STORAGE TANKS Improve selection and sizing of storage tanks Guidelines help engineers select the best tank design for plant applications A. HEYDARI GORII and H. KALAT JARI, torage ranks are used to receive and hold raw materials for S farther processing into end-producrs. Within che plant, the feedstocks and raw materials undergo several processes sceps by various operating units. Because the flow of feedstocks and other raw material is not exactly instantaneous, ranks are needed 10 hold various product streams. Finally, storage tanks are used to hold and store finished products until distribution. Storage tanks ae classified in different ways. Tanks are clas- sified depending on the nature of the product to be stored (atmospheric, low pressure and medium pressure), operating temperature (ambient and low temperature) as well as the type of construction [aboveground or underground and double wall A significant factor to consider when selecting storage tank is effects fiom vapor pressure created by the stored product at the ambient temperatures. Atmospheric and low-pressure tanks. Six basic cank designs are used for liquid storage vessels: fixed roof (vertical and, horizontal), external fleating roof, domed external (or covered) floating roof, internal floating roof, variable vapor space and. medium pressure. A brief description of each tank is provided hte Fixed roof. The fixed-roof tank when compared to an open- top tank, which is used mainly in water and wastewater treat- ment, contains product vapors with reduced potential for fee. Since the liquid surface is exposed, the tank-vapor space results, significant product evaporation occu: Fixed-roof tanks are generally used to store products that do not readily vaporize at ambient or stored temperature con~ ditions. For instance, fixed-roof tanks can be used to handle non-volatile products such as gasoil, lubricating oils, asphale and fuel oil Regarding emission contro, fixed-roof tanks without vapor- recovery facilities are restricted to materials with a true vapor pressure (TVP) of kess than 1.5 psia at the tank operating tem- perature. This type of tank consists of a cylindrical steel shell with a permanently fixed roof, which may vary in design from cone or dome shaped to flat. Each type can be further sub- divided into non-pressure, low-pressure and high-pressure fixed- roof tanks + Non-pressure fixed-roof tanks ae used for storage atatmo- spheric pressure and are provided with open vents. * Low. pressure and high-pressure fixed-roof tanks are used for storage at 2 low- and high-internal pressure oF vacuum, SAZEH Consultants, Tehran, Iran cone- and dome-roof tanks {ype of tanks Design pressure'vacaum, mbar (gouge) Hon presire T5725 Towressare 20160 High pressure 50760 respectively: They are provided with pressure/vacuum relief ‘alves (breather valves) that should be set ro be fully open at the design pressures “Table 1 summarizes che maximum design conditions for each type of fixed-roof tanks. Atmospheric tanks should not be used to store liquids at temperatures at or above its boiling point, Losses from fixed-roof tanks are caused by changes in tempera- ture, pressure and liquid level Fixed-roof tanks should be either freely vented or equipped with a pressure/vacuum relief valve Floating roof, For this tank type, the roofis not fixed to the shell, but “oats” on the liquid; s0, no vapor space is created. Because the floating roof rests directly om the liquid surface, it significancy diminishes stock evaporative losses and reduces the havards associated with handling 2 lage. possibly combustible tank vapor space. Floating,roof tanks are utilized when the TVP of the stored liquid at operating temperature is ess than 11.1 psia. For TVPs greater than 11.1 psa, a medium-pressure storage rank or vapor- recovery system is mandatory. There isa preference for floating- roof over fixed-roof tanks asthe size ofthe tank can