What do betel nut fruit, above ground storage tanks, sorghum, satellites, tower cranes, and peaches have in common? They are all impacted by the recent tariffs imposed by the U.S. and China. The $34 billion tariffs imposed by both the U.S. and China on products of the other country starting Friday July 6th have received top headline status. However, these are not the first tariffs imposed in this continuing tariff spat between nations. The purpose behind the tariffs imposed by the Trump ...
Clean Air Act Success Requires More Sulfur Liquid Fertilizer Tanks
Several agricultural studies over the past 20 years have confirmed what farmers are discovering in the field; less sulfur exists in today’s farming fields. The Clean Air Act is the interesting cause of this sulfur decrease. In turn, the demand for sulfur liquid fertilizers and API 650 liquid fertilizer tanks to store the products is on the rise. The Clean Air Act was enacted in 1970 and amendments passed in 1990. The aim of this legislation was to significantly reduce six particular air ...
How to Handle Winter Salt and Stratification in Your Liquid Fertilizer Tank
The winter cold is starting to break, and you are preparing to use various starters and liquid fertilizers for the upcoming agricultural season. Liquid fertilizer that has sat in aboveground storage tanks through a cold winter is not exactly the same as when it was placed in the tank. Cold temperatures can have two possible effects on liquid fertilizer: stratification and/or salting out. Stratification results in pockets of varying product concentrations within an aboveground storage ...
How To Choose The Best Foundation For Your Aboveground Liquid Storage Tank
“It is not the beauty of a building you should look at; it’s the construction of the foundation that will stand the test of time.” – David Allen Coe Foundation – it is the support and base of an entity, whether it is an area of knowledge (mathematics, art, music), education generally, ideology, relationships, organization of government, ecosystems, building structures, etc. The concept of needing a strong foundation is referenced throughout time from poets like Ralph Waldo Emerson to the ...
API 650 Tank Joint Welding & Inspection for Field Erected ASTs
Butt welded steel tanks have been a main stay in the field of constructing above ground storage tanks for decades. Around 1936, welded steel tanks overtook riveted tanks as the preferred method in new above ground storage tank construction. In step with this change, API standards were published to guide construction of such tanks for adequate safety and reasonable economy. Now in its twelfth edition, API 650 is the current standard to which welded steel tanks are built. This standard ...
Determining When You Need a Liquid Fertilizer Storage Tank Inspection
Have you ever wrestled with remembering when a liquid fertilizer tank needs to be inspected next or had a debate in the office as to how often the liquid storage tanks need to be inspected? With no federal regulations on liquid fertilizer tank inspections, inspection timing can be confusing. The Fertilizer Institute, individual state statutes and regulations, and insurance policies are sources that provide guidance on the types of inspections to be completed and the timing for each ...
Importance of Regular API 653 Standard Inspections
Just like a car, house, or any other structure, regular inspection and maintenance is critical to obtain the longest lifespan of your fertilizer storage tank. Other reasons to regularly inspect your tank are: Establish Baseline of Tank Condition and Corrosion Rates Identify Problems and Needed Repairs before Significant Leak or Release Occurs Prevent Leaks into Secondary Containment and/or Groundwater Maintain Safe Operating Conditions Minimize Chance of Catastrophic Tank ...
Field Erected Fertilizer Storage Tanks and Using the API 650 Standard
Most states have adopted containment regulations for liquid fertilizer operations using aboveground fertilizer tanks. Some state regulations specify a standard for new tank construction and others do not. API 650, the standard used by Heartland Tank LLC, is the internationally recognized standard for building field erected aboveground storage tanks (ASTs). The API 650 Standard was developed by the American Petroleum Institute and first published in 1961, but also had predecessor standards ...
