DESIGN OF TANK BOTTOMS

A. API STANDARD 650 (ELEVENTH EDITION, JUNE 2007, ADD 3)

1. Plate Material Specifications - para 4.2.2 - 4.2.5,

(Click Shell Tab for List of specifications)

Note: Plate underrun for the computed design thickness or the minimum permitted
thickness = not greater than 0.010" (0.3mm) para 4.2.1.2.3

2. Bottom plate design specifications - para 5.4

a. Minimum Design Thickness = not less than 0.236" (6mm) - para 5.4.1 - (also
reference Table 5-1Annular Bottom-Plate )

b. Minimum projection out side of shell (chime) = 2" (50mm) (sketch and annular
plates) - para 5.4.2. (1" (25mm) for tanks built to App. J and API-620) (UL-142 tanks
have other criteria)

3. Annular plate design specifications - para 5.5

4. Welding specifications - para 5.1.5

a. Three-plate laps in tank to be 12"in. (305mm) from each other, tank shell and
butt-welded annular weld joints

b. Annular plates to have min. 24" (610mm) between shell and lap welded joints.

C. Welding Electrodes para 4.8

Material with Tensile Strength < 80ksi - use E60 or E70 electrode class series.
Material with Tensile Strength >= 80ksi - use E80XXCX electrode class series.

5. Welding Details - para 7.2 (also Section 7 and ASME Section IX, and API RP 582
for supplementary welding practices)

a. Permissible welding processes - shielded metal-arc, gas metal-arc, gas tungstenarc, oxyfuel, flux-cored arc, submerged-arc, electroslag, or electrogas process using
suitable equipment. (others by agreement with manufacturer and purchaser)

b. Annular rings & shell courses- use Low-hydrogen electrodes for all manual metalarc welding plates thicker than 0.500" (12.5mm) for material in groups (I, II, & III)
and all thicknesses when the plates are made of material from Groups IV, IVA, V &
VI. - para 7.2.1.10 .

6. Inspection and testing (also reference Chapter 8 for specifications and

acceptance criteria)

a. Shell-to-bottom weld - para 7.2.4 - Visual and diesel test (4 hr dwell) of first pass
on inside weld and Visual and bubble test (pressurize interstitial weld space to
15lbs) completed welds. (also see other alternatives to these)

b. Bottom plate welds - para 7.3.3 - Visual and vacuum box test (min. 6in/hg [3psi])
is recommended for all completed bottom lap and butt welds (also see other
alternative to these) (see acceptance criteria in 8.5).

7. APPENDIX AOPTIONAL DESIGN BASIS FOR SMALL TANKS

8. APPENDIX FDESIGN OF TANKS FOR SMALL INTERNAL PRESSURES

a. Internal pressures between weight of plates and 2.5 psi, (i.e., Plates 0.188" =
0.053psi [1.48wc, 0.852oz.) and 2.5psi [69.25wc, 40oz.))

9. APPENDIX JSHOP ASSEMBLED STORAGE TANKS

a. Joints - Lap welded design not permitted in tank bottoms

b. Minimum bottom plate thickness = 1/4" - para J.3.2.1

c. Minimum projection out side of shell (chime) = 1" - para J.3.2.3

10. APPENDIX MREQUIREMENTS FOR TANKS OPERATING AT ELEVATED

TEMPERATURES (>200 to 500F)

a. Tank dia. > 100ft require annular ring - para M.4.1

11. APPENDIX SAUSTENITIC STAINLESS STEEL STORAGE TANKS

B. API-651 Cathodic Protection of Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tanks (2nd

Edition, 1997)

1. Galvanic Systems para 6.2.1

2. Impressed Current Systems para 6.3.1

C. API-652 Lining of Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tanks

1. Thin Film Liner selection para 4.2

2. Thick Film Liner selection para 4.3

D. API-620 DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF LARGE, WELDED, LOW-PRESSURE

STORAGE TANKS
(Dec 1998, add. 3)

1. Plate Material Specifications - para 2.2.1.2 (Table 2-1)

2. Bottom joint design specifications - para 3.9.4/3.22

a. Minimum Design Thickness = 0.25" - para 3.9.4.2 (exceptions in Q.3.4.7)

b. Minimum projection out side of shell (chime) = 1" - para 3.9.4.3

E. UL 42 STEEL ABOVEGROUND TANKS FOR FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE

LIQUIDS

(9th Edition, December28, 2006)

1. Plate Material Specifications - para 5.2 and 5.3 (other materials as specified in
5.2.b)

ASTM A36M-91,
ASTM A569M-91a,
ASTM A635-91a,
ASTM A167M-91,
ASTM A240-91a

2. Bottom joint design specifications - Table 6.1 and para 15.4