AD tanks: what should I think about today for a smoother tomorrow?

Choosing the correct material for your AD tanks demands longer-term thinking, writes Jonathan Smith of Balmoral Tanks. The finer details of tank material selection for anaerobic digester tanks can result in longer-term performance risks should you get it wrong. The challenge is what you think you know versus what you really should know. If we start with the generic position for any AD project developer, there is every chance they will go to market to understand the technology and material options for their storage tanks.  Influences surrounding design loads, both operational and geographical, longevity, maintenance profiles, etc, will no doubt be covered in supplier discussions. But what about when the dust has settled and the project is operational? What should the project teams be aware of then? In our mind, this goes back to the finer detail – what was discussed on day one and whether it is relevant for the many thousands of days during the operational period. Large capacity digester tanks tend, these days, to be delivered in one of two materials – steel or concrete. Both are very robust materials in their design flexibility and load acceptance profiles. But what do...