TITLE: GLASS REINFORCED PLASTIC TANKS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO
GALVANIZED HOT WATER TANKS
PROJECT CODE: ME-PRO-11-05
AUTHORS:
NZOVE S. NDUKU
KILIMO CHEMEITOI MOSES
EN291-0398/06.
EN291-0929/06.
SUPERVISORS:
MR. KENNETH KIRAGU
MR. CHARLES KEBASO- Industrial Supervisor Davis & Shirtliff
ABSTRACT
Over the years solar heater storage tanks have been made of galvanized steel. This design and
fabrication of solar heater storage tanks from galvanized steel has shown to be totally within the
present state-of-art but long term durability of the tank is questionable.
The corrosion of domestic hot water tanks involves the destruction by electrochemical action of
galvanized steel in presence of water.
Though the galvanized layer prevents corrosion of the underlying steel layer, the tanks are still
corroded. Depending on the sunshine intensity the temperatures of water in the tank fluctuate and
can go as high as 60oC. Since corrosion is directly proportional to temperature, at this elevated
temperatures the tank corrodes.
This project was done in conjunction with Davis & Shirtliff and it’s aimed at evaluating the
technical and economic feasibility of design and fabrication of a solar heater water storage tank using
Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) as an alternative structural component that is corrosion resistant.
Moulding technique: Hand lay-up method
Below are photos showing the Methodology used for the production of the Glass reinforced plastic
tank.
Cleaning and Preparing of the Mould
Application of Release Agent to the mould
Application of gel coat
Cured gel coat
Laying of the glass fibre mats
Removing the product from the mould
Fabricated two halves of the tank
Pressure test
Thermal test