Tank vs. Vat — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 11, 2024
A tank is a large container for storing liquid or gas, often used in military or industrial contexts, while a vat is a large tank or tub used for processes like fermenting, storing, or holding liquids in industries like brewing or manufacturing.
Difference Between Tank and Vat
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Tanks are designed for storage and sometimes transport of liquids or gases, often under pressure or in controlled conditions. Vats, on the other hand, are specifically designed for industrial or commercial processes, such as brewing beer or dyeing fabric, where the shape and material are optimized for chemical reactions or fermentation.
A military tank is a heavily armored fighting vehicle equipped with a large gun and moves on tracks, showing a completely different application from storage tanks, whereas vats have no such usage variation and are exclusively used in industrial processes.
Tanks can be made from a variety of materials, including metal, plastic, or composite materials, depending on their intended use, such as resisting high pressure or chemical corrosion. Vats are typically made from materials suited to their specific industrial use, like stainless steel for food and beverage vats to prevent contamination and facilitate cleaning.
Tanks are used across a broad range of sectors, including military, industrial, and residential (e.g., water tanks), highlighting their versatility. Vats, while also versatile within their application range, are primarily found in specific sectors like food production, chemical manufacturing, and textile industries.
The term "tank" can refer to containers that are either above ground or underground, mobile or fixed, showcasing their adaptability. Vats are usually large, stationary containers placed on the floor of a facility, designed for easy access during the production process.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Primary Use
Storage or transport of liquids/gases
Industrial processes like fermenting, brewing
Variations
Includes military vehicles, storage, and pressure tanks
Exclusively used for industrial/commercial processes
Materials
Metal, plastic, composite materials
Optimized for specific uses, e.g., stainless steel
Sectors
Military, industrial, residential
Food production, chemical manufacturing, textiles
Configuration
Can be mobile or fixed, above or underground
Large, stationary, typically above ground
Compare with Definitions
Tank
A heavily armored fighting vehicle with a large gun.
The military deployed tanks to the conflict zone.
Vat
A container used in the food industry for processes like cheese making.
The cheese is left to curdle in a large vat.
Tank
A large container for storing liquid or gas.
The factory has several tanks for storing oil.
Vat
A tub used in the textile industry for dyeing fabrics.
They submerged the cloth in a dye vat for several hours.
Tank
A container for aquatic animals.
We installed a new fish tank in the living room.
Vat
A large container used for mixing, storing, or processing chemicals.
The brewery added a new vat for fermenting beer.
Tank
A small container for holding liquid in machinery.
Check the coolant tank in your car regularly.
Vat
A large tank used in winemaking for fermentation.
Grapes are crushed and then transferred to vats for fermentation.
Tank
An underground or aboveground storage for water.
Our house is supplied by a rainwater tank.
Vat
A container for holding liquids in industrial processes.
The factory uses several vats for chemical reactions.
Tank
A tank is an armored fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong armor, and good battlefield mobility provided by tracks and a powerful engine; usually their main armament is mounted in a turret.
Vat
A large tank or tub used to hold liquid, especially in industry
A vat of hot tar
Tank
A large, often metallic container for holding or storing liquids or gases.
Vat
A water-insoluble dye, such as indigo, that is applied to a fabric in a reducing bath which converts it to a soluble form, the colour being obtained on subsequent oxidation in the fabric fibres.
Tank
The amount that this container can hold
Buy a tank of gas.
Vat
Place or treat in a vat
The grapes are vatted for between 15 and 21 days and then aged in small barrels
Tank
A usually artificial pool, pond, reservoir, or cistern, especially one used to hold water for drinking or for irrigation.
Vat
A large vessel, such as a tub, cistern, or barrel, used to hold or store liquids.
Tank
A usually glass-walled container in which live fish, reptiles, or other animals are kept.
Vat
To put into or treat in a vat.
Tank
An enclosed, heavily armored combat vehicle that is armed with cannon and machine guns and moves on continuous tracks.
Vat
A large tub, such as is used for making wine or for tanning.
A vat of liquid
A vat of acid
A vat of wine
A vat of olives
A vat of fat
A vat of glue
Tank
A tank top.
Vat
A square, hollow place on the back of a calcining furnace, where tin ore is laid to dry.
Tank
(Slang) A jail or jail cell.
Vat
(Roman Catholic) A vessel for holding holy water.
Tank
To place, store, or process in a tank.
Vat
(dated) A liquid measure and dry measure; especially, a liquid measure in Belgium and Holland, corresponding to the hectolitre of the metric system, which contains 22.01 imperial gallons, or 26.4 standard gallons in the United States.
Tank
(Informal) To suffer a sudden decline or failure
The stock market tanked yesterday.
Vat
(transitive) To put into a vat.
Tank
A closed container for liquids or gases.
