In June, oil and gas distributor Panther Industries Inc. will open a new 10-acre transload facility in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada, to move shipments of hydrochloric acid (HCL) from trains to trucks for transport to oil fields.

 

A critical part of the facility is four fiberglass surge capacity tanks that ensure the company has enough HCL on hand for shipments. 

 

Chemposite, based in Delta, British Columbia, Canada, designed and manufactured the HCL tanks and liners, which feature AOC’s Vipel F010 and F085 corrosion-resistant resins. “Hydrochloric acid is a corrosive liquid and there are a lot of concerns,” says Jamie Dewar, Fort Saskatchewan project manager for Panther Industries. “We had to ensure the tank was designed to handle both vacuum and pressure. And the choice of resin had to be compatible with the product as well.” 

 

The surge capacity tanks control pressure variations caused by the flow of HCL during the unloading process.  They are designed to handle seismic loads, winds and frigid temperatures in Alberta. The tanks incorporate a dual resin system: Vipel F010, which is used in the structural layer, is a premium epoxy vinyl ester, bisphenol-A and offers a good balance of corrosion resistance and processability. The liner utilizes Vipel F085, which is an epoxy novolac vinyl ester resin.

 

AOC was a perfect partner for this project, says Marvin Hlynka, P.Eng., the engineer with Chemposite who designed the tanks. “AOC offers a good working relationship, great technical support with user friendly resin systems and they were very competitive in pricing and delivery.”  

 

About AOC

AOC is a leading global supplier of resins, gel coats, colorants, additives and synergistic material systems for composites and cast polymers. AOC develops technology, lives quality and delivers service better than any other resin supplier. 

 

About Chemposite

Chemposite is an industry leader in the design, engineering, manufacturing and supply of corrosion-resistant fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) and advanced composite products for a wide range of industrial applications. Its products include pipe and fittings, ducting and stacks, tanks and vessels, pressure vessels, scrubbers and internals, carbon absorbers, hoods and covers, dampers, pump basins and stations, pultruded structural shapes and custom fabrication.