THERMOPLASTICS DUAL LAMINATES Dual laminate GRP combines the outstanding strength of GRP with the high chemical resistance of a thermoplastics inner shell. Dual laminate tank design is not limited to available moulds or mandrels, sizes can be determined to suit the requirements of the application precisely. Design freedom extends to tanks in vertical or horizontal cylindrical configurations; even rectangular tanks and irregular fabrications are achievable. Choice of thermoplastic inner shell materials allows a wide range of chemical resistance and operating conditions to be accommodated Only GRP tanks are covered by the comprehensive standard BS4994:1987 All Forbes dual laminate tanks incorporate conductive material behind the weld lines and nozzle penetrations so that the integrity of the tank can be proven by spark testing throughout its working life. Although light and easy to handle, the substantial strength achievable with GRP dual laminate permits structures to be designed with integral steelwork such as ladders, handrailing, platforms and agitator bridges. It is straightforward to include side access manways when building dual laminate GRP tanks. Dual laminate tank technology is now accepted as standard in all industries from chemicals to food, microelectronics and offshore oil and gas.
BS4994:1987 THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS AND TANKS IN GLASS REINFORCED PLASTICS High quality production has always been vital for Forbes as so many of the companys products are dedicated to specialised and hazardous duties. For many years we have been producing tanks and pressure vessels to this demanding standard which describes various categories of production in great detail even prescribing working conditions and the structure of fittings. Forbes is approved by leading inspection and insurance companies to manufacture to all categories of the standard. The broad compass and thoroughness of BS4994 make it an invaluable aid to those preparing risk assessments and safety plans. BS4994 covers the design, manufacture, transport and installation of tanks and vessels in GRP (glassfibre reinforced plastic) materials. It is a very thorough and stringent standard. IT DOES NOT deal with any aspect of the manufacture of tanks in other materials such as metals or freestanding thermoplastics. For advice talk to Forbes on +44(0)1366 388941.
DVS 2205 There is still no universal standard for the
design of thermoplastics tanks although a European (CEN) standard is in preparation. In the meantime some manufacturers have been drawn to this German standard. Critics have pointed out that some aspects of DVS 2205 are basic and that in several crucial areas it refers inappropriately to metal design codes. To help specifiers evaluate DVS 2205 against BS 4994 we have prepared some guidance notes, please ask our sales department for a complimentary copy. Please also ask for a copy of our leaflet Thermoplastics Tanks.
GRP Glass fibres have excellent tensile strength, are non-combustible and chemically resistant, yet lack rigidity and form on their own. They are however an ideal reinforcing material when combined with thermosetting resins. Modern glassfibre technology dates from the 1930s but the material began to be properly exploited in the 1950s with the advent of synthetic resins which led to the development of modern polyester and vinylester resin systems. The intense research and development of GRP into a predictable engineering material was driven above all by the aerospace industry where its light weight was of course its main attraction. In the chemical and process industries, corrosion resistance has been the prime benefit and plastics materials are now the materials of choice for many applications, particularly storage and processing tanks, gas scrubbers and other chemical plant. BS4994, introduced in 1973, revised and expanded in 1987, covers the design and fabrication of GRP tanks and vessels in substantial detail (see P3) and has been the bedrock of Forbes progress as the leading UK manufacturer of custom-designed tanks and vessels. The corrosion barrier/contact surface of a GRP tank or other fabrication may be a resin rich layer or a thermoplastics inner shell, forming a dual laminate. The choice of manufacturing process depends very much on the duty for which the product is designed. GRP structures have excellent strength to weight performance and are very versatile, but the most economical configuration for dual laminate tanks is as self supporting vertical cylinders. Manual fabrication, including hand lay up of the GRP, allows substantial variation of the height and diameter of a tank a very useful consideration when a site has limited space.
RESIN SYSTEMS There are many resins available for GRP fabrication, by no means all of them suitable for high specification applications. Orthophthalic polyester resins are perhaps most widely used. NPG isophthalic polyesters offer increased chemical resistance and higher temperature performance. Bisphenols and vinyl esters are generally employed only for particularly demanding tasks. While specifying the resin for an application the design engineer also determines the suitable grade of glass reinforcement.
IMPARTIALITY We are equipped to manufacture in a wide range of materials and will always endeavour to offer objective solutions to your requirements.
THERMOPLASTIC INNER SHELL MATERIALS PP (polypropylene)(Celmar ) is the material of choice for a vast range of applications. It has superb chemical resistance and a higher operating temperature than polyethylene. It is free from taint or toxicity, is highly cost-effective, and has gained widespread acceptance across many industries. HDPE has in practice been superseded by PP. There is no price advantage and HDPE is mechanically inferior and less suitable for higher temperature applications. UPVC (unplasticised polyvinyl chloride) is used in particular applications for its resistance to strong oxidising and reducing chemicals, especially chlorinebased compounds. PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) is especially resistant to aggressive chemicals at higher temperatures. ECTFE (ethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer) (Halar) is another exceptionally high performance material. At temperatures up to o 120 C the polymer is not affected by stress cracking nor attacked by the majority of chemical reagents.