beincreased, as the vapor pressure of the stored liquid increases, and the flash poine is below the storage remperaturs. Floating-roo! tanks are preferred to store products susceptible to high electric charge due o fiction such as light products, erosine and crude oil External floating-roof tanks. This tank type is designed to work at atmospheric pressure. Although normally recom- mended only for diameters of 15 m and grester, this does not exclude applying this design for smaller-diameter tanks under special circumstances. At minimum, the diameter of an external floating-roof rank should be equal to its height to enable using 4 normal rolling ladder for roof access. A typical external floating-roof tank consists of an open- topped cylindrical stel shell equipped with a roof that fleats on the surfice of the sored liquid. The floating roof consists of a deck, fitcings and sim-seal system, HYDROCARBON PROCESSING OCTORER 206 | 95,STORAGE TANKS ‘adder Vacuum Acsess Deckleg Foxe rot trewkor htc Oe umn Sion ‘TABLE 2. Selection of vertical tanks Product category Tank diameter, m Enrzy 2 W535 ez Fah panties Tigh- and Tow-pressure Tigh: and low-pressure Gre Eenal floating root Tateral Trang voor then 21° cone root ‘and domeroofexteral end (peferebyfow pressure iteral lating root Flash pant 20°C and higher but ss than 55% Tow pressure cone rook feoating rot Tew-pressure cane and done rootlexteral and internal cone ard deme rof External and nteralfoating root (peterblyiow-ressre cane ad deme of ‘tera foating root Fash pane 55°C and higher Non: pressure core roct ome oot “ ismum danse or romp ane ot 360m Floating decks are of two general types: pontoon and double- deck. Typical pontoon external loating-soof tanks are showa in Fig. 1 With all ypes of external foating-roof tanks, the roof alls and rises with the liquid level within che tank. Extemal floating decks are equipped with a rim-seal system, which is attached t0 the deck perimctcr and contacts the tank wall. The purpose ofthe floating roof and rim-seal system isto reduce evaporative loss of the stored liquid Internal floating-roof tanks. This tank design was devel- ‘oped in the mid-1950s to provide protection ofthe floating roof from elements, including lightning strikes. The tank vapor space, ‘which is located above the floating roof and below the fixed roof, includes circulation ventsto allow natural ventilation, thus reduc- ing accumulation of product vapors and mitigating the formation cof combustible mixwure (Fig 2). Such tanks can be used when: + Snow loading ona floating roof may be problem since snow ‘or water on the floating roof will affect the operating buoyancy + Contamination by rainwater of th liquid stored in a floating roof tankis unacceptable + Environmental or vapor loss problem with fixed-roof tanks are evident * Contact of the stored liquid with air should be zvoided. Inyernal baring roof can be installed in existing tank as wel asnew tanks. Ton:pressive cone ard Nor-presure cone and deme rof Tian pressare one root" ‘There are two basic types of internal floating-roof ranks: + Tanks in which the fixed roof is supported by vertical col- tumns within the tank + Tanks witha self-supporting fixed roof and no internal sup- port columns. Installing a floating roof minimizes evaporative losses of che stored liquid. Evaporative loses from floating roofs may develop from the deck ficings, non-welded deck seams and annular space between the deck and tank wal. Inaddition, these tanks are freely vented by circulation yents atthe wp of the fised 100. The vents minimize the accumulation of organic vapors in the tank vapor space in concentrations approaching the flammable range. An internal floating-roof tank that is not freely vented is considered a pressure rank. Domed external floating-roof tanks. Domed extemal (or covered) floating-roof tanks have a heavier deck used in the exer- nal flosting-roof tanks a well 