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Glass Fused Steel Tanks

Phillips Tank & Structure can provide installation and repair of Glass Fused Tanks in the United States, it's territories, and the Pacific Island nations. At PTS we “Lead with Engineering.” Because no two tank projects are alike, our industry-leading Engineering Group custom designs each tank to meet the needs of the application.

A wide range of accessories are available to meet the needs of your facility, such as roof hatches, gauging, temperature probes, nozzles, tank access ladders, and platforms.

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PTS is a distributor of Permastore Glass-Fused-to-Steel tanks, the 60+ year global market leader in glass-fused-to-steel bolted tanks.

Different grades of glass coatings are available, specifically formulated for your application. For the highest reliability, Permastore tests 100% of glass coatings on ISOFUSION®, TRIFUSION® and TRIFUSION® Plus, covering applications such as food oils, dry bulk solids, potable water, municipal water and solids treatment, thermophilic digesters, and aggressive / chemical industrial effluent. Permastore also offers the cost effective ECOFUSION®, ideal for use with grain storage or farm waste digesters.

Permastore quality systems ensure that their tank products comply with EN ISO 28765:2016 and AWWA D103-19, with some coatings also certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61. If you would like to learn more, the quality system documentation is published online for review.

More About Glass-Fused Bolted Steel Tanks

Manufacturing Process

The glass-fused-to-steel (GFS) process is a method of manufacturing carbon steel storage tanks with a layer of glass fused to the surface. The steel is cleaned, then coated with glass enamel. The glass enamel uses a mixture of inorganic pigments, a binder, glass frit, and is fused to the steel at a high temperature. This creates a strong chemical bond between the two materials, resulting in a tank with strength and durability of steel, but with the added benefit of corrosion-resistance from the glass coating. These tanks are also known as glass-lined bolted steel tanks, glass-fused bolted steel tanks and glass coated tanks.

Applications

Glass fused tanks are often used in municipal, industrial, and agricultural settings, and are known for their long service life and low maintenance requirements due to their corrosion resistance and UV stability.

Chemical Storage

Glass-fused-to-steel tanks are commonly used to store chemicals. Their corrosion resistance makes them well-suited for storing chemicals such as acids and bases, which can be highly corrosive to many types of materials.

Potable water storage

Glass fused water tanks are ideal as they can protect the water from contaminants and ensure that it remains safe for consumption. They are commonly used in municipal water storage and distribution, as well as for industrial and agricultural uses.

 

Wastewater Treatment

The excellent corrosion resistance and abrasion resistance of glass-fused-to-steel tanks makes them suitable for storing and treating harsh liquids and chemicals commonly used in wastewater treatment.

Additional Applications

GFS tanks are also used in the food and beverage industry, power generation, and fire protection tanks.

Installation

The installation of a glass-fused bolted tank requires a stable foundation that can support both the weight of the tank and the stored product.

Once the site is prepared, tank panels can be delivered and assembled on-site. The panels are bolted together starting with the base bolting ring. The roof and shell panels are constructed at ground level and jacked upwards to prepare for the next shell ring. During this process, it is important to ensure that the sections are properly aligned and the bolts are tightened to the correct torque.

After the tank is assembled, the next step is to install any necessary internal and external components. This may include manholes, nozzles, valves, overflow piping, and other fittings. These components must be properly installed and tested to ensure that they are functioning correctly. In some cases, the tank requires insulation, heating, or cooling system that is required to maintain the temperature of the stored liquid.

Leak testing includes a visual inspection of all the internal and external components, and filling the tank with water to monitor for leaks. This step is critical, as it ensures that the tank is safe to use and that it will be able to contain the stored liquids without any leaks or breaches.

It is also important to have a maintenance plan in place for the tank. This includes regular inspections and maintenance of the tank, including cleaning,  monitoring for leaks, and checking for signs of damage. Regular maintenance will help to extend the life of the tank and ensure that it remains functional for many years.

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