Sometimes it’s not practical to drill multiple holes through concrete or weld a bulkhead fitting to a thin-walled metal tank. Multiple bolt holes also increase the chance for leaks. Through-the-wall pipe fittings from ModuTank Inc. require only a single hole for the piping. Wall-piercing bolts are eliminated, as is bolt-related leakage and the need for wall sealants.
“If you have a steel tank, usually what happens is they weld a nozzle to the steel wall,” says fitting inventor Ed Pitchon, applications engineer and ModuTank consultant. “But what happens if you have a very thin-walled tank, as we do? You can’t weld to the wall — it’s 16 gauge. So how do you make a connection that’s 12 inches in diameter without any welding?”
ModuTank uses wide, thick gaskets that seal the fittings to the walls of the tank. Tight, leak-resistant connections are achieved by adjusting the pressure on the external fitting. “We use flanges on either side of the walls to make the seal,” Pitchon says. “On the outside we usually put an expansion joint because there’s always a little misalignment when they do piping. The expansion joint makes up for that. And then you can put in any piping you want thereafter.”
Made of plastic, carbon steel, stainless steel or Hastelloy, the fittings are available in standard sizes 2 through 12 inches in diameter. Larger custom diameters are available. The fittings can be used on new or existing steel and concrete tanks, with or without epoxy or glass coatings, or mem-brane liners. They are virtually maintenance-free, can accommodate any wall thickness, and are removable for repeated installation on other tanks.
The fittings are resistant to water as well as caustic liquids and highly concentrated acids. For more information, call 800/245-6964 or visit www.modutank.com.
