STORAGE TANKS

Common types of Above Ground Storage Tanks

According to Internal Pressure:

1. ATMOSPHERIC STORAGE TANKS

2. LOW PRESSURE STORAGE TANKS

3. HIGH PRESSURE STORAGE TANKS

Common types of Above Ground Storage Tanks

According to Roof

1. Fixed Roof Tanks

2. Floating Roof Tanks

3. Fixed Floating Roof Tanks

 FLOATING ROOF
Types of Floating Roofs

Most common types are

Pontoon floating roof
Double Deck floating roof

Other types are

Pan floating roof
Pontoon with Buoy type floating roof
MAJOR COMPONENTS OF FLOATING ROOF

1. Pontoon
2. Deck
3. Roof seal
4. Roof drain
5. Vacuum Breaker
6. Roof support legs
7. Rolling Ladder
8. Earthing connection
9. Anti Rotation Device
10. Foam Dam
11. Foam pourers
12. PV Valve
13. Rim Plate
Miscellaneous Information on tanks

1. Petroleum Rules

2. API 650

3. OISD
THANK YOU
According to Internal Pressure:

1. ATMOSPHERIC STORAGE TANKS

Internal pressure Atm. Pr. These tanks are

protected with PV valves.
According to Internal Pressure:

2. LOW PRESSURE STORAGE TANKS

Internal pressure > Atm. Pr. But < 1.06 Kg/cmg.

These tanks are protected with relief valves.
According to Internal Pressure:

3. HIGH PRESSURE STORAGE TANKS

Operates at internal pressure > 1.06 kg/cm. It is

covered by Unfired Pr. vessels.
1. Fixed Roof Tanks

Fixed roof tanks are well known type of storage tanks, provided
mostly with self supporting roof structures either cone or dome
type roofs. For large diameter fixed roof tanks column supported
roof are used. Roof supported on a structure and are
welded with the shell

Cone roof - Most common type of fixed roof.

Other fixed roof tanks are -

Umbrella roof

Dome roof
2. Floating Roof Tanks

Developed in 1920.

Floating roof tanks are designed to reduce filling and

breathing losses to a minimum and for safety
considerations by eliminating the vapour space
above the stored liquid.
 3. Fixed cum Floating Roof Tanks
(Internal Floating Roof)

Fixed-cum-floating roof tanks are fixed roof tanks

with internal floating roof.

- Prevents product contamination.

- Reduces evaporation loss.
- used at locations where show fall is heavy.

Internal Floating Roofs reduces the Emission Loss

 Deck plate

Pontoon
DOUBLE DECK FLOATING ROOF TANK
PONTOON
It is a hollow compartments in the roof which gives
buoyancy for the roof to float. Any leak in the pontoon may
cause tilting / sinking of roof.

Pontoon compartment

1. Manhole of Each pontoon

compartment must be be

kept covered all the time.

2. Pontoon to be checked for
oil accumulation through
manhole. Accumulation of
oil indicates leak in the
pontoon box.
DECK PLATES

Floating roof deck plates are prone to corrosion due to

- Rain water accumulation on the deck

- Rubbish or dirt accumulation
- Presence of vapour pockets Underside of the roof
Deck plates to be cleaned periodically.

Pontoon
Deck
 COMPONENTS OF FLOATING ROOF
ROOF SEAL : Seals the annular space to Reduce Emission
& loss, prevent product contamination & Centering of roof

1. Primary Seal - Primary seals fall into three generic groups

1. Mechanical Seals
2. Liquid Seals
3. Foam Seals

2. Secondary seal - Secondary seals fall into two basic groups

1. Rim mounted
2. Shoe mounted
 PRIMARY SEAL

Mechanical Seals : A metallic sealing ring is maintained

in contact with the tank shell by means of a counterweight or
spring loaded pantograph mechanism. A continuous
membrane seals the gap between the sealing ring and
floating roof.
 PRIMARY SEAL

Liquid Seals : A polymeric casing is maintained in contact

with the tank shell and the product surface by means of a
compatible sealing liquid that may be placed either directly
in the polymeric casing or within a separate inner tube.
 PRIMARY SEAL

Foam Seals : A polymeric casing is maintained in contact

with the tank shell by compressible foam blocks.
 SECONDARY SEAL

There are two generic groups - Shoe mounted and Rim

mounted. Rim mounted are most commonly used as
they remove the need for weather shields and are more
efficient.

