Professional Documents
Culture Documents
AluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanksOil&GasJournal
Aluminumagoodalternativetosteelfor
fixedrooftanks
05/18/1998
ALUMINUMTANKCOMPONENTS1
PhilipE.Myers
ChevronProductsCo.
SanRamon,Calif.
GeorgeL.Morovich
Tank&EnvironmentalTechnologiesInc.
TheWoodlands,Tex.
EarlJ.Crochet
PlantationPipeLineCo.
Atlanta
Aluminumdomesmaximizeusabletankcapacity,avoidcoatingcosts,andavoidcolumn
problems.PhotocourtesyofTemcor(Fig.1[7,768bytes]).
Aluminum,usedformajorabovegroundstoragetank(AST)components,hasadvantagesand
disadvantageswhencomparedtotheconventionalsteelmaterialsofconstruction.
Forfixedrooftanks,refinerscansavemoneyandgainimprovedqualityiftheyconsidertheadvantagesof
aluminumoversteel.
Thisarticleisthefirstofatwopartseriesthatdiscussestheuseofaluminumstructuralcomponentsfor
ASTs.Thefirstarticlepresentsacomparisonofcoveredtanksvs.uncoveredtanks(tankswithafloating
http://www.ogj.com/articles/print/volume96/issue20/inthisissue/generalinterest/aluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanks.html
1/13
10/22/2016
AluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanksOil&GasJournal
roofbutnofixedroof)aswellasacomparisonofaluminumdomeroofs(ADRs)vs.steelconeroofs
(SCRs).Thesecondarticlecomparesvarioustypesofaluminumandsteelinternalfloatingroofs.
ForlargeASTs,fixedroofsshouldbealuminumbecausetheroofsupportcolumnscanbeeliminatedwhen
usingaluminumdomes(Fig.1[7,768bytes]).LargeSCRsrequirecolumns.Aluminumdomesmaximize
tankcapacity,reducecoatingcosts,andhavefiresafetyadvantages.
Forinternalfloatingroofs,aluminumandsteeleachhasitsownmerits.Insteadofjustbidprices,tank
managersandoperatorsshouldconsiderthelongtermoperational,safety,environmental,andeconomic
issuesofaluminumandsteelcomponentsinASTs.
AlthoughAPI650definesaminimumstandardofquality,insomecases,whensafetyandtotalcostof
ownershipareconsidered,thestandardmaynotbeadequatefordesiredlongtermperformance.
Coveredvs.uncoveredtanks
AnASTthatincludesafloatingroofandiscoveredbyafixedroofisconsideredaninternal
floatingrooftank(IFRT).Anexistingexternalfloatingrooftank(EFRT)canbeconvertedtoa
coveredIFRTbyretrofittingitwithafixedrooforcover.
AlthoughtheEFRTmayhavealowerinitialcostthantheIFRT,itmaynothavethelowesttotalownership
costwhenlongtermoperatingcosts,maintenancecosts,andpotentialrisksareconsidered.Thefactors
whichfavorbuildingorretrofittingEFRTswithfixedroofsareincidentprevention,environmentalprotection,
safety,andreducedlongtermmaintenanceandoperatingcosts.
Table1[25,417bytes]summarizestheconsiderationsfortheuseofcoveredtanks(IFRTs)vs.uncovered
tanks(EFRTs).
Overloadingexternalfloatingroofs
Externalfloatingroofsarevulnerabletooverloading.Thefixedroofeliminatestheintrusionof
rainwater,snow,ice,anddirtintothetank.
InEFRTs,precipitationcansinkthefloatingroofsduringheavyrainfallsorprolongedwinterstorms.
Historically,severalexternalfloatingroofssinkeachyearintheU.S.duringthewinterorasaresultof
extremerainfallevents.Thisnumbermaybeunderestimatedbecausetheseincidentsarenotrequiredto
bereportedthroughanypublicchannels.
Snow,ice,dirt,anddebrisaccumulationcanrenderthedrainsinoperable,resultinginoverloading.
