Stainless steel processing tanks have a long lifespan if they are constructed well and given proper attention. The care of your tank begins with the concepts and properties in the design stage and continues through years or even decades of use.

Spec Your Tank Correctly

The functionality of your tank must be considered first. Not only do you want to pick the right material and finish for your tank, but you also need to match the operational requirements to the design. Here are some questions to consider:

1. Do you plan on doing hot work?
2. How do you plan on cleaning the tank?
3. Will it be inside or outside?
4. What safety and health standards will you need to meet?

Failure to consider all of the specifications will cause various problems over the years and your tank could operate at a less-than-optimum level.

Run the Horizontal Agitator With Enough Product Covering the Blades

Years ago we heard from a manufacturer who would run their horizontal agitator while their tank was nearly empty. Next thing they knew, the agitator was warped. When processing, the blades of your agitator need to be covered with product by at least a foot above the blade. If the blades are not covered enough it could cause the product to slap around and create turbulence. This puts stress on the blades and could cause them to bend, or worse, detach. When there is enough product covering the blades, it keeps them centered, balanced and turning the product.   

Train Staff That Will Be Working with the Tank

Prior to tank use and maintenance, make sure those who will be working with the equipment are familiar with it’s functions and mechanics. The more people who know the basic information about the processing equipment the better, such as:

• where the gauges are located
• what media will be running through which pipes and valves
• when to run what media
• the proper care equipment must receive in order to run efficiently

The more attentive people are with equipment, the easier it is to identify problems when they occur. Performing routine visual inspections is great way to keep your tank running at peak performance levels. Check out our  and catch small problems before they turn into large problems that negatively impact production. 

We saw this example play out with a customer who was performing a visual inspection on their tank and noticed a leak which they thought was product. This customer promptly called Paul Mueller Company to repair the leak.  After arriving on site, it was found the heat transfer was leaking, not product. This customer did a great job of acting quickly on a small problem before it became a greater nuisance.

Let the Tank Cool down Before Filling with a Cold Media

Time and again, we receive calls from customers who have imploded their tanks by filling it with a cold product before it's properly cooled down. Combine this with a tank that doesn't have proper ventilation and it's a recipe for disaster. It is important to not only maintain proper treatment of your heating and cooling media, but also to know how much time your tank needs to cool down. Read here about more reasons your tank may implode.