In addition to the typical uses of acid tanks to store and transport fracking waste, frac tanks are often utilized in other industries because of their affordability, versatility, and portability.
Here are several alternative uses for frac tanks in refinery operations, in both temporary and permanent capacities.
Planned Refinery Maintenance
Frac tanks can be used as temporary bypasses, pump stations, and storage solutions for refinery maintenance operations.
Cooling Tower Cleaning
A frac tank can store the water, chemicals, or both that are used to clean refinery cooling towers.
Temporary Tank Storage
Frac tanks can be used as temporary storage tanks in refinery operations.
Bag Filtration and Dewatering Boxes
A frac tank is larger and more versatile than the average dewatering box, making it an ideal choice for refineries.
Alkylation and Isomerization Unit Cleaning
Refining petroleum is a delicate process, and a frac tank can be employed to clean the units used for alkylation and isomerization.
Catalytic Cracker and Hydrocracker Unit Servicing
As the most important conversion processes at a refinery, keeping catalytic crackers and hydrocracker units functioning is a top priority. Mobile frac tanks can rotate on a job site to provide this service.
Heat Exchanger Bundle Cleaning
A frac tank can be moved to any location to assist with the cleaning of a heat exchanger bundle.
Temporary Storage of Process Chemicals and Waste
A refinery operation might have permanent solutions in place to process chemicals and waste, but there are a variety of reasons why a temporary storage solution might be necessary. If there is a breakdown in the chemical processing system, this could back up the entire operation if there aren’t temporary storage solutions available or on hand. An unplanned boost in capacity can also create a demand for a temporary system.
Temporary Long-term Tank Storage for Overloaded Systems
Refineries are designed and constructed to handle a certain capacity, but demand services could push these operations to their limits. The immediate expansion is both costly and time-consuming, but there are ways that a refinery can quickly expand some of its operations with temporary solutions, such a frac tanks. Frac tanks can provide additional storage, maintenance, and processing power to an overloaded refinery system.
Storage for Spent Acids and Caustics
How to safely store hazardous chemicals is a real concern for many refinery operations. There are regulations on safely handling these chemicals through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the EPA. One safe way to store spent acids and caustics is by using frac tanks. These steel tanks are constructed to handle and hold dangerous and corrosive materials such as the ones commonly found at a refinery.
Storage of Gasoline and Quench Oil
Temporary storage tanks at refinery sites might come at a premium, and the benefit of using frac tanks to store gasoline and quench oil is twofold. The tanks are portable, so they can be moved to wherever they are most needed. This is also an economical storage choice, giving a refinery more storage capacity for less economic investment than some other options.
Storage of Organic and Inorganic Chemicals
Refinery operations invariably deal with chemicals, some more harmful than others. One challenge for these companies is finding a safe and economical way to store organic and inorganic chemicals. Fortunately, frac tanks can be used for this purpose and are used to store such things as sulfuric chloride, demineralized water, hydrosodium, phosphate water, MEA, and DEA.
Storage of Off-spec and Buffer Products
Most refineries produce some off-spec products, and a frac tank is one way to store these liquids.
Containment Systems for Leaking Pipelines
When a pipeline is leaking, a frac tank can provide an emergency containment solution.
Plant Sewer Maintenance
Frac tanks provide a portable solution to plant sewer maintenance.
Crude and Slop Tank Maintenance and Cleaning
A frac tank can help refineries efficiently and cost-effectively clean crude and slop tanks.
Chemical Cleaning of Process Equipment
A frac tank can hold cleaning chemicals and deliver pressurized solutions for equipment cleaning.