The Use and Benefits of

Lightweight Internal Floating Covers

and
Aluminium Geodesic Domes
Installacja Koper, Slovenia 1993-
2003
12 Gasoline and Fuel tanks 22-60m
The Use of Aluminium Geodesic
Domes
Retrofitting of existing
External Floating Roof Tanks

Covering of Fixed Roof Tanks
Problems of the EFRT
Sinking of the Floating Roof
due to retention of rain water, snow, ice, dirt and sand
Contamination of the product
due to water ingress passing the Rim Gap Seals
Failure of the Roof Drain System
loss of product and possible contamination of the
environment
Requirement for large Seal Systems
reduces the overall tank storage capacity
Rim Gap Seal fires are very common
Rolling Ladders may snag and corrode
Standing Storage Losses
through Wind and Sunlight reduce profitability of the tank
Advantages of Aluminium Geodesic
Dome Roofs on EFRT
Eliminates effect of rain, wind and snow
No Roof Drain System required
Normally no Secondary Seal required
Seal fires very rare
No Rolling Ladders required
No maintenance required
Reduces Standing Storage Losses by 90%
Problems of Fixed Roof Tanks with
Steel Roofs
Internal Roof Support Columns (Cone Roofs)
- cause cracking on the tank floor
- corrode at the product interface
- reduce storage space
- need regular inspection
- trap product fire hazard during maintenance
- increase significantly standing storage losses
Roof Corrosion
- requires expensive maintenance
(painting, replacement of steel plates, significant down-
time)
- becomes a safety hazard
Advantages of Aluminium Geodesic
Dome Roofs
Fast and Easy to Erect
Shorter lead time in tank construction schedule
(FRT)
Free Span Structure (no Columns)
Meets the Requirements of API 650 App. G
All Bolted Construction and fully assembled with
no Hot Work
Does not Require Painting EVER
Available ex works within 12 to 14 weeks of order
Prefabricated under Workshop Conditions
Total Quality Control
60m Aluminium Internal Floating
Cover
The Use of lightweight Aluminium
Internal Floating Covers
Reduction of Storage Losses up to 97%
Payback time 12-18 months
Loss calculation example
Based on API 2517 and API 2519

Calculation of Total (Standing + Withdrawal) Evaporation Loss
Tank Diameter: 30 meters (100 ft) - Product: Gasoline
Fixed Roof
Throughput: 1.5 million barrels/year
Avg. Amb. Temp. 16 Deg C (60 Deg F)
Avg. Wind Speed: 10 mls/hr
TOTAL LOSS OF PRODUCT
without Internal Floating Roof: 508.000 litres p.a.
with Internal Floating Roof: 5.500 litres p.a.
Saving: 502.500 litres p.a.
Seals on the VACONODECK
The standard seal on the VACONODECK is a closed cell
polyethylene single or double wiper seal
R-Type mechanical seals with efficiencies >95% are also
available.