Overloadingcanresultwhendrainsystemsfreezecloseorwhendraincapacitiesareinadequate.
Inaddition,heavysnowfallcanresultinanunbalancedloadconditionifthesnowcollectsonthewindward
andshadedsurfaces.IntheMiddleEast,whererainwater,snow,andicearenotaconcern,someusers
requireIFRTstoavoidaccumulationsofwindblownsand.
http://www.ogj.com/articles/print/volume96/issue20/inthisissue/generalinterest/aluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanks.html
2/13
10/22/2016
AluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanksOil&GasJournal
Externalfloatingroofsareespeciallyvulnerabletooverloadingwhentheproductlevelisloworwhilethe
floatingroofislandedonitssupports.Thereareseveralreasonsforthis:
PerAPI650AppendixC.3.4,thedesignbuoyancyisbasedonsupporting10in.of
rainwater(or52psf)however,thesupportsareonlydesignedtosupport25psf,perAPI
650AppendixC.3.10.2.
Whentheroofisfloatingatalowelevation,theheadpressureforcingrainwaterthroughthe
drainsisreduced.Thisheadreductionincreasestheamountandweightofwateronthe
deckduringrainfall.
Inanannularpontoonfloatingroof(flatcenterdeck),thecenterdeckishighlyflexibleand
willrisewhenvaporsevaporateasthedeckisheatedbysolarenergy.Thedeckalso
deflectsdownwardatthecenterasitisloadedwithwater.Whentheroofisfloatingnearthe
bottom,loadedwithwaterandsaggingatthecenter,thecenterdecksupportscancontact
thebottomandfailasaresultofbeingoverloaded.Thefloatingroofsupportshavealso
beenknowntopuncturethebottom,resultinginseriousleaks.
ThedrainsizesoftheexternalfloatingroofsidentifiedinAPI650AppendixC3.8,are
minimal.Thepurchasershouldunderstandandidentifythedrainrequirementsforeach
location,basedonanticipatedrainfall.
Waterintrusion
Thecoveredtankminimizesrainwaterentryintothetank.
Rainwatercanintrudeintothetankstockbyseepingpasttheseals.Waterwillmixwithorleachout
certainadditivesorcomponents,whichmaycompromiseproductquality.Inaddition,contaminatedwater
bottomsrequirethelongtermcostofcollectionanddisposalasahazardouswaste.
Anotherproblemassociatedwithwaterentryintothetankhastodowithmethyltertiarybutylether(MTBE)
andotheretheroralcoholbasedadditives,whicharecommonlyusedasagasolineadditivetomeet
requirementsoftheCleanAirAct.
BecauseMTBEandalcoholarepreferentiallysolubleinwater,remediationismorecomplexforthemthan
forhydrocarbonstherefore,itisimportanttominimizeanyintroductionofwaterintoatankstoring
oxygenatedgasoline.
EliminationofEFRTdrains
Bycoveringatank,theneedforanEFRTrainwaterdrainiseliminated.Theremovalofthedrain
avoidstheriskofdrainlinefailure,reducestheinitialtankequipmentcost,andresultsin
http://www.ogj.com/articles/print/volume96/issue20/inthisissue/generalinterest/aluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanks.html
3/13
10/22/2016
AluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanksOil&GasJournal
significantlongtermoperationalandmaintenancesavings.Fig.2[30,075bytes]showshowthe
drainisattachedtotheEFRT.
Thedrainremovalisenvironmentallydesirablebecausethepotentialforamajorspillorreleaseasaresult
ofaroofdrainfailureiseliminated.Asubstantialspillmayoccuriftheroofdrainrupturesandthevalveon
theroofdrainhasbeenleftopen.
ManycompaniesrequireEFRTdrainvalvestobekeptclosed.Thispolicy,however,increasestheriskof
overloadingthefloatingroofbecauseitrequiresmanualinterventiontodrainthefloatingroofduringrainfall.
Somecompanieshaveinstalledhydrocarbonsensingvalvesandotherdetectiondevicesontheroofdrain
outletshowever,thesedeviceshavenotproveneffectivetopreventthereleaseofhydrocarbonsthrough
adamagedroofdrainlineunderallconditions.
