Upright Fuel Tank Minimizes Fuel Loss

Upright Fuel Tank Minimizes Fuel Loss ENERGY Miscellaneous 22-5-44 Robert Kominek of Chatham, Ontario, is a methodical person who puts a pencil to every part of his operation. So when the Ontario government outlawed underground steel gas storage tanks, he started gathering information. Research from a petroleum lab indicated that above-ground tanks can lose as much as 8 gal. of fuel per month to evaporation, depending on location, color of tank, and other factors. To avoid that problem, Kominek decided to build a storage tank that would keep fuel from evaporating. "I realized that if I could find a way to cover the surface of the gas in the tank, I would be able to reduce the amount of evaporation. In order to do that, I had to design a vertical tank," says Kominek. He set a 200-gal. tank on end, resting on a concrete pad. He made a floating cover out of wood covered with fiberglass-type resin. The "floater" covers the entire surface of the fuel except for a 1/4-in. wide band around the outer edge. A lightweight steel rod attaches to the top of the floater and extends up out of the top of the tank so Kominek can tell at a glance how much fuel is left in the tank. The tank is painted white to reflect heat. "The design dramatically reduces fuel loss. Evaporation only occurs in the 1/4-in. gap around the edge and in the 2-in. dia. fill pipe. "The fuel savings from using this tank will save me a considerable amount over the years." A hand-cranked pump mounts on the side of the tank. Legs were made from 2 by 2-in. sq. steel tubing. A 2-in. fill pipe on the side of the tank runs to a fitting at the bottom of the tank. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Robert Kominek, RR 4, Chatham, Ont. N7M 5J4 Canada.

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.