How to Set Up

Storage and handling material compatibility

 

EASY N

EASY U Sol®

EASY PK®

EASY Cal®

EASY ATS®

EASY KS®

Coppersol®

Tank

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

Stainless steel

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

Fibreglass

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

Mild steel

S

X

X

S

X

X

X

Aluminium

A

X

X

A

A

X

X

Brass or copper alloys

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Concrete

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Galvanised

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Pumps

Stainless steel mechanical or Vitron seals

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

Stainless steel or polyethylene impellor and casing

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

Aluminium

A

X

X

A

A

X

X

Carbon or mild steel

S

X

X

S

X

X

X

Brass or copper alloys

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Galvanised

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Pipes and Plumbing

Stainless steel

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

Class 9 PVC

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

Polyethylene – rated to 300 kPa, check with supplier for suitability

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

Flexible plastic hose – rated to 300 kPa, check with supplier for suitability

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

Aluminium

A

X

X

A

A

X

X

Cast iron or mild steel

S

X

X

S

X

X

X

Brass or copper alloys

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Galvanised

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Valves and fittings

Class 9 PVC ball valves

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

Stainless steel

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

Polyethylene – check with supplier for suitability

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

Forged steel

C

X

X

C

C

X

X

Aluminium

A

X

X

A

A

X

X

Cast iron or mild steel

S

X

X

S

X

X

X

Brass or copper alloys

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Galvanised

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

 

 

Zincsol®

Mangasol®

Topfoliar®

Tank

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

C

C

C

Stainless steel

C

C

C

Fibreglass

C

C

C

Mild steel

X

X

X

Aluminium

X

X

X

Brass or copper alloys

X

X

X

Concrete

X

X

X

Galvanised

X

X

X

Pumps

Stainless steel mechanical or Vitron seals

C

C

C

Stainless steel or polyethylene impellor and casing

C

C

C

Aluminium

X

X

X

Carbon or mild steel

X

X

X

Brass or copper alloys

X

X

X

Galvanised

X

X

X

Pipes and Plumbing

Stainless steel

C

C

C

Class 9 PVC

C

C

C

Polyethylene – rated to 300 kPa, check with supplier for suitability

C

C

C

Flexible plastic hose – rated to 300 kPa, check with supplier for suitability

C

C

C

Aluminium

X

X

X

Cast iron or mild steel

X

X

X

Brass or copper alloys

X

X

X

Galvanised

X

X

X

Valves and fittings

Class 9 PVC ball valves

C

C

C

Stainless steel

C

C

C

Polyethylene – check with supplier for suitability

C

C

C

Forged steel

X

X

X

Aluminium

X

X

X

Cast iron or mild steel

X

X

X

Brass or copper alloys

X

X

X

Galvanised

X

X

X

 

This information relates to the storing and handling of undiluted fertilisers. Dilution may reduce the potential for corrosion.

Sources: The Fluid Fertilizer Manual Vol 2 p 97 Table 5.1 and Incitec Pivot Fertilisers.

C = acceptable if compatible with container and accessories

X = not acceptable because of chemical incompatibility

S = fittings and couplings used with mild steel tanks should be compatible with mild steel or galvanic corrosion may occur.

A = If aluminium storage is used, then all fittings, piping and pump parts should be aluminium.

Stainless steel or HDPE fittings are the only other materials that can be used in conjunction with aluminium.

 

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Tank type

A High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) tank is the preferred option for storing EASY Liquids® fertilisers.

However, EASY Liquids can also be stored in fibreglass tanks and stainless steel tanks (refer to material compatibility chart for details).

EASY Liquids will corrode mild or carbon steel over time, so if this is the tank material chosen, regular washing is recommended.

  • 32,000 litres or larger is an ideal tank size, as it will hold a load from a B-double tanker. When choosing a tank site, allow buffer storage to take a semi-load of EASY N (18 – 20,000 litres). Bulk on-farm delivery is the most economical way to receive EASY Liquids.
  • Ideally, tanks will be fitted with a top filling point which allows the tank to be top filled from ground level and bottom outlet points.
  • Ideally, the inlet/outlet points of the tank should be welded flanges. Threaded outlets can be used, but it is suggested they be in BSB thread.
  • Preferred inlet/outlet size is 50mm (2”).
  • The Specific Gravity (SG) of EASY Liquids ranges from 1.14 to 1.5. Check with your tank supplier for a tank with specifications suited to your EASY Liquids SG rating.
  • The tank must be positioned on a flat, hard surface, preferably a concrete slab or prepared compact sand base. Your tank supplier can confirm the specifications required for your tank base.
  • Tanks should be fitted with a float level indicator. This type of indicator is preferred over an external poly sight glass.
  • Tanks should have venting and vapour space.
  • Tanks should be fitted with an overflow pipe at the top of the tank, preferably one that comes to the ground.
  • Tanks should be fitted with a manhole in the top of the tank.
  • Ideally, tanks should be black or a dark colour to keep the contents warmer.

