We are often asked to explain how the product can be discharged from a stainless steel IBC container.  Is it from the bottom or from the top?  Is there a valve?  Where is it?  What size is it?  Does the IBC container drain completely?  Let’s look at some of these questions one at a time. 

First, does the stainless steel IBC drain completely?  Our stainless steel IBC containers are equipped with a one-inch sloped bottom that slopes toward the bottom outlet.  The one inch is the difference between the highest side of the tank bottom and the lowest side of the tank bottom of the tank.  This slope will allow for the liquid to run to the lowest side of the IBC container – which of course is where the bottom outlet is located.  Brilliant!  Our stainless steel IBC containers will drain to 99.5% empty depending on the product.  This is one of the major cost savings advantages of ss IBC containers over drums and that is the amount, or lack of, residual left in the container.  You pay for the product and don’t want to leave it in the container! 

How do you get the product out of the stainless steel IBC container?  The two-inch bottom outlet pipe of the IBC container has a smooth finish on the inside of the tank so that product can freely flow into the outlet. On the outside of the tank, the bottom outlet pipe has 2” NPT threads.  A stainless steel elbow is threaded onto the outlet pipe.  A stainless steel nipple is threaded onto the elbow. Then a 2” stainless steel ball valve is threaded onto the stainless steel nipple.  Teflon tape or pipe dope should be used when threading the connections.  These three pieces are commonly referred to as the ‘Discharge Assembly’.  They are designed to be removed for replacement and for complete cleaning of the stainless steel IBC (when required).

The most common valve on a standard stainless steel IBC container is a ball valve made from 316 stainless steel.  It has female NPT threads on each end.  All of the valves for stainless steel IBCs are equipped with locking reverse handles.  Typical household and industrial valves have the handle ‘in-line’ with the valve when open so it follows the flow of the product.  The valves on stainless steel IBC containers are CLOSED when in-line and open when perpendicular to the valve.  (If reverse valve handles were not used, the handles would get knocked off in transit.)  The standard stainless steel IBC container valve uses Teflon seats.

Understanding the discharge process for stainless steel IBC containers is the surest way for proper use of intermediate bulk containers.  Click here for more information on IBC container replacement parts.