DOUBLE SEALS
A combination of any primary
plus secondary seal is called
double seal.

Double Seals considerably

reduces the vapour loss
ROOF DRAIN
Floating roof tanks have generally two types of roof drains.
1 Primary roof drain
2. Emergency Roof drains
1. Primary roof drain- It is connected to a sump at the center
of the roof. It is designed to drain full accumulation of water at
the roof.

The most common types are

1. Swivel joint type
2. Flexible steel hose ( Co-Flexip)
3. Pivot masters
Roof drain sump must be kept clean. Any debris going into the
roof drain can cause blockage and hamper its functioning leading
to sinking of roof.
Roof Drain Valve must be kept open especially during rain.
 2. Emergency roof drains

Open type Higher evaporation loss

Water seal type Evaporation loss is minimal

Emergency roof drains are as a safety device. In case the

primary roof drain fails to drain the water accumulated on
the roof, these openings drain the water directly into the
tank (product).

Roof and primary Open type roof drains

roof drains, both are
designed to take load
of 10 rainfall during
24 hrs.
Swivel Joint type roof drain

Swivel joint type

Roof drains are
prone to leakage.

Swivel joints Pr.

testing is to be done
in two stages

50 psig & 5 psig

SWIVEL JOINT
 FLEXIBLE HOSE TYPE PRIMARY ROOF DRAINS

No. of joints are less hence chances of leakage is reduced.

 PIVOT MASTER PRIMARY ROOF DRAINS

Swivel joints are replaced by Flexible hose ( Pivot Master)

BLEEDER VENTS OR VACUUM BREAKER

These are designed to break

the vacuum if created during
tank emptying.

Bleeder vents for floating

roof tanks shall be examined
for proper working
(jamming).
ROOF SUPPORT LEGS

Required for supporting the

roof when the tank is empty

Roof legs get severely

corroded at the liquid-
vapour inter-phase.

Can be checked by lifting the

roof legs.
ROLLING LADDER

It is designed for full travel of the roof. To be inspected for its

free movement and corrosion.
EARTHING CONNECTIONS
In floating roof tanks there are generally four sets of Earthing
connections.
1. Roof to ladder
2. Ladder to shell
3. Shell to earth.
4. Shunt

Grounding connections shall be

visually checked for damage &
corrosion at the points where
they enter earth.Resistance of
grounding connections shall be
checked.
SHUNT

Shunts are fitted in the roof seal for discharging the static charge
directly from floating roof to shell. These are generally made of SS
to avoid rusting and Spark.
 ANTI ROTATION DEVICE

It is designed for preventing the rotation of the roof. It should be

properly aligned to avoid stucking and flotation of the roof.

Dip pipe as Anti Rotation Device

FOAM DAM

Foam Dam retains the foam around the periphery of the floating
roof. It helps in covering the Rim with foam in case of
emergency. It is Tack welded with the roof plate.

Water draining passage at the bottom edge of the foam dam

should be free so that water get drained freely.
PV VALVES
These are designed to keep the difference in Pr. between tank
inside and outside to a specified limit ( generally Pr. = 7.5 WC &
Vac. - 2.5 WC).
All PV valves shall be examined to ensure that the wire mesh and
screens are neither torn nor clogged by foreign matter or insects
ROOF DRAIN SUMP
It is to be kept covered with strainers. It is to be provided with
NRV in the roof drain line. Roof drain sump gets corroded due to
accumulated debris / stagnant water. To be cleaned periodically.
FOAM POURERS

These are for spraying foam in the Rim area in case of fire. It
should be covered with Jali to prevent any blockage at the
mouth.
RIM PLATE

Rim plate is the outer periphery of the pontoon where seals

are fixed.
Rim plate of the floating roof get corroded where liquid-
vapour phase is maintained. This is approximately at the
center of the rim plate height.

