Stainless Steel Pressure Tanks
Swhift has been rolling, welding and testing stainless pressure tanks since 1980. Order a stock size off the chart or send us a layout sheet and we will build to your dimensions.
What Stainless Steel Pressure Tanks are for
A pressure tank holds its contents above atmospheric pressure, which means the shell, heads and every welded fitting have to be sized for the working load rather than just for volume. Swhift builds these as vertical or horizontal vessels, with the shell gauge and head gauge stepped up as diameter and test pressure increase.
Tanks are hand-rolled and hand-welded, and the circumferential seams are closed using mechanically assisted welding, which runs a continuous bead around the tank rather than stopping and restarting by hand. All fittings are welded in by hand by our fabricators.
Stock sizes run from 9-5/8 in. through 60 in. in diameter and up to roughly 1,900 gallons. If none of those fit, the same tank gets built to your dimensions — there is no separate custom shop.
Typical applications
- Potable and domestic water storage
- Ozone contact and water treatment systems
- Solar hot water storage
- Water chilling and process cooling
- Compressed air and general process service
Get a price on this tank
Stock size or custom — send what you have and we will quote it. Consultations are free.
Construction
How we build it
Every specification below is what Swhift actually publishes for this product line.
- 304L stainless steel standard; 316L available as an option
- Mechanically assisted welds on the tank circumference, hand-welded fittings
- FDA-approved materials — 100% tasteless and odorless
- Vertical or horizontal orientation
- Shell and head gauge stepped to diameter and test pressure
- Made in the U.S.A.
Options
What you can change
Stock or custom sizing is available across the range. These are the options most often specified.
- Stock sizes or fully custom diameter and length
- Mill, Soft Swirl or High Luster exterior finish
- Sanitary interior finish on request
- Half couplings (outside connections) or full couplings (inside and outside)
- Water jacket and cladding available
- Heat exchange coils built to your requirement
- Leg height and gusset details to suit the installation
| Factory test pressure | Maximum operating pressure |
|---|---|
| 150 psi | 120 psi |
| 300 psi | 180 psi |
Stainless Steel Pressure Tanks we have built
Photographs from our shop and from installations. Every image on this site is our own work — there is no stock photography anywhere on it.
Specifications & order forms
Industries that use this tank
- Water & WastewaterContact vessels, softener tanks and storage for drinking water, process water and wastewater treatment.
- Food & RestaurantFood-grade tanks, custom components and one-off stainless work for production kitchens and food manufacturers.
- Oil, Gas & EthanolProcess vessels, pressure tanks and vacuum tanks for fuel and energy processing operations.
Stainless Steel Pressure Tanks: common questions
What sizes do you keep as standard?
Our published chart covers diameters of 9-5/8, 11-5/8, 14-5/8, 18, 19, 22, 24, 30, 36, 40, 42, 48 and 60 inches, in a range of lengths, from about 8 gallons up to roughly 1,913 gallons. The chart lists gallons, approximate weight and gallons-per-inch for each size.
Can you build a size that isn't on the chart?
Yes. Stock or custom sizing is available on every pressure tank we build. Send dimensions, or fill in a layout sheet and email it to us, and we will quote the tank to your drawing.
Is 316L worth the upgrade over 304L?
It depends on what the tank sees. 316L adds molybdenum, which improves resistance to chlorides. Our warranty covers T-304 in water up to 1.5 ppm chlorine and T-316 up to 8 ppm, and we recommend 316 for hot water service. Tell us the water chemistry and temperature and we will tell you which grade we would put on the job.
Do the tanks need a relief valve?
Yes. Every Swhift pressure tank must be installed with an operational relief valve set no higher than 80% of the tank's factory test pressure. Running a tank above that voids the warranty, and keeping the valve installed and working is the tank owner's responsibility.
How do I send you a design?
Use our vertical or horizontal pressure tank layout sheet. It has spaces for diameter, length, orientation, gauge, grade, finish, pressure test and coupling callouts, plus blank views to mark fitting sizes and locations. Email the completed sheet to customerservice@solartanks.com or attach it to a quote request.
Related products
Custom Ozone Contact Tanks
Contact vessels sized to your system's required contact time, in a material ozone does not attack.
ViewSolar Hot Water Tanks
Solar thermal storage in stainless rather than glass-lined steel — the product the solartanks.com name was built on.
ViewStainless Steel Vacuum Tanks
Vessels built to hold vacuum, with the heavier shell that external pressure requires.
View
Start a project
Ready to quote your stainless steel pressure tanks?
Send dimensions, a completed layout sheet, or a description of the job. If a stock size fits, we will point you at it rather than quoting a custom build.
Consultations are free. Every project is managed by a single production manager, so you talk to the person who knows your job.