Tank Service That Keeps Operations Moving

Tank service can include cleaning, sludge and sediment removal, condition assessment, preventive maintenance planning, entry portal installation, and integration of robotic cleaning equipment. Bristola focuses on liquid storage assets such as industrial tanks, anaerobic digesters, and covered lagoons. The exact scope is based on the asset type, material handled, access configuration, current buildup, and whether the facility needs a retrofit or new-build solution.

Bristola’s system uses a remotely operated submersible vehicle that enters through a purpose-designed entry box and portal. The vehicle travels within the tank, collects sludge or sediment, and transfers material through a flexible hose to the facility’s selected processing option. This approach is designed to clean while the tank remains in use, avoiding the need for workers to enter the confined space.

In many applications, yes. Bristola’s zero-human-entry robotic cleaning system is designed to work while a liquid storage tank remains in operation, reducing the need to empty the tank or pause production. Site conditions, tank design, material characteristics, and access points are reviewed before service. Covered lagoons may require initial infrastructure modifications before future live cleanings can occur.

Robotic cleaning reduces exposure to the confined-space hazards associated with sending workers inside a tank. Bristola’s system is specifically designed to keep personnel outside the vessel while a remotely operated vehicle performs the cleaning work. Facilities should still follow their applicable safety procedures, site controls, and regulatory requirements, but eliminating entry can significantly reduce a major source of maintenance risk.

Bristola supports a broad range of liquid storage applications, including anaerobic digesters, biogas facilities, wastewater and water treatment tanks, food and beverage process tanks, industrial storage tanks, and covered lagoons. The technology is also applicable in sectors such as oil and gas, pulp and paper, steel, protein processing, and renewable energy. Compatibility is assessed according to the facility’s design and operating conditions.

Yes. Existing facilities can be retrofitted with the hardware and components needed for Bristola’s zero-human-entry cleaning system. The tank is first prepared and manually cleaned to remove existing sediment, then the entry hardware and system components are installed. Once configured, the facility can be positioned for future robotic cleaning that reduces exposure hours and helps limit disruptions to operations.

Bristola develops preventive maintenance programs for newly built and commissioned digesters to help maintain optimal performance and avoid prolonged shutdowns or cleanouts. A program can account for the digester’s condition, cleaning requirements, operating objectives, and planned service intervals. Proactive planning helps operators better anticipate maintenance needs, protect consistent output, and budget for asset care before buildup creates a larger operational issue.

Prepare basic information about the tank’s dimensions, contents, operating status, access points, current sediment or sludge concerns, and maintenance history. Photos, drawings, and details about any existing manholes or entry structures can help clarify options. Bristola can then evaluate whether robotic cleaning, a retrofit, a new-build installation, or a tailored preventive maintenance approach best fits the facility’s requirements.