In accordance with applicable regulations, including the so-called under the “nitrates directive”, slurry (i.e. a mixture of animal excrement and water from washing stations and watering) must be stored in tight, closed tanks. This is due to the fact that its main ingredient – nitrogen, is a biogenic element (essential for life), but in excess it is very harmful. Improper storage of slurry affects human health and the environment. Besides methane emissions, here are some examples:
Therefore, we store the material in various types of tanks. They are made of steel, concrete, flexible fabric or polyester-glass laminate. Each of these materials has a number of advantages, but there is no perfect tank. It all depends on the specific preferences and needs of the buyer, the nature of the investment, the available area and plans for the development of the farm. Concrete guarantees durability and saves space, and its construction is complicated and time-consuming. However, flexible tanks allow you to quickly respond to the needs of the farm, and their location can be changed. Therefore, they are mobile and, despite decades of durability, they are not as resistant to damage as steel and concrete ones. Below you will find the most important advantages, but also disadvantages, of slurry tanks made of 5 types of material:
The most common tanks are above-ground stainless steel tanks with a concrete bottom. Durable, solid and durable. They can store very large amounts of slurry – from several to even several thousand cubic meters. They also have a long service life, and the material itself is fully recyclable, which is important for the environment.
However, these types of tanks also have disadvantages. This is still a very high cost for most farms. The ever-increasing prices of materials and transport only increase the final cost of the product. In the case of tanks with a capacity above 25 m³, it is also necessary to obtain a building permit, which further lengthens the entire purchase process. In addition, the tanks are permanently hardened in place. Once erected, they cannot be moved without completely modernizing the space on the farm.
Steel tanks (source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2f7QJYcenk)
Also very popular slurry tanks are those made of concrete and reinforced concrete. They can be used both as underground and above-ground tanks. The most durable of all the materials mentioned. Their lifespan can reach up to several decades. In addition to exceptional durability, they also have the greatest potential when it comes to storing slurry. The largest tanks can store up to several thousand cubic meters of this substance!
However, this is not a cheap solution. Concrete tanks, like steel tanks, are high in cost. They involve the design process, obtaining permits and construction works. It is certainly a solid and “long-lasting” solution. It is worth mentioning, however, that in terms of environmental protection, the disadvantage is the unknown duration of use. When, after decades, cracks appear in the underground concrete and slurry leaks into groundwater, it may be too late to react.
Concrete slurry tanks (source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCc8-0nVZWc)
Flexible slurry tanks are a relatively new solution – at least when compared to the above-mentioned cases. One of their advantages is the implementation time. From placing the order to installing the tank, it only takes a few weeks, and sometimes even just a few days. Cushion tanks only need a flat surface to set up the tank.
Thanks to the use of flexible fabric, they can also be dismantled and stored at any time. This is a good solution for people who are in the process of modernizing their farm.
Another advantage of this type of tanks is the price, which can be even several times lower than in the case of steel or concrete tanks. Transport is also a much cheaper option as most sizes will fit on one pallet. The service life of flexible tanks is at least a dozen or so years.
Pillow tanks
The Exflo “Farmer type S” model consists of specialized products based on materials dedicated to the agricultural and biogas sectors. A special technical fabric is intended only for contact with natural fertilizers and digestate. This ensures safe and tight storage, which also effectively reduces gas and odor emissions.
The “Farmer type S” tank ensures the storage of natural fertilizers in accordance with the requirements of the Council Directive 91/676 / EEC of December 12, 1991 (the so-called “Nitrate Directive”) and Polish regulations in force from July 26, 2018 under the nitrate program. The Exflo Farmer tank also allows Farms to create a quick, additional buffer both on their premises and in the vicinity of the target slurry discharge. Flexible pillow tanks do not have mixers, and the slurry fractionation process can be reversed by means of, among others: creating a closed pump-tank system.
The Exflo “Farmer type S” model consists of specialized products based on materials dedicated to the agricultural and biogas sectors. A special technical fabric is intended only for contact with natural fertilizers and digestate. This ensures safe and tight storage, which also effectively reduces gas and odor emissions.
The “Farmer type S” tank ensures the storage of natural fertilizers in accordance with the requirements of the Council Directive 91/676 / EEC of December 12, 1991 (the so-called “Nitrate Directive”) and Polish regulations in force from July 26, 2018 under the nitrate program. The Exflo Farmer tank also allows Farms to create a quick, additional buffer both on their premises and in the vicinity of the target slurry discharge. Flexible pillow tanks do not have mixers, and the slurry fractionation process can be reversed by means of, among others: creating a closed pump-tank system.
