When facing the leakage problem of FRP large storage tank, the first task is to accurately locate the leakage point with the help of appropriate detection methods. Appearance inspection is a basic and intuitive method. The staff needs to carefully check the surface of the tank to find out whether there are any abnormal signs such as cracks, holes or whitening. These subtle changes are often the "early signs" of leakage. In addition, pressure testing can also be used to apply a certain pressure to the inside of the tank and observe the pressure changes. If the pressure drops significantly, it means that there is a leak. At the same time, with the help of professional detection instruments, such as ultrasonic leak detectors, it is possible to capture subtle sound changes at the leakage point, even the leakage point hidden inside the tank cannot escape, so as to quickly lock the problem area.
After determining the leakage point, cleaning the leakage site is the key prerequisite for repair work. Impurities, oil stains or aged resin layers may be attached to the leakage point and its surrounding areas, which will affect the bonding effect of the repair material. Therefore, it is necessary to use professional tools and cleaning agents to roughen the leaking parts, remove the surface attachments and loose parts, so that the repair area presents a clean, flat and rough surface state, creating conditions for the close combination of the subsequent repair materials and the tank matrix.
Selecting the right repair material is crucial to the repair effect. Different materials with different properties need to be selected for different leakage conditions and tank use environments. Generally speaking, epoxy resin is a commonly used repair material. It has good adhesion, corrosion resistance and strength, and can be firmly combined with the fiberglass matrix. For smaller cracks and holes, epoxy resin can be used directly for filling and repairing; for larger and more severely damaged leaking areas, it may be necessary to use fiberglass cloth. By applying resin layer by layer and laying fiberglass cloth, the strength and sealing of the repaired parts can be enhanced to ensure that the repaired tank can withstand normal use pressure and medium erosion.
When performing repair operations, follow the standardized process flow. First, apply the prepared epoxy resin evenly to the cleaned leakage area to ensure that the resin fully infiltrates the repair area; then, lay the fiberglass cloth according to the design requirements, and use tools to compact the cloth after each layer, so that the resin fully penetrates the fiber cloth, removes the air in it, and avoids bubbles and hollowing. Repeat the steps of applying resin and laying fiberglass cloth until the required repair thickness and strength are reached. During the repair process, pay attention to controlling the curing time of the resin and the ambient temperature and humidity to ensure that the resin can be fully cured to achieve the best repair effect.
After the repair work is completed, the repaired part needs to be quality inspected to ensure that the leakage problem is completely solved. Appearance inspection is the first step to check whether the repaired part is flat and smooth, and whether there are obvious defects and flaws;
Then conduct a sealing test. You can observe whether there is leakage in the repaired part by injecting water or inflating the tank. If the pressure is stable within the specified time and there is no liquid or gas leakage, it means that the repair is successful. In addition, the repaired part can also be strength tested to simulate the pressure and force conditions of the normal use of the tank to check whether the bearing capacity of the repaired part meets the requirements. Only tanks that have passed strict inspection can be put back into use.
In order to avoid leakage problems in FRP large storage tanks again, daily maintenance is essential. Regularly inspect the appearance of the tanks to promptly detect and deal with minor surface damage and signs of aging; control the use conditions of the tanks to avoid overpressure and overtemperature operation, and prevent cracks and leakage in the tanks due to abnormal pressure and temperature; at the same time, monitor the medium stored in the tanks to prevent the medium from corroding the tanks. In addition, a complete maintenance file should be established to record the use, maintenance content and repair history of the tanks, providing a reference for subsequent maintenance and management.
In short, when FRP large storage tanks leak, through rapid and accurate detection, scientific and standardized repairs, and perfect and effective maintenance measures, the leakage problem can be solved in time, the normal use function of the tanks can be restored, the safe and stable operation of the tanks can be guaranteed, and its service life can be extended, providing reliable storage guarantees for industrial production.
