Technical tank articles
Guides on selecting, calculating, and maintaining metal tanks — written by the Behineh Ab technical office from real project experience.
Calculating pressure vessel shell thickness, from datasheet to fabrication drawing
Shell thickness isn't just a number on a drawing — it's the result of a chain of engineering decisions. This article walks the same path the technical office walks for every project.
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Fabrication & weldingThe steps of building a steel tank, from the data sheet to testing and dispatch. A 20,000-litre tank takes about three weeks; here is what that time is spent on.
Testing & inspectionHydrotest, radiography, ultrasonic, liquid penetrant, magnetic particle and vacuum box. Each finds a particular defect and none can replace another. Here we compare them.
Testing & inspectionThe hydrotest is a tank's final exam before delivery, and we carry it out in our own factory. The test pressure, the work before filling, and the mistake that can ruin a tank while it is being drained.
Testing & inspectionThe radiography percentage sets the joint efficiency, and the joint efficiency sets the plate thickness. In other words, this decision directly affects the tank's weight and price.
Testing & inspectionThe simplest and cheapest non-destructive test, and often the best option for stainless welds. Provided you know what it does not see.
Testing & inspectionMT finds surface and slightly sub-surface cracks in carbon steel faster and more reliably than liquid penetrant. On 304 and 316 stainless, however, it can do nothing.
Testing & inspectionUltrasonic testing both measures the remaining plate thickness and finds defects inside the weld, with no radiation and without stopping work in the workshop.
Testing & inspectionA tank bottom sits on the foundation and cannot be seen from below. The vacuum box finds leaks in the bottom plate welds from above, before filling.
Testing & inspectionTesting with air is not a substitute for the hydrotest, unless water is genuinely not possible. The difference between a pneumatic test and a leak test, and why both are done with great care.
Fabrication & weldingHow a steel water tank is built, step by step: choosing the material, calculating plate thickness, the potable-water coating and the fill test. With notes on small water tanks.
Fabrication & weldingGalvanising a tank is not just dipping it in molten zinc. The tank must be designed for galvanising from the start. The steps, coating thickness and common mistakes.
Fabrication & weldingBuilding a pressure vessel differs from an ordinary storage tank: material traceability, head thickness checks after forming, nozzle reinforcement, PWHT and a hydrotest at 1.3 times.