Ank Blanketing, Also Referred To As Tank Padding, Is The Process of Applying A

ank blanketing, also referred to as tank padding, is the process of applying a gas to the empty
space in a storage container. The term storage container here refers to any container that is
used to store products, regardless of its size. Though tank blanketing is used for a variety of
reasons, it typically involves using a buffer gas to protect products inside the storage container.
A few of the benefits of blanketing include a longer life of the product in the container, reduced
hazards, and longer equipment life cycles.
In 1970, Appalachian Controls Environmental (ACE) was the worlds first company to introduce
a tank blanketing valve. There are now many ready-made systems available for purchase from
a variety of process equipment companies. It is also possible to piece together your own
system using a variety of different equipment. Regardless of which method is used, the basic
requirements are the same. There must be a way of allowing the blanketing gas into the
system, and a way to vent the gas should the pressure get too high.
Since ACE introduced its valve many companies have engineered their own versions. Though
many of the products available vary in features and applicability, the fundamental design is the
same. When the pressure inside the container drops below a set point, a valve opens and
allows the blanketing gas to enter. Once the pressure reaches the set point, the valve closes.
As a safety feature, many systems include a pressure vent that opens when the pressure
inside exceeds a maximum pressure set point. This helps to prevent the container from
rupturing due to high pressure. Since most blanketing gas sources will provide gas at a much
higher than desired pressure, a blanketing system will also use a pressure reducing valve to
decrease the inlet pressure to the tank.
Although it varies from application to application, blanketing systems usually operate at a
slightly higher than atmospheric pressure (a few inches of water column aboveatmospheric).
Higher pressures than this are generally not used as they often yield only marginal increases in
results while wasting large amounts of expensive blanketing gas.
Some systems also utilize inert gases to agitate the liquid contents of the container. This is
desirable because products, such as citric acid, are added to food oils the tank will begin to
settle over time with the heavier contents sinking to the bottom. However, a system that utilizes
nitrogen sparging (and then subsequently tank blanketing once the nitrogen reaches the vapor
space) may have negative impact on the products involved. Nitrogen sparging creates a
significantly higher amount of surface contact between the gas and the product, which in turn
creates a much larger opportunity for undesired oxidation to occur. It is possible for nitrogen
that is as much 99.9% free of oxygen to increase the amount of oxidation within the product
due to the high amount of surface contact.
The most common gas used in blanketing is nitrogen. Nitrogen is widely used due to its inert
properties, as well as its availability and relatively low cost. Tank blanketing is used for a
variety of products including cooking oils, volatile combustible products, and purified water.
These applications also cover a wide variety of storage containers, ranging from as large as a
tank containing millions of gallons of vegetable oil down to a quart-size container or smaller.
Nitrogen is appropriate for use at any of these scales.
The use of an inert blanketing gas for food products helps to keep oxygen levels low in and
around the product. Low levels of oxygen surrounding the product help to reduce the amount of
oxidation that may occur, and increases shelf life. In the case of cooking oils,
lipid oxidation can cause the oil to change its color, flavor, or aroma. It also decreases
thenutrient levels in the food and can even generate toxic substances. Tank blanketing
strategies are also implemented to prepare the product for transit (railcar or truck) and for
final packaging before sealing the product.
When considering the application for combustible products, the greatest benefit is process
safety. Since fuels require oxygen to combust, reduced oxygen content in the vapor space
lowers the risk of unwanted combustion.
Tank blanketing is also used to keep contaminants out of a storage space. This is
accomplished by creating positive pressure inside the container. This positive pressure
ensures that if a leak should occur, the gas will leak out rather than having the contaminants
infiltrate the container. Some examples include its use on purified water to keep unwanted
minerals out and its use on food products to keep contaminants out.
To ensure their safety, gas-blanketing systems for food use are regulated by the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) and must adhere to strict maintenance schedules and follow all
product-contact regulations with regards to purity, toxicity, and filter specs. As with any use of
inert gases, care must be taken to ensure that workers are not exposed to large quantities of
nitrogen or other non-breathable substances, which can quickly result in asphyxiation and
death.[1] Use of them in commercial applications is subject to the regulation of OSHA in the
USA and similar regulatory bodies elsewhere.

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