Inthelongterm,avoidanceofmaintenancecostsstemsfromeliminatingthemanualdrainoperation.
Maintenancecanbeannualcoldclimateprotectionoreventualdrainlinereplacement.Topreventdrain
systemdamageduringprolongedwinterconditions,externalfloatingroofdrainsareoftenfilledwith
antifreeze,whichintroducesanadditionalhazardouswastehandlingandtreatmentcost.
Increasedusabletankcapacity
Forcoveredfloatingrooftanks(convertedfromanEFRT)andforIFRTs,federalregulationsdo
notrequireasecondaryseal.Theeliminationofthesecondarysealreducestheinitialtank
equipmentcostandassociatedlongtermmaintenanceandinspectioncosts.Perhapsmost
important,itincreasestheusablecapacity(orworkingvolume)ofthetank.
BecauseonlyasingleliquidmountedprimarysealisrequiredforanIFRT,floatingroofscanbeoperated
atahigherlevel,closertothefixedroofwithoutinterferencefromthesecondaryseal.
ThecapacitysavingsfromeliminatingtheEFRTweathershieldtypesecondarysealcanbeintherangeof
2436in.however,eliminatingasecondarysealfromaninternalfloatingroofwillsaveonly812in.For
newconstruction,thelowerdesignloadingofAPI650AppendixH(InternalFloatingRoof),willfurther
reduceouterrimprofileclearancerequirementsbyanadditional1024in.dependingonthetypeof
internalfloatingroof.
Corrosion
Externalfloatingroofscorrodeandmustbemaintainedbyinitialandperiodicrecoating.Costsfor
recoatingoldtankswithleadbasedpaintscanbesignificant.Bycoveringthetank,theneedto
coatthefloatingroofiseliminated.Eveniftheexternalfloatingroofisdueforacoatingremoval
andpaintjob,itisnotnecessaryifthetankiscovered.
Theseverityofinternalshellcorrosionisnormallyreducedbycoveringthetank.Fortankswhicharefully
coatedontheinternalshell,thelifeofthecoatingwillbeincreasedasaresultofthereducedweather
effects.
Safetyandsecurity
http://www.ogj.com/articles/print/volume96/issue20/inthisissue/generalinterest/aluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanks.html
4/13
10/22/2016
AluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanksOil&GasJournal
FixedaluminumdomeandsteelroofsarelesslikelythanEFRTstocausefireandaccess
problems.
Becauseaninternalfloatingroofiswithinaclosedconductivestructure,the"FaradayCageEffect,"which
isolatestheinteriorfromtheeffectsofexternalelectricaleventssuchaslightningstrikesorstaticcharges,
reducestheriskoffire.Evendirectlightningstrikeswillnotcausesparkstodischargefromthefloating
rooftothetankshell.
Firesorexplosionsinvolvinginternalfloatingrooffiresarehundredsoftimeslesslikelythanthose
involvinguncoveredEFRTs.ExistingEFRTshavealsobeencoveredsimplyasaresultoftheirproximity
toanignitionsource(suchasaflarestack).Despiteincreasedpotential,rimfiresonEFRTsareusually
quicklyextinguished.
Afixedroofcontrolsaccesstothehazardousor"confinedspace"environmentinthetank.TheU.S.
OccupationalSafetyandHealthAdministration(OSHA)requiresthateachfacilitydesignatethoseareas
thatareconfinedspaces,andentrymustmeetallrequirementsunderOSHA29CFR1910.146.Typically,
forpetroleumstoragetanks,thespacewithintheshellofanEFRTisconsideredaconfinedspaceifthe
roofisbelow5ftoftherim.ForanIFRT,however,anyspacewithintheshellorunderthefixedroofis
alwaysconsideredaconfinedspace.
ManyEFRTsinremoteareashavebeencoveredduetoconcernsofunauthorizedaccess.Inonecase,
childrenwerefoundridingtheirbicyclesonthedeckofa200ftdiameterEFRTslatedforgasolineadditive
(MTBE)servicespentbottlerocketswerealsofoundonthatsamedeck.
