A leak has been detected in the methanol tank; how should the welds of the tank be inspected?
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One of our company’s tanks used for storing methanol fuel is leaking; at present, the location of the leak is unknown. We are currently draining the fuel from the tank to clean it up. I would like to ask how to inspect the welds on such tanks. The oil tank is a atmospheric pressure storage tank with a capacity of 500 cubic meters. Since it couldn’t be emptied every time it was shut down, no inspections were carried out. I wonder what kinds of regular inspections should be done. Thank you all! !
Monitoring the welds on the tank bottom is the real challenge (if the tank isn’t emptied)
The bottom plate of the tank is usually welded at the corners, and inspection poses a problem
I’m not sure what’s meant by the leakage location; leaks in the pipe wall should be visible, so is it a problem with the bottom of the tank? The testing method involves using a vacuum chamber for testing.
We are currently cleaning the asphalt covering the outer wall of the tank; therefore, the leak can only be seen at the bottom of the tank, and the exact location has not yet been identified
Oh, I see. After cleaning, conduct a visual inspection first.
I would like to ask how to inspect welds that have no leaks. Thank you all
Leaks in the tank walls should be visible. For the bottom of the tank, first remove any materials from it, then grind the weld areas and examine them; if leaks cannot be detected visually, it is recommended to conduct a coloring test or perform weld inspection
If a cheaper option is chosen, check for leaks on the bottom plate of the vacuum tank; otherwise, use ultrasonic testing