Uniform Rim clearance

(gap between shell &
pontoon edge) indicates
good verticality and
circularity of the tank.
Cone Roof Tank
DOME ROOF TANK
UMBRELLA ROOF TANK
ANNULAR PONTOON FLOATING ROOF
 Miscellaneous Information on Tanks

Petroleum Rules
Tank means any receptacle for petroleum >1000 L
Height of a tank can be 1.5 D but max. 20 mtr.
Capacity of each tank shall be marked on the tank
The resistance to earth shall not exceed 7 ohms and the
resistance to any part of the fitting to the earth plate or
to any other part of fitting shall not exceed 2 ohms.
No storage tanks shall be situated nearer than 90 m from
any flare or furnace.
 API - 650
Shell Thickness :
Minimum shell thickness shall be 3/16 ( for D< 50)
( for D 50 & < 120)
5/16 ( for D 120 upto 200)
3/8 ( for D>200)
Shell Roundness :
Tolerance ( for D< 40)
3/4 ( for D 40 & <150)
1 ( for D 150 & <250)
1.1/4 ( for D >250)

Shell Plumbness : Max. out of plumbness of the top of the shell

relative to bottom of the shell shall be < 1/200 of the tank height.
Shell course misalignment :

Vertical joints: for t > 5/8 < lower of 10% of thk (t) or 1/8
t 5/8 < 1/16

Horizontal joints: Projection of upper course on the lower course

< 20% of the t of the upper course but <1/8

Also 1/16 for upper course t < 5/16

Welding under cuts : Vertical welds < 1/64 deep

Horizontal weld < 1/32 deep

Reinforcement pads : To be Pr. tested at 15 psig

FLOATING ROOF ( API 650 ):

1. Min thickness of roof deck plate 5 mm

2. Roof plates shall be lap welded only on top side
3. Slope of roof towards center- 5 mm in 300 mm
4. Roof Shall float on a liquid of sp. Gr. 0.7 with primary
drain inoperative under
1. 10 rain fall during 24 hrs.
2. when two adjacent pontoon compartments are
punctured.
5. Each compartment shall have vents (may be M/H)
6. Any opening on roof shall not allow the product to flow
on the roof
7. Rolling ladder designed for 1000 lb mid point load
8. Min roof drain size: 3 for D<=120ft, 4 for D>120 ft.
9. Vent shall be provided to prevent over stressing of deck
or seal
10.At least 1 roof M/H of D>24 shall be provide.
11.Roof legs shall support 25 lbs /ft2 of live load.
 BOTTOM PLATE
General :
All bottom plates shall have minimum nominal thickness of
At least 1 width shall be projected beyond outside the bottom
course
Annular bottom plates shall have a minimum radial width of 24
inside the tank.

X-Ray :
For double butt welded annular plates, one spot X-Ray ( 6
long ) on 10% of radial joints.
For single side welded annular plates, one spot X-Ray ( 6 long
) on 50% of radial joints.

Testing :
Using water Pr. ( 6 WC) below the bottom plate
Using air Pr.( 3 WC ) below the bottom plate
Using Vacuum Box ( Min vacuum 2 psig)
OISD

Requirement for seals in Floating Roof Tanks :

Primary seal will be liquid or shoe mounted for EFRT and

vapour mounted for IFRT.

Maximum seal gap width will be 4 cm and maximum gap

area will be 200 cm2/m of tank diameter.

Secondary seal will be rim mounted. Maximum seal gap

width will be 1.3 cm and maximum gap area will be 20
cm2/m of tank diameter
 Emmission / year (40 M Dia - Naphtha Tank)

16,000.00
14,000.00
12,000.00
Lbs / Yr.

10,000.00
8,000.00
6,000.00
4,000.00
2,000.00
0.00

foam seal
Shoe seal

Foam seal

mounted

Mechanical
compression

Double wiper
mounted

mounted

shoe seal
with rim

with rim

plate seal

Liquid
Double

seal
Ex ternal Ex ternal Ex ternal Internal Internal Internal
floating roof floating roof floating roof floating roof floating roof floating roof
IMPROVED TYPES OF SEALING