What’s a reserve tank?

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A reserve tank is a backup storage device for fuel, oil, or water. It is commonly used in automobiles, machinery, municipalities, and businesses. Regulations must be followed to ensure safety and compliance.

A reserve tank is a secondary storage device that is normally used to hold an additional supply of fuel. Sometimes known as a fuel reserve tank, the device is found in certain makes and models of automobiles, as well as several types of machinery that use oil and other liquids as part of their operation. The idea behind any type of reserve tank is to provide a backup source in case the reserves held in a primary tank are depleted and cannot be readily replaced.

One of the most common applications of this reserve or secondary tank is found in automobiles. In this application, the vehicle has two gas tanks connected via a valve. Should the vehicle run out of gas during a road trip, the driver can usually use a switch or push a button to open the valve and allow the reserve fuel in the secondary tank to feed the engine. Many drivers who travel long stretches of road that don’t pass gas stations every few miles often find this type of backup system extremely useful.

A municipality or company can also make use of a reserve tank. For example, a water storage tank can provide a municipality with access to additional water during a dry season. The water in the tank is replaced frequently during other seasons, allowing the reserves to remain relatively fresh. In the event of a prolonged drought, reserves in the reservoir can be released incrementally into the city system, allowing citizens to continue to enjoy access to water for cooking, washing and similar activities.

Businesses may also use an oil storage tank as a means of maintaining a constant supply of product for use in the operation of manufacturing or construction equipment. The capacity of the reserve tank will vary, based on the type of business the business conducts and the amount of reserves needed for the business to operate at peak efficiency. As with other types of reserve containers, the product in these tanks is replaced on a frequent basis, ensuring that should the reserves need to be used, the product is relatively fresh and up to standard.

In many jurisdictions, there are specific regulations that must be observed with the use of a reserve tank. Vehicles that integrate the secondary tank into the design must comply with safety regulations set by government agencies. Similarly, a secondary tank used by a business must comply with all structural and safety measures identified in local building and operating codes. Failure to maintain tanks up to code can result in severe fines and possibly disruption of operation until tanks are compliant with those codes.




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