2s fixed roof atthe top ofthe shell, such as an internal floating-roof tank. Domed external floating- roof tanks usually result from reuofitting an external loating- roof tank witha fixed roof. The function of the fied roof in the domed external floating-roof tank is not to act as a vapor barter. However, it should block the wind. Like the internal floating-rooF canis, these tanks ate freely vented by circulation yen ache cop of the fixed roof. A typical domed exernal floating-roof tank is shown in Fig. 3.STORAGE TANKS Fixed root Nemsonenia Veoxim — 7A pekatar ee ating ro DeRke pecxigg _/ Overtow Access ‘rimseal Gonna ata), / 0" lch ¢mestancasoo eo (cotter zea) 0220 st Peers - Perens nes al-shaped used for LPG: Medium-pressure tank. Spheric orage tanks vessels most frequently iquid petroleum ga are used to store products with high vapor pres rylarge The working pressure of these tanks can be from 1 to 70 barg or capacity (Fig. 4). Spherical sorage tanks can be 10 times larger tet. These tanks often have hemispherical head. High-pressure Ballet tanks are long cylindrical (usually horizontal) pressure tanks at ambient temperacute eee La tela ts) Nc) BOXSCORE DATA BASE NOW ONLINE! New projects being added at a rate of 40 per week! Construction activity in the global hydrocarbon processing industry is increasing at rates not seen in twenty-five years. Since September 2005, there has been an average of 40 projects per week added to the Boxscore Data Base PROCESSING HPI construction Boxscore which now totals over 3,200 projects in various stages from planning, engineering and construction. Subscribe today and == start receiving these projects every week in an e-mail plus the additional enhancements listed below: Weconet Hecabon rucion oxsore Export searches to Excel Access to www.HydrocarbonProcessing.com See Posted press releases of project announcements, 2006 HPI Market Data Book Process Handbooks online: Refining, Petrochemical, Gas Processing, Advanced Control Improved user interface Contact: Kevin Wright Phone: +1 (713) 525-4626 E-mail: kevin.wright@gulfpub.com www.constructionboxscore.com Se RP a reSphere, hemispheroid and spheroid are rarely used in petvo- Jeum and petrochemical industries. Selection of vertical tanks, Table 2 summarizes the eypes and ranges of ranks recommended to store different classes of liquid products. Some important factors such as evaporation losses, pumping losses, climatic conditions, air pollution, sol conditions and local regulations shall also be considered when selecting the ‘mort suitable type(s) and size(). Sizing and design procedure. The presented procedure includes a method to calculate the diameter and height of a fixed- roof and exteraal and internal loating-ioof tanks, minimum liquid level and maximum liquid level in the atmospheric and low-pressure tanks For floating: roof tanks, cank capacity depends ‘on the type of foating roof, roof sei, roof cover and internal rank. construction thac may affect these guidelines Nominal capacity of the tank. Nominal tank capacity assumes that the flat-bottom tank is filled tothe top ofthe shal plate ands calculated by summing the ner capacity ofthe tank (net work ing capacity) dead capacity ofthe rane and liquid volume pumped coutof the tank in three minutes (besween LLL and LLL) The later item is important from an operational point of view, because the operator will switch off the pump three min- utes after hearing the alarm or interlock shutdown system will switch off the pump. x... Vy =(4 4th) aKa, o {ominal capacity of the tank jamecer of the tank [i ‘por space height or maximum safe working level fer working capacity ofthe tank iquid volume pumped our ofthe ankin three minutes. Vy Diameter and height of the tank. Thicfollowing seps lst the assumptions and operations to find the diameter and height of the tank: 1. Assume the frst larger value of net working capacity (V), from Table 3 (considering as V> V;) 2. Read the related diameter to V from Table 3. Consider that the diameter of a floating roof shall at lest be equal to its, height. 