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How Big are Gas Station Tanks? How Many Gallons Does a Gas Station Hold?

Gas station tanks vary in size and volume; however, they will depend on the purpose, location, and content of the tanks. For example, you will find underground diesel fuel tanks with lengths of around 55 feet and carry as much as 30,000 gallons.

Tanks used to store waste oil can be as little as 3 feet long, and carry around 55 gallons. It is necessary you take into consideration the purpose of the tank, as well as the construction plans of the station. Gas stations are quite popular, and the ones in busy urban areas can cater to the needs of hundreds of automobiles every day.

From small cars to gigantic trucks with 32 wheels, these enterprises serve to keep those vehicles running.  Gas stations are known to have quite a number of tanks buried on their property. The bigger or busier a gas station, the more fuel tanks it will need.

How Many Gallons Does a Gas Station Hold?

Although this will also vary, note that the typical gasoline station will have a storage capacity of around 10,000 to 40,000 gallons in underground tanks. In previous times, these tanks were susceptible to spills from overfilling and leaks from corrosion. Howbeit, station owners have devised important steps to limit these risks. They include;

  • Sensors and alarms that are designed to let the operator know when the tank is getting filled, and automatic shut-off switches to stop fuel from getting pumped into the tank even before the tank becomes entirely filled.
  • Some also leverage electronic alarms that will most often get triggered by a floating sensor within the tank. This sensor activates a warning light and/or sound to ensure that the operator will know when the tank is at 90 percent capacity – the target fill level.
  • As a backup option, a good number of gas stations also utilize a flapper valve attached to the delivery pipe that leverages a floating arm to kick start a shut-off valve once the petroleum product in the tank attains a specific level, similar to the shutoff device of a toilet.
  • A ball float valve encompasses a ball floating on the pinnacle of the petroleum product while inside a cage, which is connected to the end of a ventilation pipe. As the product level increases, the ball will also rise until it is raised to the bottom of the vent, blocking the vent and constraining outward vapor flow prior to the tank getting filled. Once closed, this valve can make adequate pressure to inhibit the flow of product into the tank.
  • Gas station owners are also advised to use double-walled tanks that will provide an extra measure of spill protection – the space between the inner and outer walls is filled with brine.
  • Line leak detectors tend to leverage a spring-loaded arm to test the pressure in the pipes that contain petroleum products. If the line pressure is low, which could be as a result of a leak, the testing arm reaches the sensor pin below, triggering an alarm.

Conclusion

A typical gasoline station will have a storage capacity of around 10,000 to 40,000 gallons. Modern gasoline service stations tend to have two or three gasoline tanks from 10,000 to 20,000 gallons each. Aside from that, a gas station with an auto repair shop that generates waste motor oil will most often have a tank that carries around 150 to 1,000 gallons.