remove the original tank liner, and then evacuated
the leftover media.
After evacuation, we grind and repair imperfections in the wall.
After grinding, we thoroughly inspect the inside walls to remove
all imperfections, weld splatter, and possible holidays, and then
apply metal filler to pits and imperfections.
Two coats of polyester are applied to the welds and seams, and
then the seams, wall, ceiling, and floor are painted with three
finish coats.