3 Calculate the nominal tank capacity (Vy) from Eq. 1 using this diameter. 4. Compare calculated nominal tank capacity (Vy) with V: * IF Vay Vthen select the related ciameter and height of V from Table 3 as diameter and height of the tank *1F Var> Ve then pick the next greater value for Vfrom the ‘Table 3 and go to Step? until Vy = V Tank-height calculation fora fixed-roof tank. To find the tank fora fixed-roof rank, follow these steps: Bottom dead height. Tank dead heighris the disance between tank outlet nozzle (connected to pump suction) and rank floor. Consider the height needed to prevent vortexing in the connec- tion point of the outler nozale with the tank on the outlet line (This height is assumed equal 0 outlet line diameter (¢).] STORAGE TANKS a Q where: h= d; +5 in Please note that the minimum size of H is 24 in. (se Fig. 5). ‘Vapor space height of the tank can be calculated by: 3 overflow line diameter, The minimum value of Hf is 18 in. Note: If che level switch high-high is considered in a Fixed-roof tank, chen the overflow nozae isnot insalled. Floating roof. To find the tank for loating roof tank, follow these steps Bottom dead height. The same procedure used for the fixed- roof tank should be applied. However, designers should consider that the roof must be supported approximately 1.2 m from the bottom for extecnal loating roof and 1.6 m of the botwom for intemal loating-roof rank, to keep the roof floating: therefore: HYDROCARBON FROCESSNG OCTOBER 2005‘ONSS3D0W NOBWYIONUAN 900% HaBOIDO | wL ‘TABLE 3. Nominal capacities of standard vertical cylindrical tanks, m? ee eee SS = Diameter wy) ge ts ts sms ss HS 1 7) tama SHH S_NMNT_—94 138515901009 _2042_2.201 2.551 _2,027 2% 561005753536} T5H SETS 1.13 1.710235 23892770 318036194085 45005103 S68t 3 37h 150235358530 _CAAD_—LAT_1.7B1_2,120_ 2565 305335834156 _ 477152861285 8707655 8482 a2 01320138 49070621255 SHO 1.968 2.975 2734214071 A477R_5581_6361_7238_8A71_9.160_ 1020711300, 53562 Tat 2538213102157 1,9eB Dasa Zoe 5.534476 5.089 59726927 _7952_So47 W024 NASI 7A N4ART 6 S169 —«51_—«AN~—~736 1060 1.44) 1,884 2.385295 3553424 5131607 767 _8312_9542_1G857_12.256_13,741_15,310_16,964 1 a7 197 3515498591237 168) 21927833406 4.157 4988 5687 71258362 9698 11139 12655 14299 16031 TAR 197 8 100226 «402—«G28~—O8t «HAT 1,924 2,519 3,180 3.026 ATSI_S654 GA? _—RNK?_9SHH 11083 12773 14476 16342 18321 NAM E19 8 258 452-706 1A04 1590 2164 2627 3,578 4417 5.545 6.517497 9160 10751 _12460 1431916205 18,05 _mEI_ 7.9K 95.06 10 2e2 502785 1227 ‘1,767 2405 3,14 3,976 4.908 5.939 7,668 8552 10178 11985 13854 15904 18095 2042 2902 25.517 28274 " 552 063 1349 1.983 2645 34554373 5.399 _GSR9_7.75 9409 11.196 13140 15239 17494 18905 2470 25.192 _23.069_31,101 2 639421722420 2885 3,760 _4,771_SaD_—7.7_RARD_ 106312214 1433516625 18085 2714 24519 WAR AN 33.979 8 Vor 1395 22973125 4084 5168 6381772194109 11,18_13252 15529 18010 20675 23524 25556 D7 BIT _16,756 4 1009 1718 247k 3367 4368 5566 6872 85 9496 11874 14250 16724 19395 22,266 25333 23599 B06} 15,724 _,se4 5 14781840 2.650 3607472 5964 73698909 10,02 12879 15268 17918 20781 23856 27,140 36H 343538278 _W2art 6 1256 19632827 3.848 5076 6361 7.853 9509 11,309 13484 16285 19113 22167 25.448 28952 32.685 36.60 40878 45.208 "7 7,086 3,004 4088 5340 6759 8344 10607 12,16 14540 17303 20308 23552 _2,037_94762_31727_39R_3.379 19,066 18 2208 3,18) 4329 5.654 7.196 8895 106O1 12,723 15395 18521 21502 24937 24627 3257136770 41,223 40901 _ 90.093 19 23313357 457 5.969 7.554 9.326 11,285 13,80 16250 19339 22697 2532330218 34381 HAN) A514 49.400 _ 53,70 20 nasi 35M 410 62837952 9817114791437 17.105 20357 23891 77708 31808 36191 40850 65.01 51,035 56548 a S711 5051 6587 0349 10308 1247314844 17961 21375 25006 29004 33,399 34.000 4,009 sont _s3.585_s0.78 n 3887 5251 6911 8747 10,99 13067 15550 18816 22393 25280 30479 34.989 39810 44941 50,361,138 62,203 23 net 55% 7.225 944 11,290 13.661 16757 1967123411 27475 34865 36579 41.619 40984 52.573 58,680 55.010 24 42a) 5727539 9512 11.700 14254 16,964 2057724428 2867035250 38,170 43.428 49,027 54955 61,242 _ 57,58 2» Gai7 G01 7.853 9.012271 1464817671. 