Inthe1980s,theU.S.AirForceStrategicAirCommandbeganaprogramtocoverexistingEFRTs,
primarilytoeliminatewaterproblemswithjetfuelandantifreezeadditives.Asidebenefitofcoverswasto
concealbasefuelinventorylevelsfromaerialsurveillance.
Steelconeroofsvs.aluminumdomeroofs
ClearspanADRtankshavemoreadvantagesthandocolumnsupportedSCRtanks.Table2
[54,246bytes]comparesADRsandSCRs.
TheADRisusuallythemostfavorableoptionfortheretrofitofanexistingEFRTwithanewfixedroof.For
newtankconstruction,orreplacementofanexistingconeroof,anevaluationshouldconsidertheinitialbid
priceaswellasotherfundamentalvariables:
Operatingcapacitysavings
Initialcoatingcostandlongtermmaintenance
Theeliminationofcolumnsandtheirrelatedproblems:emissions,penetrationseal,bottom
corrosion,maintenanceobstruction,settlement,andincidentriskcosts.
Steel,selfsupporteddomerooftanksandsmalldiametertankswithselfsupportedfixedroofs
areexcludedfromthisevaluationtheyshare,however,manyofthebenefitsofADRtanks.
http://www.ogj.com/articles/print/volume96/issue20/inthisissue/generalinterest/aluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanks.html
5/13
10/22/2016
AluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanksOil&GasJournal
Similarities
Functionally,therolesoftheADRsandtheSCRsaresimilar:
Bothtypesprotectthefloatingrooffromenvironmentalloading.
Bothtypesminimizedirtandwaterentryintothetank.
Bothtypeseliminatetheintrusionofrainwaterintothetankhowever,thequalityofthe
aluminumdomeweathertightdesignwillvarybymanufacturer.Itiscriticaltospecifya
provenADRdesignwhichisleaktight.
Bothtypesreduceweatherrelatedcorrosionontheinternalshellsurfaces.
Bothtypeseliminatethewindrelatedcomponentoftankemissions.
Bothtypesimprovefireprevention,improvesafety,andenhancesecurity.
Costeffectiveness
Technically,theADRsandSCRshavedifferentrequirements.WhenretrofittinganexistingEFRT
withanewfixedroof,theconversiontoanADRtankisusuallythemostcosteffective,regardless
oftanksize.Thisconversiondoesnotrequireremovalfromservice,tankcleaning,orextensive
downtimeforhotwork.
Thealuminumdomeisaboltedstructurethatcanbeassembledonthetankwithnohotwork.Steelroofs
requirehotworkbecausetheyarefieldweldedtherefore,thehazardsincreaseforsteelconstruction.
Today,newSCRconstructionshouldminimizethenumberofSCRsupportcolumnstoavoidpenetrations
oftheinternalfloatingroofandtheirrelatedinitialcosts,increasedemissions,andcolumnseal
replacementcosts.
Withoutconsideringotherinitialandlongtermcostfactors(listedbelow),thealuminumdomeusually
becomescosteffectivefortankdiametersof40mormore,thediameterforwhichmultipleringsof
columnswouldberequiredforanSCR.Thealuminumdomeroofiscosteffectivefortankslargerthan20
mwhencomparedtoasteeldomeroofandlargerthan10mifinternalcoatingsareneededforsteel.
Capacity
ThecapacityofanSCRisreducedbecausetheconeroofsupportstructure(includingroofrafter
toshellattachmentgussets)extends1218in.belowthetopofthetankshell,andthefloating
roofsealmayrunintothefixedsteelroof.Althoughthetankshellcouldbeextendedupward,this
istypicallynotpracticalorcosteffectiveforaprojecttocoveranEFRT.TheADRtankdoesnot
usuallyrestrictcapacitybecausetheattachmentofexternalframingpermitsfulltraveloftheseal
tothetopofthetankshell.
