The water inside a fuel tank can be a nightmare come true. When water forms inside an oil tank or seeps into it, the entire fuel system and operations can be affected. In winters, water inside the tank may freeze and affect the supply of the fuel and damage the machines and equipment and harm the workers. Water can get inside the oil tank through rainwater or condensation, and if not removed in time, it can lead to blockage of pipe and disruption in the flow of oil. Industries that rely on a steady supply of oil must get their oil tanks regularly checked by reputed water tank inspection services providing company. On the other hand, not taking appropriate measures to remove water from oil tanks can result in the following;
- Formation of bacterial microbes
Water can disrupt the fuel system as well as present an ideal environment for bacteria and microbes to form. Once these bacterial microbes infest the tank, it can reduce the efficiency of the fuel system. Here is how. Bacteria release acid that can corrode the inside of the tank, fuel lines, burners, etc. If the acid reaches the fuel supply line, it can prevent a steady flow of the fuel.
- Corrosion
If the water inside the oil tank is not extracted in time, it will start to corrode the inside of the tank. Professionals from the tank inspection company suggest conducting regular tank checkups to detect water inside the oil tank. Failing to do so may lead to operational problems in the fuel tank system.
Once the inner surface of the tank gets corroded, bacteria will soon start forming at the base of the tank resulting in sludge build-up. If not taken care of in time, corrosion will eventually lead to tank leakage. Repairing and replacing corroded oil tanks are a costly and time-consuming process. Taking adequate measures to prevent the formation of water inside the tank and corrosion is the best way to avoid such costly repairs.
- Rust
Rust is bad news for any tank or component for that matter. If rust has formed on your oil tank, chances are, the tank’s structural integrity has weakened. When water comes in contact with iron or steel surface, it produces iron oxide or rust. Rust particles than cause abrasive damage to the tank and machinery.
- Ice
The freezing point for water is 0 degrees. If water has escaped into your oil tank, it can freeze in cold weather and form ice crystals. In such a condition, ice crystals can act like hard particles and block the oil supply or even damage the tank and form cracks. Besides this, ice in the fuel system can exacerbate the already present corrosion damage and further worsen the cracks inside the tank.
Although filer is put in place to protect the engine from hard particles that pass through it, the filter can’t differentiate between sediment and ice. Since ice melt as the temperature rises, the problem caused by ice is hard to detect.