REGULATION 25(1)a PRODUCTS FOR WATER UNDERTAKERS We have for many years supplied the water industry with a wide range of high specification products, including storage tanks for water, sludge, effluent and chemicals, dosing tanks, salt saturators, fume and odour scrubbing systems and stripping towers in plastics materials. The full implementation of Regulation 25 of the Water Supply (Water Regulations) requires Water Undertakers to provide proof to the Drinking Water Inspectorate that their equipment complies with very demanding criteria. To meet the criteria Forbes has developed product ranges especially for the water industry and they have been approved by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and Regions.
POST CURING
RANGE OF MANUFACTURE
The principle of post-curing GRP tanks and vessels
to achieve maximum performance from the laminate is well known and is referred to in BS4994.
We manufacture storage tanks in various materials from 200 to
200,000 litres capacity. All our products are custom designed and manufactured but where appropriate we will suggest an adaption of a standard design to minimise costs and lead times.
Curing, by linking free styrene monomers and other
organic residuals within the laminate ensures optimum physical and chemical properties and reduces the possibility of taint in higher temperature, taste-sensitive, applications. Resin manufacturers specifications outline the time and temperature requirements for post-curing their products. Without post-curing, laminates can suffer from chemical degradation and the risk of taint. Also because of the lower ultimate tensile strength of the laminate increased safety factors in the design of the tank would result in greater wall thickness to achieve the required strength. Our massive post-curing oven, fitted with a calibrated chart recorder, is over 5 metres in diameter and 13 metres long. It is capable of o sustaining temperatures in excess of 100 C over long periods. Customers can benefit when post-curing is specified by greatly improved chemical resistance, increased strength, and avoidance of taint.
A QUALITY COMPANY We are an independent privately owned business, soundly managed by a tightly knit team and with strong technical and financial bases. We are dedicated to supplying our customers with high quality products at competitive prices without jeopardising the well-being of our staff, the public at large, or the environment. Forbes stands by its products you will find our after sales service second to none. We strive towards continual company improvement and aspire to provide standards of excellence, efficiency and service that make Forbes a comfortable organisation to deal with.
SUGGESTED ECONOMICAL SIZES FOR VERTICAL
CYLINDRICAL DUAL LAMINATE TANKS MODEL
Capacity (litres)
Diameter (mm)
Nominal Wall Height (mm)
Approximate Weight (kg)*
SDL 10
10,000
2000
3666
370
SDL 12.5
12,500
2400
3050
400
SDL 15
15,000
2400
3666
460
SDL 20
20,000
3050
3050
670
SDL 25
25,000
3050
3666
780
SDL 30
30,000
3200
4100
950
SDL 40
40,000
3050
6110
1300
SDL 50
50,000
3785
4888
1400
SDL 60
60,000
3500
6720
1650
SDL 75
75,000
4111
6110
2400
SDL 90
90,000
4111
7100
2850
SDL 100
100,000
4111
7950
3300
If you need a diameter/height configuration not shown here, please
discuss it with us. We can make practically anything, subject only to road transport limits. * for average contents SG 1.2
NON TANK PRODUCTS
The technologies we use to build tanks are directly transferable to many other items of process plant and we design and manufacture a wide range of custom and standard products such as Salt Saturators, Silos, Scrubbing and Stripping Towers (see page 8) in a variety of materials. We also apply our substantial experience in process plant in the manufacture of complex one-off fabrications, in skid and container mounted modules and by offering a full turnkey supply, installation and commissioning service.
Health and safety issues are high on the agenda in all
enterprises, especially as legislation has continued to focus the attention of safety officers on avoidable problem areas. During installation the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations detail the responsibilities of the client to appoint a supervisor to manage safety. Once commissioned the plant safety officer must have risk assessments and method statements in place for day-to-day operations. Tanks have to be entered to satisfy planned maintenance schedules. Awareness of the hazards involved in confined space working has grown, especially in the light of several well-publicised tragedies. It has become more common for safety procedures to demand breathing apparatus, winches and back-up staff but even 600mm diameter topmounted manways are too small to winch an inert colleague through.
SIDE ACCESS MANWAYS
The safest and most practical aid to entering tanks, and providing emergency backup, is the provision of side access manways. The small initial cost is quickly recovered by operational savings, let alone the substantial contribution to safer working practices. The Health & Safety Commission document L101(section 95) states top openings to vessels, tanks etc. should be avoided due to difficulty of access and rescue. Bottom or low manholes are preferable. The document also states that the minimum size of opening should be 575mm. The implementation of the Confined Space Regulation (CSR) which is now mandatory further emphasises this requirement. It is further suggested that all vertical tanks and vessels with a wall height in excess of 2.4 metres should be fitted with a side mounted access manway no more than 1.3 metres above the base. It is straightforward to build side manways in GRP tanks during manufacture design and construction are thoroughly covered by BS 4994.
Salt Saturators Pressure and Vacuum Vessels Fume and Odour Scrubbing Systems Vent Scrubbers CO2 Degassers Stripping Towers Carbon Adsorption Units Bio Treatment Systems Ancillary Steelwork Skid Mounted Modules Turnkey Projects
For further information visit our
website at: www.forbesgroup.co.uk
FORBES New Road Crimplesham King's Lynn Norfolk PE33 9AS UK
