Horizontal Oil Storage Tank

Definition and Core Applications

Horizontal oil storage tanks are horizontally placed cylindrical sealed containers, primarily used for storing liquid media such as crude oil, gasoline, diesel, lubricating oil, and chemical solvents. They are extremely common in small distribution oil depots, gas stations, company-owned oil depots, and field operation sites. They can also be used as venting tanks and metering tanks for large oil depots.

Main Features

• High Pressure Resistance: Due to its structural characteristics, it can withstand relatively high positive and negative pressures (generally between 0.01 and 4 MPa), making it ideal for storing volatile media such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), effectively reducing evaporation losses.
• Easy Manufacturing and Handling: Its volume is usually small (commonly below 100 cubic meters, and small gas stations may use only a few cubic meters), allowing for mass production in factories and subsequent transport and installation on-site, facilitating future dismantling.
• Larger Footprint: Compared to vertical storage tanks of the same capacity, horizontal storage tanks require a larger footprint, and the unit storage capacity consumption of materials such as steel is also relatively higher.

Structural Composition

• Main Tank Body: Cylindrical shell (rolled and welded steel plate) + end caps (elliptical/disc-shaped/flat caps, disc-shaped for higher pressure resistance); saddle-type supports ensure even stress distribution.
• Core Accessories: Manhole (for maintenance), inlet/outlet pipes, level gauge/high level alarm, breather valve/vent pipe (to balance internal and external pressure and reduce evaporation), drain outlet, emergency shut-off valve, lightning protection and anti-static grounding device.
• Material: Commonly used carbon steel (economical), 304/316 stainless steel (corrosion resistant/food grade), also available in fiberglass, steel-lined plastic, and other corrosion-resistant materials; the outer surface is often coated with an anti-corrosion coating, and buried tanks are often equipped with cathodic protection.

Common Classifications

• By Pressure: Atmospheric/low-pressure tanks (commonly used in gas stations, ≤0.07MPa), pressure tanks (for storing liquefied gas, etc., 0.1~0.4MPa and above).
• By Installation Location: Above ground, underground/soil-covered, semi-underground. 3. By volume: Small (< 50m³), Medium (50~120m³), Large (120~200m³, single tanks rarely exceed 200m³).

Advantages and Disadvantages

Key Standards and Safety Requirements

• Comply with GB 50074 "Code for Design of Petroleum Depots", GB 18564 "Tanker Vehicles for Road Transport of Liquid Dangerous Goods", etc.
• Leakage testing (double-walled tanks/leak-proof tank pools) must be performed, along with lightning and static electricity protection, regular wall thickness testing and corrosion protection maintenance
• Buried tanks must consider anti-buoyancy measures, and the soil cover thickness and spacing must meet the specifications.

Typical Application Scenarios

• Buried oil tanks at urban/town gas stations.
• Intermediate storage tanks at lubricant plants and small refineries/chemical plants.
• Temporary oil storage facilities at construction sites, mines, and field operation sites.
• Horizontal LPG storage tanks at small gas stations.