Project Overview
Existing steel tank upstands on this site were not wide enough to facilitate a traditional bolted connection.
OPW’s UK engineering team created a bespoke chemical bonding system to attach GRP Fibrelite tank sumps to the existing upstands, eliminating the need for additional work and expensive adaptor plates.
Fibrelite tank sumps bonded to existing tanks using bespoke bonding system
Problem
Shell required a retrofit watertight solution to replace previously installed tank sumps / chambers fitted to existing tank upstands without replacing the tanks.
The main problem for this installation was that the old tank upstands were too small for the traditional bolt down tank sumps / chambers.
At this site, the old tank upstands were too small for the traditional bolt down chambers tank sumps / chambers
Solution
OPW’s Fibrelite team came up with a solution to chemically bond the GRP square chambers onto the old tank upstands.
The OPW Fibrelite site team used an epoxy putty compound to lay onto the tank collar before carefully placing the chamber on top, bonding the chamber to the upstand. Preparation of surfaces before bonding was key.
OPW’s Fibrelite team came up with a solution to chemically bond the GRP square chambers onto the old tank upstands
Results
Bonding the chambers directly onto existing tank upstands saved Shell time and money on installation while providing a fully watertight chamber system, which will endure year after year.
The site team conducted a vacuum test onsite after the install to ensure water tightness of the chambers.
Preparation of surface for putty
Epoxy putty compound
Fibrelite tank sump mounted on old tank upstand
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