HOSES

Brain Warshaw examines recent innovations in the construction of hoses, and provides advice on choosing the right hose to provide a link in the fluid transfer chain - whether for transferring fluid between manifolds and tanks, tank-to-tank connections, loading or unloading road or rail tankers, or for bunkering in marine terminals.

Any hose has a natural capability to compensate for vibration, movement, and any misalignment of flanges, but the hose you choose for the job must be suitable for the working pressure and temperature of the fluid being transferred, and be resistant to any chemical properties of the product.

Consideration must be given to cleaning requirements and the risk of cross-contamination between fluids; together with any mechanical constraints such as a requirement to be handled by crane, bridle or sling. Then they must meet any specific environmental considerations, and health and safety standards.

Traditionally, hoses were heavy and awkward to manhandle; but the development of composite hoses has changed that conception, and during the past few years manufacturers' sales figures have shown a growing demand for them from within the terminal storage industry.

Composite hoses, made from a mixture of different materials, are strong, extremely flexible and relatively lightweight, when compared to their rubber or metal counterparts; this latter feature being important when considering health and safety policies relating to manual handling.

Recent innovations in construction have made it possible to use composite hoses where previously hoses couldn't be used, such as towers and gantries; locations where they are hung vertically, sometimes without additional support.