Analysesshouldalwaysbeperformedtoconfirmclearancewithotherdeckobstructions(e.g.,foamdams
andpressure/vacuumvent).Largerdiameterdomeshaveasteepriseattheperiphery,whichhelpsavoid
interiordeckobstructions.Foradditionalclearance,thealuminumdomecanbeinstalledwithaskirt,which
effectivelyraisesitsbaseelevation.
http://www.ogj.com/articles/print/volume96/issue20/inthisissue/generalinterest/aluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanks.html
6/13
10/22/2016
AluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanksOil&GasJournal
Coatings
Whencomparingthedifferencesbetweensteelandaluminum,itisimportanttoconsiderthe
rathersubstantialcostsofsurfacepreparationandcoating.Aluminumdomesaretypicallynot
coated,whereassteelroofsarealwayscoatedexternallyandoftencoatedinternallyincorrosive
environments.
ADRsarejustifiedfortankswithdiametersassmallas10mfortankswhichrequireinternalcoatings.This
conclusionisbasedonconsiderationofthecoatingcost,thespecialconstructiondetailrequirements,the
internalsealweldingrequirement,andtheextensivepreparationrequiredforaneffectiveinternalcoating.
Inaddition,coatingshavemaintenancecostsandrecoatingchargesasaresultofnormalwear.
BeyondtheinitialroofcoatingcostonanSCR,thereisthefuturemaintenance.Ofalltheexternallycoated
surfacesonatypicaltank,theconeroofcoatingwillfailfirstasaresultofhorizontalexposuretosunlight
andpondingofrainwater.Thesefactorsresultinruststreaksthatrundownthetankshellandcreatea
cosmeticproblem.
TheuseofanADRextendsthetimeintervalbetweentankshellrecoatingandeliminatesthecostof
recoatingtheroofsurfacearea.
Steelroofsoftenhaveuncoatedinternalsurfaces.Theseroofscanproducetonsofcorrosionproducts
thateventuallydelaminatefromtheundersideofthefixedroofandcollectonthebottomofatank.Inone
case,anestimated70tonsofcorrosionproductswereremovedfromthebottomofa280ftdiameterSCR
tankincrudeoilservice.
Hadaninternalfloatingroofbeenused,theexposureofthefixedrooftocorrosivesulfurcompounds
wouldhavebeenminimized.Preventivemaintenance,however,wouldstillhavebeenrequiredtoremove
somecorrosionproductsfromthedeck.TheADRwouldnothavegeneratedcorrosionproducts.
Emissions
TheemissionoforganicorhazardousvaporsfromanADRislowerthanthatofasimilarSCR.
Unliketheconeroof,thedomeisafreespanstructure.TheSCRtankhascolumnsthatextend
fromthefixedroof,throughthefloatingroof,andtothetankbottom.TheSCRhasoneormore
columnpenetrationsfromwhichemissionsescapetotheatmosphere.Theuseofanaluminum
domereducesthetotalfacilitiesemissionsinventorybyavoidingtheemissionfactorsforcolumn
penetrations.
Fig.3[36,080bytes]illustratesthedifferencesbetweentheADRandSCRtanks.
Chapter19,EvaporativeLossMeasurement,oftheAPIManualofPetroleumMeasurementStandards
providesabasisfortheEPAemissionscalculationprogram.Althoughnotcurrentlypartoftheemission
calculationformula,theAPICommitteeonPetroleumMeasurementisconsideringbetterdefiningthe
variablesthatinfluencebulkandsurfaceliquidtemperaturestoimproveaccuracy.Forexample,although
http://www.ogj.com/articles/print/volume96/issue20/inthisissue/generalinterest/aluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanks.html
7/13
10/22/2016
AluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanksOil&GasJournal
bulktemperatureiscurrentlybasedonambientairconditions,themethodofdeliveryandturnoverrates
aremoreinfluentialindeterminingthebulktemperature.
Currently,thereisonlyageneral"paintfactor"toadjustbulktemperatureforroofvariables.External
floatingroofsexposedtodirectsunlightshouldhavehighersurfaceliquid,shellsurface,anddeckfitting
temperaturesthancoveredfloatingroofs.Currentbulktemperaturecalculations,however,donotinclude
thesesolarradiationeffects.