Pump specification and type

Welded Flange

A welded flange and butterfly tap for inlet-outlet points is ideal


A self priming centrifugal pump that has a stainless steel impeller and casing or a polyethylene impeller and casing is the best type of pump for EASY Liquids. The basic specifications are as follows:

  • Self-priming centrifugal pump mounted on a base plate
  • Stainless steel mechanical or Viton seals (not brass or alloy)
  • Stainless steel or polyethylene impeller and casing
  • Carbon or mild steel is not recommended because of corrosion issues
  • Petrol driven engine or electric motor. Below are specifications for pump and motor size for unloading a B Double (29,000 litres) in 70 minutes:
    • Flow rate 416 litres/minute @ 250 kPa
    • 2” suction and discharge
    • 5.5 HP petrol engine.

 

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Site selection

Choose a site with flat, safe access for delivery trucks and other vehicles.

  • Check with your local council to confirm the need for a contained area for the truck, preferably a ripple bund.
  • Allow adequate room (25-metre radius) to turn a B Double tanker around.
  • Ensure trucks are able to get to and from the site.
  • Avoid sites near drinking water wells, bores, water run off areas and creeks to prevent accidental pollution of waterways.
  • Ensure the tank is elevated enough for effective syphoning.

 

Pipes and plumbing

All piping materials associated with EASY Liquids should be made of non-corrosive material such as PVC, Polyethylene or stainless steel (refer to material compatibility chart for details).

Incitec Pivot Fertilisers recommends stainless steel, Class 9 PVC or a suitable grade of Polyethylene rated to at least 300 kPa (check with your local pump and pipe supplier for correct pressure rating). Alternatively, a suitable plastic flexible hose rated to approximately 1.5 times the working pressure could also be used.

This piping configuration should allow pumping in either direction by opening and closing various valves.

Non-corrosive hose clamps in a material, such as stainless steel, must be used.

You will need approximately 12 metres to 14 metres of flexible hose or pipe for one tank set-up.

 

Bunding

Incitec Pivot Fertilisers strongly recommends bunding of the storage area to avoid the accidental release of EASY Liquids to the environment.

Regulations on the need for and type of bunding required will vary from state to state and council to council. We recommend you consult your local authorities (Local council and EPA) prior to building any EASY Liquids storage.

Some of the key points to consider are:

  • 32,000 litres or larger is an ideal tank size, as it will hold a load from a B-double tanker. Bulk on-farm delivery is the most economical way to receive EASY Liquids.
  • The purpose of a bund is to minimise spills to the environment.
  • The volume of the bund should be a minimum of 110% of the largest single tank volume (this varies depending on which state you are in).
  • The bund walls and floor should be impervious to the liquids stored. Use compacted clay walls with at least a 2 mm HDPE sheeting type liner, or concrete block walls and a concrete floor. Consider that the walls need to be strong enough to withhold any spillage.
  • Walls should be between 0.5 and 1.5 metres high. If the bund walls are higher than 1 metre, provide steps or ladders for people to get out. The distance between the tank and bund walls should be at least 1 metre.
  • Consider the trajectory of a liquid leak, assuming a full tank leaking from near the top.
  • Place pipe work over bund walls. If pipes go through the walls, ensure the set-up is impervious to liquid. Place hose couplings inside the bund.
  • Bunds should have a drainpipe from the bund low point, preferably with a locked stainless steel valve located outside the bund wall. This will allow it to be emptied in wet weather.
Valves and fittings

The selection of correct valves is important for safe and reliable operation.

Incitec Pivot Fertilisers recommends 50 mm (2”) stainless steel flanged butterfly taps. Other options include Class 9 PVC ball valves.

If threaded pipe work is used, select fittings with stainless steel or BSP thread, not Teflon thread.

The outlet hose connecting to the tanker must be fitted with a male camlock fitting. Industry standard is 50 mm (2”).

The hose end must also have a ball valve next to the camlock fitting to ensure that the hose can be safely disconnected after use.

You will need:

  • 8 to 9 ball valves, 1 camlock fitting, 1 screwed fitting
  • Refer to your local pipe supplier for appropriate fittings.

 

Safety
  • The Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for EASY Liquids list the protective equipment that operators must wear when handling the products.
  • Guard all moving parts. Your local pump supplier can help with this.
  • Incitec Pivot Fertilisers recommends installing a safety sign in the area to prohibit smoking and naked flames around the compound.
  • Display the product name and its MSDS at the site.

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Other recommendations

Maintenance:
  • You must be able to flush the system after each use, so choose a location suitable for flushing.
  • Laminate and keep simple operating and emergency instructions in the vicinity of the facility for easy reference.
  • Pipe work connections to a fresh water supply to allow the EASY Liquids valve to be closed and water valve opened to allow pipe and pump flushing.
Tank suppliers

 

  • For information on equipment suppliers, contact your local Incitec Pivot Fertilisers’ Area Sales Manager.

 

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This is a guide only, which we hope you find helpful as a general tool. While Incitec Pivot Fertilisers has taken all reasonable care in the preparation of this guide, it should not be relied on as a substitute for tailored professional advice and Incitec Pivot Fertilisers accepts no liability in connection with this guide. Talk to your local Incitec Pivot Fertilisers Distributor Agronomist about soil testing and arranging a specific fertiliser recommendation that best suits your needs.

®EASY Liquids, EASY N, EASY U Sol, EASY PK, EASY Cal, EAS ATS and EASY KS is a registered trademark of Incitec Pivot Limited. ® Coppersol, Zincsol, Mangasol and Topfoliar are registered trademarks of Top Australia Limited.

Incitec Pivot Fertilisers is a business of Incitec Pivot Limited, ABN 42 004 080 264.

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