Hardware & Equipment
Tank stratification
Stratification is when a tank stops being one body of product and becomes several layers — heavier or cooler product at the bottom, lighter or warmer at the top — separated by temperature, density or composition.
- Systems
- 3 lining options
- Duration
- 5 – 12 days
- Excavation
- None required
- Life extension
- 5 – 10 years min.
Overview
Extending the life of an aging tank
Inspection, cleaning, corrosion protection, internal lining and reinforcement can add 10 to 20 years to an ageing tank, depending on its condition.
Epoxy lining application inside a storage tank
Smartflow stratification crew
The solution
Repaired in position, without excavation
We repair the tank where it lies, with no excavation, in about 7 to 12 days. On a very old tank it is worth doing before it leaks, not after.
We also epoxy-coat overground Jet A1 and other storage tanks, and tanker truck tanks.
After the job — depending on the system chosen — the tank's life can be extended by 5 to 10 years minimum, possibly many more years.
Systems
Different types of stratification (underground tanks)
Three systems for underground tanks. All three start with the tank cleaned, blasted and inspected.
Full Tank Epoxy Only5–7 days
A 2.5–3mm protection coat on the tank wall, including cleaning and inspection.
Full Tank Epoxy + Fibre Glass Mat on Tank Floor7–9 days
5mm at the tank bottom (roughly a quarter of the surface) and 2.5–3mm on the rest, including cleaning and inspection.
Full Tank Epoxy + Full Tank Fibre Glass Mat9–12 days
The most reliable option: a fibreglass mat layer with the Epoflex epoxy, 5mm across the whole tank. Cleaning and inspection included.
Procedure
Step-by-step procedures for tank stratification
Thirteen controlled stages from product evacuation to hand-over, with three separate inspection gates.
In the field
Our crew in the field
Root causes
Common causes of stratification
Water Ingress
Rain, condensation or a dirty delivery leaves a water layer under the fuel.
Temperature Differentials
Temperature swings change fuel density with depth, and the layers separate.
Poor Product Turnover
In a slow-moving tank, the heavy fractions and water simply settle out.
Microbial Growth
Bacteria and fungi live at the water-fuel interface and turn it acidic.
Delivery Contamination
An off-spec delivery does not blend in — it sits in its own layer.
Accreditation
Official Wolftank representative — Nigeria
Smartflow is the authorised Wolftank representative in Nigeria, certified to supply and apply EPOFLEX epoxy technology for tank rehabilitation — with full 10-year warranty coverage.
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