Tanks for fuels and lubricants for agricultural use
From the little portable tank to the large underground models, for the farm storage of the fuel for self-propelled agricultural machinery several options are available. To ensure a suitable level of safety in the management of diesel, but also for the best maintenance over time of the tank, a number of provisions must be carefully met
part of the economic management of the modern farm, expenditure items related to fuel for the operation of self-propelled machinery, as well as those for oils (service and lubricants), occupy a place of some importance. For maximum savings, orders are almost always placed for several thousand liters of diesel fuel, which must then be stored, more or less temporarily, in tanks suitable for maintaining the original characteristics of the product over time. Moreover, it is necessary to be able to carry out refueling in the utmost operational safety while at the same time ensuring accurate control of dispensing, as well as preventing any incorrect (and even fraudulent) use of fuel. Finally, continuous and careful monitoring of fuel consumption undoubtedly allows constant verification of the efficiency of the self-propelled fleet, thanks to the timely reporting of possible malfunctions of the relevant powertrains.
It is not surprising, therefore, that the market offer on the subject of fuel and lubricant containers-tractors for agricultural use has been enriched over time with numerous widely accessorized models capable of satisfying any need.
Fixed tanks. These are probably the most widely used type, with a horizontal or vertical axis, made of calendered steel plate, with dished bottoms and tested for tightness by pneumatic testing, with capacities varying between a few hundred liters and the legal limit of 9 m³. The canopy is often made of corrugated and galvanized sheet steel. Almost always, the tank is accompanied by a dispensing unit housed in a painted, lockable metal cabinet. The flow rates of the accompanying pump are a few tens of liters/minute, and there are numerous additional features for increasing levels of automation and control (see below).
Mobile tanks. In this case, two categories can be distinguished, namely self-supporting models on wheels, with a capacity usually limited to 100-120 liters, or those of greater volume (of a few hundred liters) that must necessarily be placed on vehicles for transport over long distances. The former are generally made of polyethylene, ideal for refueling small operating vehicles and light vehicles, with containers without sharp edges and with stiffening ribs. Again, they are completed with a pump and dispensing gun, the latter sometimes also with built-in liter counters. Besides pockets for handling with forklifts, depending on their size, the larger capacity mobile tanks (made of polyethylene or sheet steel, including stainless steel in the case of transporting hazardous fluids) are equipped with 4 rings for lifting, even when fully loaded, so that they can be stacked if necessary. For this eventuality, they are subjected to specific tests, as well as drop, vibration and hydraulic and pneumatic pressure tests.
Dispensers. Diesel fuel dispensing always uses a pump, usually electrically operated with 230 V a.c. Mains voltage or a 12-24 V d.c. battery, of the self-priming volumetric rotary vane type, often with a built-in filter to intercept any impurities in the fuel, with flow rates that can reach several tens of liters/min. The most complete versions also include a flowmeter, analog or digital, and the inevitable dispensing gun, usually made of aluminum with rubber protection, of the manual type or, more frequently automatic, that is, equipped with an automatic flow stop when the tank is full.
Advanced solutions for management, control and monitoring. Continuous and scrupulous monitoring of company diesel consumption can be usefully interpreted to control the proper operation of company self-propelled machines. For this purpose, a number of solutions have recently been developed, which also, in digital and remote versions, can provide the necessary information on the content (and thus withdrawals) of a given tank. This begins with level indicators, which can use sensors of the static pressure generated by the height of the liquid in the container by means of a tube immersed in the liquid until it touches the bottom. The control unit displays the level, and at the same time, after introducing data on the type and size of the tank, level alarms can be defined. Alternatively, level indicators based on magnets placed inside floats can be adopted. These probes can also include more than one sensor to simultaneously detect the level of products with different density masses, for example, to be able to measure the level of water that may have accumulated at the bottom of the tank. For a higher degree of automation, there are control units that manage individual dispensing. Also manufactured by Emiliana Serbatoi, the MC box is basically a multi-user panel with a direct connection to the PC, equipped with recognition of users enabled to withdraw, for whom it is possible to compute the quantities dispensed, referring to each vehicle. Compatible with "Industry 4.0" initiatives and based at the software level on Microsoft SQL databases, Emiltouch is a complete control management system consisting of an integrated touch-screen module with an 8-inch display, TAG proximity reader (for automatic recognition and activation of dispensing) and a GPRS module set up for Ethernet and SIM connections, as well as, of course, il for card data transfer. The system can interface with Microsoft 32- and 64-bit operating systems and can be programmed for numerous sets of controls, alarms and locks, which can also be activated remotely.
