A fixed roof tank is a type of storage tank, used to store liquids, consisting of a cone- or dome-shaped roof that is permanently affixed to a cylindrical shell. Newer storage tanks are typically fully welded and designed to be both liquid- and vapor-tight. Older tanks, however, are often riveted or bolted, and are not vapor tight. A breather valve (pressure-vacuum valve), commonly installed on many fixed roof tanks, allows the tank to operate at a slight internal pressure or vacuum. This valve prevents the release of vapors during very small changes in temperature, barometric pressure, or liquid level.[1] Fixed roof tanks without breather valves will generally be freely vented;[2] thus the emissions from a fixed roof tank can be non-trivial. Gauge hatches, sample wells, float gauges, and roof manholes provide accessibility to these tanks, and also act as potential sources of volatile emissions.[3][4]

Applications

Storage tanks in general, and fixed roof tanks in particular, containing organic liquids can be found in many industries, including:

  • petroleum production and refining
  • petrochemical and chemical manufacturing
  • bulk storage and transfer operations
  • other industries consuming organic liquids[2]

Fixed roof tanks are typically used with products that have relatively low volatilities and flash points.[5] Using a fixed roof tank to store a product with high volatility can lead to product losses as vapors escape the enclosure.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ BNH Gas Tanks. "Fixed Roof Tank". Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  2. 1 2 South Coast Air Quality Management District. "Supplemental Instructions For Liquid Organic Storage Tanks" (PDF). Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  3. ↑ Werner Sölken. "Explore the World of Piping - Introduction to Storage Tanks". Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  4. ↑ USA Environmental Protection Agency. "Alternative Control Techniques Document:Volatile Organic Liquid Storage in Floating and Fixed Roof Tanks" (PDF). Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  5. ↑ Buckeye Fire Equipment. "Storage Tanks: Fixed or Semi-fixed Systems" (PDF). Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  6. ↑ ISEC Company. "Fixed Roof Tank".
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.