How to Measure Thickness of a Large Steel Storage Tank with Wintact WT-100A Malaysia
How to Measure Thickness of a Large Steel Storage Tank with Wintact WT-100A Malaysia
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Large steel storage tanks are widely used in Malaysian factories, palm oil mills, water treatment facilities, chemical plants, manufacturing facilities and other industrial operations.
One common maintenance question is:
“How can we check the remaining thickness of a large steel tank without cutting the tank wall?”
For suitable materials and inspection conditions, an ultrasonic thickness gauge such as the Wintact WT-100A can measure material thickness from one accessible side.
However, measuring a large tank effectively requires more than taking one or two random readings. A systematic measurement plan provides much more useful information for maintenance and corrosion monitoring.
Why Measure Steel Tank Wall Thickness?
Steel tanks can experience gradual material loss due to:
Internal corrosion
External corrosion
Moisture
Chemical exposure
Environmental conditions
Process contents
Long-term operation
Localised corrosion
Some deterioration may not be obvious from visual inspection alone.
Ultrasonic thickness measurement provides numerical information about the remaining thickness at selected measurement locations.
Why One Measurement Is Not Enough
Imagine measuring a large tank at one convenient location and obtaining:
8.10 mm
Can you conclude that the entire tank wall is 8.10 mm?
No.
A large tank may have different conditions at different locations.
For example:
Upper Section: 8.08 mm
Middle Section: 7.96 mm
Lower Section: 7.21 mm
Localised areas may experience greater material loss than others.
This is why a measurement grid or documented inspection locations can be useful.
Create a Tank Thickness Measurement Plan
Instead of measuring randomly, divide the accessible tank surface into documented locations.
For example:
Tank T-01
Area A Upper Shell
Area B Middle Shell
Area C Lower Shell
Area D Selected corrosion-prone location
Each area can then contain several measurement points.
This makes it easier to compare results during future inspections.
Example Tank Thickness Map
A simple record might look like this:
Upper Shell
Point U1: 8.05 mm
Point U2: 8.02 mm
Point U3: 8.07 mm
Middle Shell
Point M1: 7.91 mm
Point M2: 7.88 mm
Point M3: 7.93 mm
Lower Shell
Point L1: 7.30 mm
Point L2: 7.18 mm
Point L3: 7.25 mm
The lower section shows different readings from the upper areas and may justify closer investigation.
How to Take an Ultrasonic Thicknss Measurement
A general measurement process may include:
Identify and document the measurement location.
Ensure the equipment is in an appropriate and safe condition for inspection.
Inspect the surface.
Remove loose contamination where required by the procedure.
Configure the instrument for the material.
Apply suitable ultrasonic couplant.
Position the probe correctly.
Obtain a stable and repeatable reading.
Record the measurement.
Repeat at the other predetermined locations.
Actual inspection work should follow the appropriate site procedures and safety requirements.
Why Measure the Same Points Again?
Suppose Point L2 measures:
2024: 7.82 mm
2025: 7.50 mm
2026: 7.18 mm
Now the maintenance team has more than a thickness reading.
It has a thickness trend.
This historical information can help determine which areas deserve further investigation and support maintenance planning.
Can WT-100A Detect Corrosion Inside the Tank?
The WT-100A measures remaining material thickness at the measurement location.
It does not provide a complete image of the inside of the tank.
A reduced reading may indicate material loss, but the extent and cause of deterioration may require:
Additional thickness measurements
Visual inspection
Other NDT methods
Engineering assessment
For critical tanks, use the applicable inspection procedure and qualified personnel.
What About Painted Tanks?
Coatings can influence conventional ultrasonic thickness measurements.
If the objective is to determine the remaining steel wall thickness, do not automatically assume that the coating is excluded from the reading.
Depending on the application, surface preparation or a more specialised through-coating measurement technique may be required.
Where Should a Large Tank Be Checked?
Inspection locations should be selected according to the tank design, service conditions, previous inspection history and applicable procedure.
Potential areas of interest may include:
Lower shell areas
Moisture-prone locations
Areas with visible corrosion
Locations exposed to chemicals
Previously repaired sections
Selected shell courses
Areas identified during previous inspections
The correct locations depend on the specific asset.
Storage Tank Thickness Monitoring in Malaysia
Ultrasonic tank thickness measurement may be relevant to:
Palm oil mills
Manufacturing plants
Chemical processing
Water treatment
Petrochemical facilities
Food processing
Industrial storage
Marine facilities
Engineering companies
Maintenance contractors
Is WT-100A Suitable for Every Tank Inspection?
No single portable thickness gauge is suitable for every tank inspection requirement.
More specialised equipment or procedures may be needed for:
Thick coatings
High-temperature surfaces
Difficult corrosion conditions
Special materials
Formal NDT inspection programs
Safety-critical or regulated assets
The WT-100A should be selected when its measurement capability matches the actual application.
Turn Tank Measurements into Useful Maintenance Data
The best workflow is not:
Measure → Write Down Number → Forget
A better approach is:
Tank ID → Measurement Grid → Thickness Readings → Historical Comparison → Identify Changes → Further Inspection → Maintenance Planning
This turns ultrasonic thickness measurement into part of an asset condition-monitoring program.
Looking for a Steel Tank Thickness Gauge in Malaysia?
MTM Precision supplies ultrasonic thickness gauges and industrial testing instruments for Malaysian factories, engineering companies, maintenance teams and inspection applications.
Before selecting an instrument, tell us:
Tank Material
Approximate Wall Thickness
Tank Size / Application
Surface Condition
Inspection Purpose
MTM Precision can help determine whether the Wintact WT-100A or another ultrasonic thickness gauge is suitable for your application.
Contact MTM Precision
MTM Precision Sdn. Bhd.
Showroom & Service Centre
No. 29-1 & 29-2, Jalan Bandar 18,
Pusat Bandar Puchong,
47160 Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia
🌐 Website: www.mtmpre.com.my
📧 Email: mtmpre@yahoo.com
📱 WhatsApp: +6016-660 7346
10 Aug 2026