Vat
(transitive) To blend (wines or spirits) in a vat; figuratively, to mix or blend elements as if with wines or spirits.
Tank
An open container or pool for storing water or other liquids.
Vat
A large vessel, cistern, or tub, especially one used for holding liquors in an immature state, chemical preparations for dyeing, or for tanning, or for tanning leather, or the like.
Let him produce his vats and tubs, in opposition to heaps of arms and standards.
Tank
A pond, pool, or small lake, natural or artificial.
Vat
A measure for liquids, and also a dry measure; especially, a liquid measure in Belgium and Holland, corresponding to the hectoliter of the metric system, which contains 22.01 imperial gallons, or 26.4 standard gallons in the United States.
Tank
The fuel reservoir of a vehicle.
Vat
A wooden tub for washing ores and mineral substances in.
Tank
The amount held by a container; a tankful.
I burned three tanks of gas on the drive to New York.
Vat
A vessel for holding holy water.
Tank
An armoured fighting vehicle, armed with a gun, and moving on caterpillar tracks.
Vat
To put or transfer into a vat.
Tank
A reservoir or dam.
Vat
A tax levied on the difference between a commodity's price before taxes and its cost of production
Tank
A large metal container for holding drinking water for animals, usually placed near a wind-driven water pump, in an animal pen or field.
Vat
A large open vessel for holding or storing liquids
Tank
By extension a small pond for the same purpose.
Tank
(slang) A very muscular and physically imposing person. Somebody who is built like a tank.
Tank
A unit or character designed primarily around damage absorption and holding the attention of the enemy (as opposed to dealing damage, healing, or other tasks).
Tank
A prison cell, or prison generally.
Tank
A metaphorical place where a player goes to contemplate a decision; see in the tank.
Tank
(rail) nodot=1 and tank locomotive.
Tank
To fail or fall (often used in describing the economy or the stock market); to degenerate or decline rapidly; to plummet.
Tank
(video games) To attract the attacks of an enemy target in cooperative team-based combat, so that one's teammates can defeat the enemy in question more efficiently.
Tank
(transitive) To put (fuel, etc.) into a tank.
Tank
To deliberately lose a sports match with the intent of gaining a perceived future competitive advantage.
Tank
(fandom slang) To resist damage; to be attacked without being hurt.
Tank
To contemplate a decision for a long time; to go in the tank.
Tank
To stand; to tolerate.
Tank
A small Indian dry measure, averaging 240 grains in weight; also, a Bombay weight of 72 grains, for pearls.
Tank
A large basin or cistern; an artificial receptacle for liquids.
Tank
A pond, pool, or small lake, natural or artificial.
We stood in the afterglow on the bank of the tank and saw the ducks come home.
The tanks are full and the grass is high.
Tank
A heavily armored combat vehicle which moves on caterpillar treads, rather than wheels. It typically carries a cannon and a heavy machine, and sometimes other weapons. It is the main distinguishing weapon of an armored division.
Tank
A jail cell for temporarily holding prisoners, as in a police station.
Tank
An enclosed armored military vehicle; has a cannon and moves on caterpillar treads
Tank
A large (usually metallic) vessel for holding gases or liquids
Tank
As much as a tank will hold
Tank
A freight car that transports liquids or gases in bulk
Tank
A cell for violent prisoners
Tank
Store in a tank by causing (something) to flow into it
Tank
Treat in a tank;
Tank animal refuse
Common Curiosities
Can tanks be used for fermentation like vats?
While tanks can store liquids, vats are specially designed for fermentation with features that support this process.
What's the main difference between a tank and a vat?
The main difference lies in their use; tanks are for storage and transport, while vats are for specific industrial processes.
Can both tanks and vats be made of stainless steel?
Yes, both can be made of stainless steel, especially when the stored substance requires protection against contamination or corrosion.
Are vats used in military applications?
No, vats are not used in military applications; they are primarily used in industries like brewing, food production, and textiles.
Can a vat function as a tank?
A vat could store liquids like a tank but lacks the versatility and specific design features for storage under pressure or in controlled conditions.
Do tanks and vats come in standardized sizes?
Both tanks and vats come in various sizes, but their dimensions are often dictated by their specific use and capacity requirements.
Which is better for brewing beer, a tank or a vat?
A vat is typically preferred for brewing beer due to its design, which supports the fermentation process.
Is it possible to transport a vat like a tank?
Vats are generally large and stationary, designed for industrial use, making them less likely to be transported once installed.
How do tanks manage pressure differently than vats?
Tanks, especially those designed for gases, are built to withstand or maintain specific pressures, whereas vats are not typically designed for pressure containment.
Are tanks or vats more versatile in their applications?
Tanks are more versatile, used in a wide range of sectors including military, whereas vats have specific industrial applications.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Banister vs. Baluster
Next Comparison
Accession vs. RatificationAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