21,82 25446 29068 34696 39,760 45239 51,079. 57.256 C72 _ 7.688 SYNVL3DVYOLSCalculation example Physical properties: Fluid: Styrene Operating temperature: 15°C Operating pressure: 10 mbarg Density: 912 kgm? Flash point: 32°C Input parameters: Net working capacity: 3,000 m? Withdraw rate: 180 m/nr Inlevoutletioverflow nozzles: 10 in./12 in./12 in, A fixed roof is selected, Calculated parameters: hedy+5in.=12in.¢$in.=17in, Hy =h+ 3d,=7in.+ 15 (14 in) = 35 in. = 890mm Haya hs 3d; = 15 (12 in) =18 in. = 457 mm from Table 3: 0 = 25,009 mm and Hr = 20,000 mm for v=9,817 m t= 28,) 182m hy = HLL~ (Hy + hy) = 136 mm 817 m? (Vy = V) Hy=20,000mm HLL= 19,360 mm LLLL= 890mm Exernal floating-rooftank: Af, = 1.2m. Incernal floating rooftank: Hy = 1.6m, ‘Maximum safe working level. Maximum safe working level is alevel in which any additional product will overflow and contact, ‘or damage will occur. This level is raken approximately 0.6 - 0.8 m below the top curb angle. External floating-roof tank Internal floating-roof tank: H,=0.8m Mh=06m forD<15 H,=08m forD=15, ‘Low-liquid level in the tanks. Low-liquid level (LLL) in fixed ‘and floating, roof tanks isthe suramation of tank dead head (H/) and height ofthe liquid in three-minute suction (hj), which can be cakculated as below 4) = Pump discharge flowrate, m*/he STORAGE TANKS Dz=Tankdiameter, m ‘y= Liquid height above LLL in three-minute suction, m. High-liquid level in the tanks. Afer calculating Fy, high- liquid level (HLL) height from rank bottom for fixed- anc floar- ing-roof tanks can be calculated as: HLL =H, -(#,+h) 6 41s the height beoween high-high liquid level (HHLL) and HLL and calculated as: hb, = 0.014, =| 2 (6) sou, (8) : Ea ‘shall be ac least 100 mm, Note: Some internal parts such as heating coils inside tanks may affect the height and liquid level. Overflow-liquid line sizing. The overflow line inside diam- eter is determined as: 4-( nw ) 6 %Pp where: W= Vessel inflow, kg/see AP -~ Pressure drop (pa) [as experience, 996 Pa can be used] N= Fiction los (for simple averdlow = 1.5) p= Density kg/m? y= Overllow internal diameter, m. LITERATURE CITED "American Tesoum lstiute, “Welded Ste Tus for Ol Soaps,” othe Sundad 630, Washington, DC, 1998, 2 Mead) The Bxelepediaof emia Paces Equpmen, Reihald Publishing, [New Work, 1964, pp 941-956 Burk, HL'S, et al, “Concegual Design of Refinery Tanke,” Chemical Exgineving No. 88, Vol 17, Aug 24, 1981, pp 107-110. “rani Pecoleum Sandard, “Proce design of liquid and ga eranfer and storage.” December 1997, ACKNOWLEDGMENT Theauthors wouldlikero dank the Bord of Dctors ad Process Division Director of Such Consslanes Company fr thei ppor. bar Heydari Gori i senor poces: engines at SSAZEH Consultants inTehan, len He's PO stent of chei- ‘al enpinrrng and hols BS and NS dsreos in enema eg ‘eerin, all for the Amikabir University of ‘echroiagy (letran Payer Hisatea of spectleation hasincased gas eparion vith membranes and tis industral experience nas focused on simulation, basic and deta design of eas and petacherical plans. He canbe reached 2 e-nal Shejdardeasoh coir Hamid meza Kalat Jarl 9 senor process engineer in the process department af $AZEH Coneutants in Teron Wan) Mr lat ar hasbeen th SAZEH Process departnent or feu yet, Peviowhy he wotked fo out years with Tota Fina end eit yrs with National nian Gas Company asa process engineer and proses cnt engineer He hols a 8S degree in chericalengreerng fom the Shar Unweriy of Tchnsiogy and an MS degree n chemie craig fom Tatbat Nodares University He can be ached at emi h alatpi@sazeh cot