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Expandable Fuel Tank Question

alphadeltaromeo

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I'm looking for some input on expandable fuel tanks that are offered on GL from time to time. I'm interested to know if anyone has had experience with these tanks at all? I've searched GL but there are not currently any available. I'm looking a purchasing one of these tanks for storage, but not liquid fuel. How strong are they? I'd imagine quite strong, as they are used for liquid fuel, but I have zero knowledge and would greatly appreciate any input.

Thanks much,

Andy
 

emmado22

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If they arent all cracked and dryrotted and hold liquid, they are great.. They are officially called Collapsible Fabric Tanks. They come in all shapes and sizes, from 100 gallons to 200,000 gallons.. You'll need a pump or something to fill it.....
 

alphadeltaromeo

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I'm actually looking to put methane in the tank for non-compressed storage. E22, when you say they are great...define what that really means for me with respect to strength, etc. Are they fuel capable?
 

alphadeltaromeo

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Ok a quick look on google and it shows that these tanks are for fuel, but have a relief cap that opens when the inside pressure for vapors is > .10 psi. I'm really looking for large capacity, non compressed storage for minimal capex outlay.
 

CARNAC

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Andy,

Not sure who else has experience with these besides Mark and I. Way back when I joined I was a 76W Petoleum Operations Specialist. Fancy way of saying I pumped fuel on a tank farm. I seem to recall ours were 300K gallon blivets.

Mark stated that if they were in good condition and not cracked or dry rotted they were great. That comment says it all. The rubber is extremely thick and tough but prone to rot even on new ones. All blivets have a shelf life marked on them.

Personally, I would be somewhat hesitant in buying them from GL since you have no idea of the actual condition until you fill it. If you're only talking a smaller blivet of say <3K, it might be worth a chance for the dollars expended. You may end up with a ball of useless rubber or even worse a spill. Then again, you may get a blivet that has no rot and holds just fine.
 

alphadeltaromeo

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Thanks much for the input gents. So I'm curious, with the experience had...was it common to get a cracked or rotted one? When they were in use, did they develop issues infrequently?
 

emmado22

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When they were in use, they were fine.. It's the storage before that kills them. The thick rubber (3/4 in to an inch) when it is all folded up, likes to stay folded up. When you unfold them, the rubber doesnt like that, and if it's old and doesnt like being unfolded, it will crack. Or maybe it will be fine.. Who knows... The best way to store them (which NEVER happens) is inside, all unfolded.. Which takes up LOTS of space.. So that doesnt happen, so they get folded up (sometimes for years) and the rubber looses it's elasticity and gets a "memory" of being folded and likes to stay thay way.



Think dryrotting under inflated truck tires that have been sitting on a truck that way for a long time... When you air the tires up, the rubber may or may not crack more. Usually the tire will hold air, but sometimes it wont.. Or maybe an old piece of rubber fuel line, when moved breaks... Same idea...
 

CARNAC

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I never experienced a catastrophic leak, luckily. Most of our exercises simulated water for fuel, especially in the large bladders/blivets. In my condition last night (sick, not drunk) I should state there is a difference between bladders and blivets. Blivets are usually less than 3000 gal and are designed to be rolled and moved around. The most common blivets are the 100, 250, and 500 gallon ones. The bladders are made to be positioned in a prepared pit and usually start out at 3000 and go up to the largest one I saw was 300K.

A few years ago I did general inspections of these type items and for the most part, I found the 3K and above stuff had been sitting on the shelves for well past their expiration date. Some were very obviously disintegrating and these were most usually the bladders at 3K and above. Many of these were so stiff they could not be opened up without cracking the rubber. Most, if not all of these were made during the ramp up for desert storm and had sat ever since.

The blivets usually faired better. Out of about 100, I ran into only 3 that I would not have felt comfortable using. They also get stiff and can crack but the ones I saw had either been used more frequently, were later manufacture, or just maintained better.

Repairs, technically yes. Effective, yes if you have all the right stuff and the hole is small. Weather cracks, forget it. Seams, good luck.
 

n3sq

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Methane-powered Deuce?

I'm actually looking to put methane in the tank for non-compressed storage. E22, when you say they are great...define what that really means for me with respect to strength, etc. Are they fuel capable?

You mean Methanol. It's an Alcohol in liquid state at room temperature.
Methane is a hydrocarbon that is in gaseous state at room temperature.

Are you hooking a bunch of cows up to the tank? Nothing like pure cow flatulence to power your Deuce. :grin:

Just make sure ATF doesn't think you're making 300k gallons of moonshine.:wink:
 

emmado22

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E22, when you say they are great...define what that really means for me with respect to strength, etc. Are they fuel capable?


IF they are in good shape, not dry rotted, have been in temperature controled storage, and not out of their shelf life.. They will do the intended job. After the shelf life expires the Army is supposed to toss them and buy more...

Some are fuel versions, others are water versions.... Fuel ones were designed to hold fuel MOGAS, Diesel, or JP's..... Water ones held water. I cant speak for putting other things in them.
 

CARNAC

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Most of the ones I used were used at a minimum of once a year but probably more. Take the ones that were kept in storage/storage yard...forget it.
 
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