FRP as a Retrofitting Solution for Tanks
Concrete, steel or fiberglass tanks are extensively used in various industries to contain water, sewage, oil, and chemicals. The adverse service environment result in fast corrosion and deterioration of tanks. In concrete tanks, cracks in concrete allow passage of moisture and chemicals which expedites corrosion of the reinforcing steel. In steel tanks, the coating on the tank lasts only a few years and the bare metal begins to corrode rapidly. All these cases can be addressed using FRP products. Fabrics of carbon or glass FRP saturated with epoxy resin can be applied to the interior or exterior surface of the tank to strengthen the tank. Afzir engineers will calculate the required number of layers and orientation of the fabric for each project and will submit sealed engineering design drawings to the owner.
Features & Benefits
Advantages of repair of tanks with FRP include:
- Repairs can be done internally or externally
- Minimal increase in wall thickness (typically ¼ inch (5mm))
- Changing the number of FRP layers along the height reduced repair cost
- Repairs are fast with minimal downtime
- Connecting pipes and fittings can often remain in place during repair
- Ideal for spot repair of only damaged areas
- FRP will serve as a moisture barrier to protect the tank against future corrosion