The Seven Core Functions and Related Maintenance Measures of the Anti-surge Plate Inside the Tank of a Mobile Fuel Station

Baffles are the invisible guardians of mobile fuel station. Through physical isolation, they confine the kinetic energy of liquid sloshing to a localized area, thus ensuring vehicle safety, structural stability, and operational efficiency on the road. Their core function is to suppress violent oil sloshing, reduce impact loads, and improve equipment and driving safety. Today, Shengding Containers will specifically explain the seven core functions of baffles inside mobile refueling tanks and related maintenance measures.

1. Core Safety Functions

1.1. Significantly Reduces Liquid Shock and Prevents Tank Damage

• Physical Principle: When a vehicle starts, brakes, or turns, the liquid inside the tank generates a huge impact force (liquid surge) due to inertia. If the tank is a large, continuous space, this sloshing will be very violent, creating a "liquid hammer" effect.
• Practical Effect: Baffles divide the internal space of the tank into several smaller areas, cutting off the liquid flow path and greatly reducing the amplitude and speed of liquid sloshing. This effectively avoids vehicle loss of control or rollover accidents caused by violent shifts in the liquid's center of gravity.

1.2. Improved Driving Stability and Prevention of Rollover

• Without baffles, significant sloshing of the oil can generate additional lateral and longitudinal tilting forces, potentially leading to loss of vehicle control and rollover. Baffles significantly reduce center of gravity shift and dynamic loads by constraining liquid movement, ensuring the safe operation of mobile refueling stations during transport and relocation.
• Buffering Effect: Repeated impacts of liquid on both ends (ends) of the tank can generate significant stress on the welds and materials. Baffles absorb and disperse the kinetic energy of the liquid, directly bearing a portion of the impact force, thereby extending the tank's service life and preventing weld cracking.

1.3. Suppressing Static Electricity and Temperature Rise, Reducing the Risk of Combustion and Explosion

• Severe sloshing and friction of the oil can generate static electricity and raise the oil temperature, increasing the risk of flammability and explosion. Baffles reduce liquid turbulence and friction, lowering the rate of static electricity generation and preventing localized overheating, making them a crucial element of explosion-proof safety.
• Suppressing Friction: Severe sloshing of the liquid generates intense friction with the tank wall and between its own molecules, leading to a rapid accumulation of static charge. Static electricity is a major concern in the transportation of flammable and explosive liquids (such as gasoline and diesel).
• Auxiliary grounding: Although the baffle plate itself does not conduct static electricity (static electricity is conducted away by conductive grounding strips), it reduces the amount of static electricity generated at the source by limiting liquid sloshing.

2. Structural and Equipment Protection Functions

2.1. Enhancing Tank Structural Strength

• As internal reinforcing ribs, the baffle plate increases the overall rigidity of the tank, resisting external impacts and internal pressures, and extending the tank's service life.

2.2. Protecting Internal Accessories

• Reduces damage to internal devices such as level gauges, inlet and outlet pipelines, manholes, and breather valves caused by sloshing impacts, ensuring reliable operation of the metering and loading/unloading system.

3. Optimizing Operation and Use

3.1. Improving Refueling Stability

• Reduces liquid level fluctuations during refueling operations, preventing oil spillage and excessive foaming, and improving refueling efficiency and metering accuracy.

3.2. Balancing Tank Pressure

• Flow holes and vents are provided on the baffle plate to allow liquid and oil vapor to pass slowly, balancing the pressure in each compartment and preventing sudden local pressure changes, while not affecting normal loading and unloading.

4. Design and Specifications (Applicable to Mobile Fuel Stations)

• Installation Requirements: Baffle plates must be installed when the filling volume is between 20% and 80% (most prone to violent shaking).
• Structural Parameters: Plate spacing is typically ¡Ü1750mm, single compartment volume ¡Ü7.5m³; effective blocking area ¡Ý40% of the tank's cross-sectional area (reinforced type ¡Ý70%).
• Material: Same material as the tank body (e.g., carbon steel, stainless steel), firmly welded, and with reserved maintenance access.

5. Maintenance Basics

5.1. Daily Inspection (Must be checked during every inspection)

5.1.1. Listen for Sounds

• No obvious loud "clunking" noise should be heard inside the tank when the vehicle starts, brakes, or turns.
• If the sound becomes louder and the impact stronger, it's most likely due to the baffle plate becoming loose, cracked, or detached.

5.1.2. Observe External Signs

• No oil leakage or deformation near the tank welds and manholes
• No violent fluctuations in the liquid level or frequent bubbling during refueling
• Any abnormalities suggest baffle plate failure.

5.2. Regular Inspection (Mandatory, recommended every 6¨C12 months)

Inspection must be conducted through the manhole (strictly following confined space operation procedures):

5.2.1. Check the baffle plate for:

• Cracked, detached, or deformed welds
• Dents, tears, or perforations on the plate surface
• Loose or warped connection to the tank wall

5.2.2. Touch/Tank:

• Gently push with your hand or tap with a small hammer; there should be no shaking or unusual noise.

5.2.3. Check for Corrosion:

• The baffle plate is where oil impact is most severe and is most prone to corrosion first.
• Pitting, pitting, and thinning should be addressed promptly.

6. Common Problems

6.1. Minor Rust

• Grinding to remove rust-->Applying epoxy zinc-rich/conductive anti-corrosion paint
• Anti-static paint must be used; ordinary paint cannot be used.

6.2. Weld Cracks, Localized Deformation

• Stop Use-->Repair Welding and Reinforcement-->Reapply Anti-corrosion
• Continuing to use a cracked surface is strictly prohibited; it will aggravate the problem with increased vibration.

6.3. Severe Deformation, Large-Area Corrosion, and Peeling

• Replace the entire baffle plate directly.
• Don't compromise; this is a life-saving structure.

6.4. Blocked Baffle Plate Openings

• Clean sludge and impurities.
• Blocked openings will lead to uneven pressure and increased impact.

Conclusion:

Baffle plates are the "safety stabilizers" of mobile fuel stations. By suppressing swaying and reducing impact, they ensure reliable equipment operation from three dimensions: structural safety, driving safety, and explosion-proof safety. Shengding Containers has extensive practical experience in designing baffles for mobile gas station tanks. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

Written by

TAIAN SHENGDING METAL CONTAINER MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.

Editor Wang

WhatsApp:+86 152 5486 3111

Email:shengdingtank@126.com