Experience installing a fuel tank?

[Green08]

I am considering installing a new fuel tank for diesel @ 10,000L capacity

The sites I have read are both above ground and under ground.

Single skinned or double skinned?

I understand there are strict regulation on installation and maintenance which may vary state to state. I’m in NSW.

Does anyone have any experience with the;
Installation?
Best quality of tanks?
Cost of tanks - can't seem to find any sites that give costs.
Best supplier in Australia of tanks?
General Cost for full installation, pipes, pump, electrics etc?
Does anyone have a fuel tank on their property with advise?
Best company to buy bulk fuel from?
Double vaulted concrete surrounds?
Additives to preserve the fuel?
Anyone else thought about installing one?

I grew up on a farm at one stage in the 1980's and we had a fuel tank installed after a nasty run in at a petrol station when my father needed fuel to get to surgery. As my dad was a specialist Doctor, he had to have fuel to travel to hospitals and emergency work. I was told we did encounter problems after with water seepage contaminating the petrol after a couple of years. Now as I was about 15 years old I don't remember details just that there was a petrol pump in the yard and dad used it.

Quality and legislation have changed. Would like hands on advice. Thank you

 

[Smurf1976]

There are lots of problems with old underground fuel tanks leaking. That's to the point that it's quite common to do drilling in the middle of city streets etc to check for leaked petrol, diesel etc.

I know of one situation (at work) where we had to relocate an electrical cabinet across the road and take quite a few measures to keep petrol vapour out. Yes, there's a service station across the road and obviously their tanks were leaking (it's since closed). Another one was simply a case of doing some digging and finding "oil" - it turned out to be diesel and further investigation found several old tanks on the neighbouring property. Leaks are common...

Several issues there. First one is you don't want to be leaking petrol and contaminating the ground and/or groundwater. A nasty environmental mess that's for sure. In the USA some fuel additives have been phased out specifically for this reason - they mix with groundwater and are extra nasty when that happens. And it's a very common problem.

Second, you don't want to be losing your petrol. Not at $1.50 or so a litre anyway.

Third, any leak of petrol is obviously a hazard if it's anywhere near a potential source of ignition.

So if the tank is made of steel then you want to make sure there's some proper corrosion protection so that it doesn't rust away and leak. I'd assume this would be done by tank coatings (eg galvanizing) and/or cathodic protection - either mains / solar powered or via the use of a sacrificial anode. Those methods are all common for protecting steel in hot water tanks, oil rigs, bridges, ships, gas and water pipelines and so on.

The tanks I've seen installed recently (at service stations) looked to be made of something other than metal. I assume it was fibreglass but I'm not certain on that point.

 

[sam76]

Getting ready for the end of the world, Greeny?

 

[roland]

a past girlfriend's father had a property and all his tanks were above ground. great girlfriend to have during a petrol strike - except when I accidently filled the LJ Torana with diesel instead of regular - should have seen the smoke trail all the way from dural to hornsby!

 

[Green08]

...Several issues there. First one is you don't want to be leaking petrol and contaminating the ground and/or groundwater. A nasty environmental mess that's for sure. In the USA some fuel additives have been phased out specifically for this reason - they mix with groundwater and are extra nasty when that happens. And it's a very common problem.

Thanks Smurf. From my reading I would be looking at a double skinned tank, anti corrisive (forgot that one) in the ground in a double concrete shell. I want to reduce the risk of any leakage for money and yes, I'm a tree hugger!

They put a new BP around the corner from me took them over a year to clear the contaminated soil. Didn't see them putting in tanks but will assume they are in the area of 90,000L each as not to many stations around here.

Getting ready for the end of the world, Greeny?

I have to keep my bike running, but I was waiting for someone cheeky like you to ask! Not a bad thought and no your not getting my address to fill up your bike!

 

[Green08]

View attachment Business_Growth_For_Transtank.pdf

http://www.bluescopesteel.com.au/index.cfm?objectID=3FC71E00-7E9C-28EB-0EF0B85A839CDB3E

"Enclosed plumbing facilities and interlocking characteristics...leak retention system that ensures that any leak is contained within the unit.."

Easy to read 3 page flyer, glad to see them moving towards protecting the environment