Storage tanks, tank containers and transport pipelines are constantly exposed to corrosive liquids, moisture, salt and temperature changes. Corrosion weakens the metal structure, reduces wall thickness and eventually causes leakage or rupture. For equipment carrying dangerous goods, corrosion is a silent hazard that can turn into fire, explosion or pollution.
Anti-corrosion protection and regular inspection are therefore a core part of equipment safety management. The following five key points cover the most important measures to keep storage and transport equipment reliable.
Corrosion control starts with design. The material must match the chemical and physical properties of the stored or transported medium, and an appropriate anti-corrosion coating should be applied inside and outside. The coating acts as a barrier between the medium and the metal, so it must be complete, firmly bonded and free of pinholes, cracks or peeling.
Damaged coatings should be repaired promptly, because a small exposed area becomes the starting point of deep corrosion.
Equipment should be inspected on a fixed schedule, covering the shell, welds, bottom plate, nozzles, supports and foundation. Inspectors look for rust, blisters, deformation, cracking and seepage, with particular attention to welds and areas that are difficult to access. Internal inspection should follow confined-space safety rules with ventilation, gas testing and supervision.
| Inspection Item | Focus |
|---|---|
| External surface | Rust, coating damage, deformation |
| Internal surface | Corrosion, scaling, pitting, deposits |
| Welds and nozzles | Cracks, seepage, stress corrosion |
| Foundation and supports | Settlement, corrosion at contact points |
For buried or partially buried equipment, cathodic protection and anti-corrosion wrapping help control electrochemical corrosion. Grounding and anti-static bonding devices must also remain intact and reliably connected, since corrosion and static discharge often appear together in humid environments.
The service environment should be controlled whenever possible. Suspended solids and sediment should be removed by regular cleaning, and the concentration, temperature and residence time of corrosive media should be managed within safe limits. After cleaning, the equipment should be dried and protected before returning to service.
Beyond daily inspection, equipment must undergo professional testing according to regulations, such as wall-thickness measurement, non-destructive testing and hydrostatic or tightness tests. All inspection, testing, coating and repair activities should be recorded in detail, so the equipment's condition history is traceable and predictive maintenance can be planned.
| Key Point | Core Focus |
|---|---|
| 1. Material and coating | Match the medium, keep coatings intact |
| 2. Regular inspection | Check shell, welds, bottom and foundations |
| 3. Cathodic protection | Control electrochemical corrosion and static |
| 4. Medium and cleaning | Remove residues and limit corrosive exposure |
| 5. Testing and records | Professional testing with full documentation |
Anti-corrosion protection and inspection keep storage and transport equipment strong, leak-free and compliant. By combining good design, regular checks, protective systems and professional testing, enterprises can extend equipment life and prevent corrosion from becoming an accident.
Storage tanks, tank containers and transport pipelines are constantly exposed to corrosive liquids, moisture, salt and temperature changes. Corrosion weakens the metal structure, reduces wall thickness and eventually causes leakage or rupture. For equipment carrying dangerous goods, corrosion is a silent hazard that can turn into fire, explosion or pollution.
Anti-corrosion protection and regular inspection are therefore a core part of equipment safety management. The following five key points cover the most important measures to keep storage and transport equipment reliable.
Corrosion control starts with design. The material must match the chemical and physical properties of the stored or transported medium, and an appropriate anti-corrosion coating should be applied inside and outside. The coating acts as a barrier between the medium and the metal, so it must be complete, firmly bonded and free of pinholes, cracks or peeling.
Damaged coatings should be repaired promptly, because a small exposed area becomes the starting point of deep corrosion.
Equipment should be inspected on a fixed schedule, covering the shell, welds, bottom plate, nozzles, supports and foundation. Inspectors look for rust, blisters, deformation, cracking and seepage, with particular attention to welds and areas that are difficult to access. Internal inspection should follow confined-space safety rules with ventilation, gas testing and supervision.
| Inspection Item | Focus |
|---|---|
| External surface | Rust, coating damage, deformation |
| Internal surface | Corrosion, scaling, pitting, deposits |
| Welds and nozzles | Cracks, seepage, stress corrosion |
| Foundation and supports | Settlement, corrosion at contact points |
For buried or partially buried equipment, cathodic protection and anti-corrosion wrapping help control electrochemical corrosion. Grounding and anti-static bonding devices must also remain intact and reliably connected, since corrosion and static discharge often appear together in humid environments.
The service environment should be controlled whenever possible. Suspended solids and sediment should be removed by regular cleaning, and the concentration, temperature and residence time of corrosive media should be managed within safe limits. After cleaning, the equipment should be dried and protected before returning to service.
Beyond daily inspection, equipment must undergo professional testing according to regulations, such as wall-thickness measurement, non-destructive testing and hydrostatic or tightness tests. All inspection, testing, coating and repair activities should be recorded in detail, so the equipment's condition history is traceable and predictive maintenance can be planned.
| Key Point | Core Focus |
|---|---|
| 1. Material and coating | Match the medium, keep coatings intact |
| 2. Regular inspection | Check shell, welds, bottom and foundations |
| 3. Cathodic protection | Control electrochemical corrosion and static |
| 4. Medium and cleaning | Remove residues and limit corrosive exposure |
| 5. Testing and records | Professional testing with full documentation |
Anti-corrosion protection and inspection keep storage and transport equipment strong, leak-free and compliant. By combining good design, regular checks, protective systems and professional testing, enterprises can extend equipment life and prevent corrosion from becoming an accident.
