What Is The Cold Wall Effect?

Storage tanks are used in a variety of industries, from heavy-duty commercial manufacturing to the simple storage of water used for human consumption. As a measure of safety and security, most containment products require the use of tank liners; in order to ensure no contamination occurs in either direction, both potable water tanks and industrial chemical tanks depend on custom tank liners.

Despite the fact that these water storage tank liners and industrial tank liners are performing the same function, this is not a ‘one size fits all’ scenario. Temperature plays a major role in the effectiveness of the liner used due to what is known as the cold wall effect; if the temperature of the fluid inside the tank differs greatly from the ambient temperature on the tank’s exterior, linings can blister and fail. This is a considerable problem when heated tanks are required, as well as in parts of the world (such as the Middle East) that frequently experience scorching outdoor temperatures.

Choosing the right water storage tank liners in such places is dependent on two main factors.

• Thickness: A liner’s thickness can slow the effects of intense temperature differences, ultimately reducing the impact the cold wall effect has. However, the material it is made out of — which determines how easily liquids pass through it — is altogether more important. Simply buying the thickest water storage tank liner available can actually cause other problems, such as sagging before cure, or the appearance of cracks during cure.

• Permeability: If your main goal is to prevent contamination (as is required in 100% of potable water tanks) you need a liner that is not permeable. By choosing a thicker liner made of a watertight material, you get the most protection for your buck.

The damage caused by the cold wall effect can be quite costly; rather than waiting for your tank liners to rupture and fail, make sure you’ve found one that can stand up to the heat — and moisture — that it might encounter. Look for an impermeable, thick water storage tank liner and you can rest assured that your investment (and the health of the people drinking your water) is protected.