316 Stainless Pallet & Ventilation Duct for a Sulfuric Acid Tank

A large Chicagoland manufacturer runs a sulfuric acid tank in their plant. Sulfuric acid doesn't just attack what falls in it — the fumes coming off the tank corrode everything nearby. Their original ventilation duct was proof. It was crusted over and on its way to failing, and there was no good way to rinse down the floor under the tank itself.

They needed two things built: a replacement duct that could live next to the acid, and a pallet to get the tank up off the floor. I built both out of 316 stainless steel.

The duct

The original duct was roughly 12" x 12" and about 60 inches long. I reverse engineered it — pulled the dimensions and features off the old unit — and built the replacement in 316 stainless with fully welded seams, a bolted access panel, and a welded round collar that ties straight into the plant's existing ductwork. No changes needed on their end.

The duct moves air across the top of the tank, so the tank stays actively ventilated and the fumes get carried away instead of settling on the equipment around it.

The pallet

The tank sat flat on the floor, which meant anything that dripped or splashed under it stayed there. I built a pallet roughly 4 foot by 4 foot and about 4 inches tall, welded from the same 316 stainless. It raises the tank just enough that wash water can flow underneath, so the floor below the tank can actually be rinsed instead of slowly eating itself.

Why 316 stainless

Most stainless you run into is 304. 316 adds molybdenum, which makes it hold up far better against sulfuric acid and the chloride-heavy environment of a plating room. It costs more per sheet, and for a part that spends its whole life next to an acid tank, it's the right call. Carbon steel or galvanized would be a repeat order in a few years. That's good for me, bad for them, and not how I like to work.

Built in the shop, dropped in at the plant

Both pieces were fit up and welded on the fixture table in my shop, then delivered ready to install. The duct bolted onto their existing ducting as-is.

If your plant has a part the chemicals keep eating — a duct, a hood, a tank stand, a guard — send me a picture and see how we do. Whatever you need built or fixed, I'd like the call.

Start a project or call 224-213-6727 — most responses within 24 hours.