Leakage control. For double-walled tanks, in particular, it is important to monitor any leakage of the main vessel since, in this case, such a malfunction is not directly detectable. For this purpose, there are several solutions: either the pressure change inside the cavity, which is kept in slight depression by means of a diaphragm pump, is monitored, or a conductive detector fluid (propylene glycol) placed in the cavity is used.
The regulations
Ministerial Decree 22.11.17 set the technical rules for the management of fixed diesel fuel tanks with a maximum capacity of up to 9,000 liters. In a nutshell, the container must be double-walled, or it must be placed in a special collection tank with a degree at least 10 percent greater than that of the tank; it must be placed in an open and ventilated area, protected by a canopy and equipped with a gas vent placed at least 2.4 m above the ground. Moreover, the area around the tank must be level and free of vegetation and obstacles for a strip at least 3 m wide, but it is also necessary that the container be located at least 5 m from warehouses and storage facilities and more than 10 m from dwellings. The installation of fire extinguishers, to be selected according to capacity, is mandatory, and specific hazard signage must be affixed, as well as an identification plate bearing a set of construction data. If the establishment includes electrical parts, grounding must be carried out according to current standards. Importantly, it should be pointed out that refueling personnel must be adequately trained in the use and adoption of fire-fighting measures and the management of emergencies.
For transportation tanks, however, reference must be made to the ADR International Agreement for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road. It consists of 17 articles that stipulate the principles and procedures for adherence to, implementation and revision of the Agreement; in particular, Annexes A and B, which set out general provisions on dangerous substances and articles and their transport equipment, are updated every two years to take into account technological development and new road traffic requirements.
Also for Ad-Blue, alone or in combination, and for biodiesel
With the spread of diesel engines equipped with SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) for reducing gaseous NOx pollutant emissions, and consequently the need for the use of AdBlue, which is the trade name for the liquid solution of ultra-pure urea at 32.5 percent concentration in distilled water, the need for the storage of this compound has emerged as well. Several options for this are available on the market, but the one of the most rational for the farm involves cubic containers made of polyethylene (a material with excellent chemical and weather resistance) placed in an electro-welded galvanized steel protection cage. The typical capacity of the container is 1,000 liters, often equipped with a self-contained dispensing unit (powered at 230 VAC or 12-24 VDC), with a pump and gun with an integrated flow meter. The formulation conveying hoses are made of EPDM (synthetic rubber based on ethylene, propylene and diene), which has excellent resistance to the chemical aggressiveness of Ad-Blue. An interesting addition is the combination of tanks for diesel fuel and AdBlue: Emiliana Serbatoi of Campogalliano (MO) thematically produces the combined CarryTank range, made of 6.5-mm-thick rotationally molded polyethylene, with inserts made of material compatible with liquid compounds, complete with electrically powered pumps and, upon request, digital flowmeter and filter for separating water from diesel fuel. The ratio of fuel and AdBlue container capacities is 1:8, roughly in line with that of the tanks with which newer tractors are commonly equipped. Of interest is the ability to be able to pull out the AdBlue container, if the latter is not needed, and to take advantage of the compartment thus created to store hand tools and implements or other miscellaneous equipment.
Obviously, tanks both fixed and suitable for transport on wheeled vehicles, and both made of steel and polyethylene, are also available for storing biodiesel mixed with diesel fuel, but also in a pure (chemically more aggressive) version, i.e., with the B100 specification.
Tanks for lubricating and service oils also, new and used
Agricultural machinery, particularly tractors and self-propelled implements, employ different types of oil: first and foremost, that of the hydraulic establishment, but also the (separate) engine and gearbox lubrication fluids, brake circuit fluid, etc. These fluids are all characterized by a certain useful life, at the end of which they must be replaced, disposing of the spent quantities.
Hence, the need for storage, more or less temporary, to be carried out in containers with suitable characteristics. Emiliana Serbatoi offers the Quioil range, that is, double-walled vegetable and mineral oil storage models of 300 and 500 liters capacity, made of rotomolded high-density polyethylene for the best mechanical and thermal sealing and long UV and weather resistance. A large hatch with a flip-top lid is cut into the top, in which the strainer deck is embedded. Each container is equipped with a convenient externally visible level indicator and an indicator light to monitor whether there is liquid in the cavity, an indication that the main tank is leaking. Trolleys (with 4 swivel wheels, two of which are lockable) dedicated to handling containers, even full ones, are available.
And what in case of an accidental spill? An environmental first aid kit is provided for the absorption of hydrocarbons and chemicals, consisting of a set of universal cloths (with an absorbent capacity of 0.5 and 0.8 liters/cloth), two 1.2 m long absorbent "sausages" (absorbing up to 5 liters each) and, of course, the most appropriate PPE for the operator (nitrile gloves, goggles, FFP3 masks).
