Revisiting LGMI Ideas

While the Board of Directors works hard to move this email to the website, I thought we would go back and look at some past LGMI Ideas...

28 Oct 15: Applications 24: Holes in the ground

Viewing tankage as swimming pools

A couple of years ago, I suggested a cheap way to build tanks, perhaps, would be to build them in the ground, much like one would build a swimming pool.

At last week's Light Green Machine Institute Conference, one of the suppliers present told me they sell an anaerobic water treatment system that is built this way. The vessels are all concrete and rebar-lined holes in the ground.

The last time I brought up the subject of building tanks this way I was shouted down as being impractical. Apparently not--it has been done. I have asked this supplier to present their system at next year's conference.

In the meantime, I got to thinking: if we designed this correctly and the mill was built in a location where soil and bedrock conditions allowed, such tankage placed under the machine basement could serve not only as the properly designed containment vessels for various process streams, but also as a foundation element in lieu of piles. What a savings!

Of special note...

In a few months, we will be moving this column to the Light Green Machine Institute website. There is not much there right now, but you might as well get signed up and start thinking about moving over there. It is at www.lightgreenmachine.institute.