A fuel container is a

container A container is any receptacle or enclosure for holding a product used in storage, packaging, and transportation, including shipping. Things kept inside of a container are protected on several sides by being inside of its structure. The term ...

such as a

steel can A steel can, tin can, tin (especially in British English, Australian English, Canadian English and South African English), steel packaging, or can is a container for the distribution or storage of goods, made of thin metal. Many cans re ...

bottle A bottle is a narrow-necked container made of an impermeable material (such as glass, plastic or aluminium) in various shapes and sizes that stores and transports liquids. Its mouth, at the bottling line, can be sealed with an internal stop ...

, drum, etc. for transporting, storing, and dispensing various fuels.

Construction

A wide variety of container types and constructions are used for fuels. Each has its own engineering challenges. The

jerrycan A jerrycan (also written as jerry can or jerrican) is a robust liquid container made from pressed steel (and more recently, high density polyethylene). It was designed in Germany in the 1930s for military use to hold of fuel, and saw wides ...

is a robust liquid container originally made from pressed steel. It was designed in Germany in the 1930s for military use to hold 20 litres (4.4 imp gal; 5.3 US gal) of fuel. Three

handle A handle is a part of, or attachment to, an object that allows it to be grasped and manipulated by hand. The design of each type of handle involves substantial ergonomic issues, even where these are dealt with intuitively or by following tr ...

s allow for two people carrying a full can or one person handling an empty can. The basic design is still in use today although construction is often of high density polyethylene. Portable plastic gasoline containers are commercially available and are in common use. These are usually blow molded polyethylene or other polymers compatible with the designated fuel. It has been found that the use of

flame arrester A flame arrester (also spelled arrestor), deflagration arrester, or flame trap are safety devices fitted to openings of enclosures or to pipe work, and are intended to allow flow but prevent flame transmission fuel combustion by extinguishing the ...

s reduces the chance of fire or explosion of gasoline. Child resistant caps or closures are required in some regions or jurisdictions. A drum (also called a barrel) is a cylindrical container used for shipping fuels. A typical drum has a nominal capacity of 200 litres (55 US or 44 imp gal). Drums are usually made of steel, but plastic drums are used for some liquids. Fuel drums need have the appropriate certification for shipment of dangerous goods:

Flammable liquid A flammable liquid is a liquid which can be easily ignited in air at ambient temperatures, i.e. it has a flash point at or below nominal threshold temperatures defined by a number of national and international standards organisations. The Occupat ...

s, etc. Steel drums are suited for reconditioning for multiple uses.

Grounding

Pouring of a flammable liquid has the potential of generating static electricity. Having the fuel container on the ground or having a grounding strap helps reduce the risk of sparks. In particular, loading a fuel container on a flatbed truck or vehicle can be dangerous because it is insulated.

Regulations

Shipments of flammable or explosive liquids are highly regulated. Based on the

UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods The ''UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods'' are contained in thprepared by the Subcommittee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). They cover the transport of d ...

model regulations, each country has coordinated design and performance requirements for shipment. For example, in the US, the Department of Transportation has jurisdiction and published requirements in

Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the f ...

. The applicable regulation depends on the flash point of the fuel, quantity being shipped, mode of transit, etc.

Examples

File:What do you call politicians who suggest people store petrol in cans? (6953654954).jpg, 1930s vintage 2-gallon petrol can File:The British Army in North Africa 1942 E18640.jpg, WW2 4 imperial gallon (18L) can or

Flimsy The flimsy, officially known as the Petrol, Oil and Water can, was a World War II fuel container used by the British Army. They held of fuel, which allowed them to be moved by a single person. The flimsy was well known for leaking; when used in ...

File:Britische copy wehrmacht-einheitskanister 1943 jerrycan.jpg, WWII

Jerrycan A jerrycan (also written as jerry can or jerrican) is a robust liquid container made from pressed steel (and more recently, high density polyethylene). It was designed in Germany in the 1930s for military use to hold of fuel, and saw wides ...

File:CPCCT Kerosene 4L can 20161107.jpg, 4L can of kerosene File:Embers Charcoal Lighter Fluid.jpg, Charcoal lighter fluid in a plastic

Squeeze bottle A squeeze bottle is a type of container such as a plastic bottle for dispensing a fluid, that is powered by squeezing the container by exerting pressure with the user's hand. Its fundamental characteristic is that manual pressure applied to a r ...

File:Royal Air Force- 2nd Tactical Air Force, 1943-1945. CH13310.jpg, Drums of aviation fuel 1945 File:Ronsonol Lighter Fluid.JPG, lighter fluid can File:CIMC tank container T11.jpg, Intermodal

tank container A tank container or tanktainer is an intermodal container for the transport of liquids, gases and powders as bulk cargo. It is built to the ISO standards, making it suitable for different modes of transportation; as such, it is also called an ISO ...

File:ATL-Cargo-Flex-Fuel-Bladders-Antartica.jpg,

Fuel bladder Fuel bladders, fuel storage bladders are a type of Flexi-bag used as a fuel container. They are collapsible, flexible storage bladders (also known as tanks) that provide transport and storage (temporary or long term) for bulk industrial liquids ...

Antarctica File:GasolineContainer.JPG, A typical gasoline container. File:Drums Shell GTL fuel.JPG,

Gas to liquids Gas to liquids (GTL) is a refinery process to convert natural gas or other gaseous hydrocarbons into longer-chain hydrocarbons, such as gasoline or diesel fuel. Methane-rich gases are converted into liquid synthetic fuels. Two general strategies ...

fuel containers File:Propane tank 20lb.jpg, A 20 lb () steel propane cylinder. File:Butane camp stove.JPG, Camp stove with can of butane fuel

References

* Yam, K. L., "Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology", John Wiley & Sons, 2009, * ASTM F3063, Standard Specification for Aircraft Fuel Storage and Delivery

External links