The Exflo “Farmer type S” model consists of specialized products based on materials dedicated to the agricultural and biogas sectors. A special technical fabric is intended only for contact with natural fertilizers and digestate. This ensures safe and tight storage, which also effectively reduces gas and odor emissions.
The “Farmer type S” tank ensures the storage of natural fertilizers in accordance with the requirements of the Council Directive 91/676 / EEC of December 12, 1991 (the so-called “Nitrate Directive”) and Polish regulations in force from July 26, 2018 under the nitrate program. The Exflo Farmer tank also allows Farms to create a quick, additional buffer both on their premises and in the vicinity of the target slurry discharge. Flexible pillow tanks do not have mixers, and the slurry fractionation process can be reversed by means of, among others: creating a closed pump-tank system.
The Exflo “Farmer type S” model consists of specialized products based on materials dedicated to the agricultural and biogas sectors. A special technical fabric is intended only for contact with natural fertilizers and digestate. This ensures safe and tight storage, which also effectively reduces gas and odor emissions.
The “Farmer type S” tank ensures the storage of natural fertilizers in accordance with the requirements of the Council Directive 91/676 / EEC of December 12, 1991 (the so-called “Nitrate Directive”) and Polish regulations in force from July 26, 2018 under the nitrate program. The Exflo Farmer tank also allows Farms to create a quick, additional buffer both on their premises and in the vicinity of the target slurry discharge. Flexible pillow tanks do not have mixers, and the slurry fractionation process can be reversed by means of, among others: creating a closed pump-tank system.
The Exflo “Farmer type S” model consists of specialized products based on materials dedicated to the agricultural and biogas sectors. A special technical fabric is intended only for contact with natural fertilizers and digestate. This ensures safe and tight storage, which also effectively reduces gas and odor emissions.
The “Farmer type S” tank ensures the storage of natural fertilizers in accordance with the requirements of the Council Directive 91/676 / EEC of December 12, 1991 (the so-called “Nitrate Directive”) and Polish regulations in force from July 26, 2018 under the nitrate program. The Exflo Farmer tank also allows Farms to create a quick, additional buffer both on their premises and in the vicinity of the target slurry discharge. Flexible pillow tanks do not have mixers, and the slurry fractionation process can be reversed by means of, among others: creating a closed pump-tank system.
The Exflo “Farmer type S” model consists of specialized products based on materials dedicated to the agricultural and biogas sectors. A special technical fabric is intended only for contact with natural fertilizers and digestate. This ensures safe and tight storage, which also effectively reduces gas and odor emissions.
The “Farmer type S” tank ensures the storage of natural fertilizers in accordance with the requirements of the Council Directive 91/676 / EEC of December 12, 1991 (the so-called “Nitrate Directive”) and Polish regulations in force from July 26, 2018 under the nitrate program. The Exflo Farmer tank also allows Farms to create a quick, additional buffer both on their premises and in the vicinity of the target slurry discharge. Flexible pillow tanks do not have mixers, and the slurry fractionation process can be reversed by means of, among others: creating a closed pump-tank system.
Tanks can also be made of polyester-glass laminate, also known as GRP (Glass-Reinforced Plastic). These tanks are very durable. Comparable even to a reinforced concrete tank. However, they weigh much less than a concrete structure. This makes their installation easier and does not require the use of heavy equipment, e.g. a crane. There are also tanks made of other materials on the market, such as polyethylene.
The biggest disadvantage of this type of tanks is the small range of available capacities. Therefore, this is not a good solution for a farm that stores very large amounts of slurry.
Tanks made of polyester-glass laminate (source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgOyPzzelUc)
One of the cheaper solutions is to choose a lagoon type slurry tank. It is a tank dug into the ground, which usually takes the shape of a trapezoid (resembles a fire-fighting pool). Its walls are lined with a special type of membrane that protects against slurry from entering the soil. Concrete walls are also used. This type of tank is popular in the USA and some EU countries, but after the implementation of the “nitrates directive” (1997), farmers began to choose other solutions.
In addition to the low price, another advantage is its partial mobility, because it can be build or expand without using large amounts of money. Its shortcomings include the problem of tightness. The tank should be covered with a thick layer of foil or you can use a stiff cover, but this is not an ideal solution.
When choosing a slurry tank, it is worth matching the type of tank / type of material to your needs. The main factors are implementation time, investment costs, available dimensions and capacities, as well as the size of the farm and the use of its space. To make the decision easier, we present a short summary of each type of tank in the form of a table with the biggest advantages and disadvantages listed.
| Tank type | Advantages | Disadvantages | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Steel tanks |
|
|
| 2. | Concrete tanks |
|
|
| 3. | Flexible tanks |
|
|
| 4. | Polyester-glass laminate tanks |
|
|
| 5. | Lagoon tanks |
|
|
