Tank containers are used in the transportation of bulk amounts of liquids, powders and gas (generally free flowing products). They are designed to international specifications for transportation of both hazardous and non-hazardous cargo. The tanks can be transported on ships or trains or mounted on trailers for road transportation. The cylindrical tank has a metal framework that makes it easier to handle. Products such as alimentary products and industrial products are recommended for transportation using tank containers.
Tank container types are divided into three main categories
IMO 0
IMO 0 tanks are the simplest tank containers in design. They are best for transporting products that are non-hazardous and do not require unloading under pressure. These including alimentary products such as milk, vegetable oils, beers, non-concentrate juices and mineral water among others. Tank wall thickness for IMO 0 tank containers is usually 2mm thick with a maximum capacity of about 30,000 liters. Some containers of this classification may have a layer of insulation or a vapor heating system in case the product requires special transportation conditions.
IMO 1
These tank containers can be used to transport all kinds of liquid chemicals. The walls are a bit thicker, between 4mm to 7mm thick. The nature of the cargo will determine the design specifications of the tank such as an upper drain. IMO 1 tank container operation pressure varies between 2.65 to 6 atmospheres. It can also have additional features like vapor heating systems, insulation or electrical heating systems.
IMO 2
This category consists of tanks used in the transportation of most hazardous materials that can be transported with bottom unloading. These tanks have lower operating atmospheres compared to IMO 1 class tanks, between 1.75 and 3 atmospheres. The walls are also thinner between 3mm to 4mm. However, they can also have similar equipping components like insulation, electrical and vapor heating systems.
Flexi tanks
This is not a category of tank containers as such but it is a type of multimodal container that can also be used in the transportation of liquids, powders and gases. They are disposable containers that can be used for specific types of liquid cargo. The product is transported in polymer flexi tank flexible reservoir that is mounted on a flat surface inside a normal cargo container. Flexi tanks are disposable with a relatively low set up cost. However, flexi tanks cannot be used with refrigerator container transportation. All products have to be analyzed using the Material Data Safety Sheet before being transported in flexi tanks.
Share27 January 2017
Welcome to my blog! My name is Richard and my big passion in life is looking for old buildings to restore. My love of old buildings started when I was seven years old and I visited my grandparent's house in Alice Springs. It was a large Victorian building which looked magnificent even though it was in a bad state of repair. Once I grew up and made some money, I decided I would like to invest in old buildings to bring them back to life. I hire a range of different contractors to complete the work on my behalf but I take a keen interest and I have learnt a lot of things.