Tank Farms, Fluid Paths & Secondary Containment
Flowtek has designed and installed multiple bulk liquid storage infrastructure projects—from 80,000-gallon edible oil tank farms to chemical storage with secondary containment—integrating reinforced foundations, stainless fluid paths, and sanitary transfer systems with downstream packaging operations.
Executive Overview
Bulk liquid storage is the foundation of liquid packaging operations. Flowtek has engineered and installed tank farm infrastructure across edible oil, chemical, and personal care products—ensuring compliance, serviceability, and integration with production lines.
- Multiple tank farm installations from 40,000 to 80,000 gallons
- Reinforced concrete foundations engineered for load and seismic requirements
- Secondary containment systems sized and designed per regulatory requirements
- Stainless steel fluid paths designed for product segregation and cleanability
- CIP (Clean-in-Place) compatible fittings and instrumentation
- Full compliance with food safety, environmental, and building codes
Edible Oil Tank Farm Installation
A food manufacturing facility required a bulk storage solution for high-speed packaging operations. The challenge required engineering a tank farm that met food safety standards while integrating seamlessly with existing production lines.
Foundation & Infrastructure
- 80,000-gallon primary tank capacity
- Reinforced concrete foundations (load calculations, rebar design, finishing)
- Concrete pad for pump and equipment mounting
- Secondary containment curb and collection sump
- Drainage and leak detection systems
Stainless Fluid Paths & Instrumentation
- Stainless steel fill line with strainers and isolation valves
- Sanitary discharge piping with CIP-compatible fittings
- Product segregation capability for multiple product types
- Level sensors with low-level alarms and tank pressure relief
- Temperature monitoring for seasonal viscosity adjustments
- Regulated transfer pressure to protect downstream filling equipment
Integration with Packaging Lines
- Routing designed for serviceability and maintenance access
- Pressure regulation and filtration before high-speed packaging lines
- Return line architecture for product recovery and waste minimization
- Expansion capability built into utility routing for future line additions
Chemical Storage & Secondary Containment
Chemical and hazardous product storage requires more stringent secondary containment and compliance measures. Flowtek has designed and installed systems for corrosive, flammable, and reactive products.
Secondary Containment per NFPA 30
- Berm and sump systems sized to 110% of largest tank capacity
- Concrete or HDPE-lined containment basins
- Sump pump systems with manual isolation and overflow prevention
- Environmental reporting and documentation compliance
Materials & Piping Selection
- HDPE and stainless steel piping for corrosive products
- Incompatible product separation with dedicated lines
- Excess flow valves and back-pressure relief
- Testing and certification of all connections before commissioning
Instrumentation & Safety
- High-level alarms to prevent overfill
- Pressure and temperature monitoring
- Explosion-proof instrumentation where required
- Emergency shutoff capability and manual override
Stainless Fluid Path Architecture
The design of fluid paths determines the reliability, cleanliness, and maintainability of the entire liquid packaging system. Flowtek's approach emphasizes product integrity and operational efficiency.
- Minimized dead-legs to reduce contamination risk
- Sloped piping to ensure complete drainage and dry-back capability
- Sanitary fittings and welds throughout (no NPT threads or potential bacterial harbors)
- Accessible valve and fitting locations for maintenance and inspection
- Cleanability designed into every connection point
- Pressure-rated and cycle-tested to ensure long-term reliability
Operational Outcomes
- Compliant, fully operational bulk storage across multiple projects
- Infrastructure designed and built for capacity expansion
- Zero contamination incidents at foodservice-grade installations
- Sustained uptime on fluid transfer systems
- Maintenance personnel trained and confident in system operation
- Full documentation (as-built drawings, material certifications, test reports) delivered at commissioning
Planning Bulk Storage Infrastructure?
Share your storage requirements, product type, and facility constraints. We'll engineer a compliant, integrated tank farm and fluid path solution.