Althoughnotcurrentlyconsideredintheemissionscalculation,thetypeofmaterialusedinthetankshould
alsobeconsidered.Becausealuminumhashigherreflectiveandloweremissivepropertiesthansteel,
emissioncalculationsshouldincludethefollowingvariables:
AdjustmentofliquidsurfacetemperaturetoreflecttheimpactofheatedshellandEFRT
surfaces.
Additionofsolarimpactandmaterialvariablestoreflectreducedinternalsurface
temperaturesbyeitherasteeloraluminumfixedroof.
Additionofsolarimpactandmaterialvariablestoreflectreducedsurfaceliquid
temperaturesbyusingvarioustypesofaluminuminternalfloatingroofs.
Corrosioncausedbycolumns
Roofsupportcolumnsincreasethepotentialfortankbottomcorrosionandroofcorrosion.
APIstandardsdonotallowcolumnstobeattachedtothetankbottomsothatthetankbottomcansettle
withoutdistortingtheroof.Themovementofthecolumnbaseonthetankbottomerodesanycoatingon
thetankbottomandcreatesconditionsconducivetocrevicecorrosion.
Corrosiondamagethatoccursnearorunderthecolumnbasesisrarelyinspected(evenduringformalAPI
653internalinspections)becausethebaseplatecoversthecorrosiondamage.Columnguidesandbase
plates,weldedtothetankbottom,makecoatingsurfacepreparationandapplicationdifficult,which
increasesthepotentialforcorrosionattack.
BecausethereisahigherprobabilityoftankbottomleaksasaresultofcorrosioninSCRtanks,the
potentialforresultingenvironmentalcontaminationincreases.
Also,iftheSCRsupportcolumnsverticallysettle,theconeroofsurfaceplateswilldeflectdownwardand
pondwater(acceleratingcorrosion).Aclearspanaluminumdomeissupportedbythetankshell,and
uniformshellsettlementcanbefacilitatedbytheuseofaconcreteringwallfoundationdesign.
Morecolumnproblems
Columnscancauseproblemsiftheyareoutofplumb,traphydrocarbons,orareimproperly
jackedduringmaintenance.
http://www.ogj.com/articles/print/volume96/issue20/inthisissue/generalinterest/aluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanks.html
8/13
10/22/2016
AluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanksOil&GasJournal
Columnswhichareoutofplumbwitheachotherandthetankshellcancausethecolumnpenetration
sealstowear.Inseverecases,floatingroofshavehunguponcolumnsastheproductlevelrose.
Closedshapedcolumns,suchaspipecolumns,canholdtrappedhydrocarbonseveniftheyaredesigned
tobeselfdraining.Manyfiresandexplosionshavebeeninitiatedbytrappedhydrocarbonsinroofcolumns
duringinternaltankwork.
Tankcolumnsareoftenjackedupwhennewtankbottomsarebeinginstalledorduringmaintenance.
Columnsandjackingstructurescancollapseifimproperlyjacked.Thealuminumdome,becauseithasno
columns,isnotaffectedbyinteriorbottomsettlementandoffersnoobstructiontobottominspectionor
maintenance.
Rooffrangibility
API650providesrulesfordesigningafrangiblerooffornewCRTs.Ifatankisinternally
overpressurized,afrangibleroofwillfailattherooftoshelljointandventtheexcesspressure
harmlesslytotheatmosphere.
Insomeinstances,theshelltobottomjointhasfailedwhileoverpressuringoroverfillingtankswithout
frangibleroofs.Thisfailurecausesthetanktorocketupward,spillingflammablecontentsorreleasing
liquids.Frangiblerooffailureshistoricallyhavenotreleasedliquidandhaveresultedonlyinrelativelyminor
damagetothetank.
API650AppendixG,whichcoversthedesignandconstructionofADRtanks,statesthattherooftoshell
jointisnotconsideredfrangible.Certainly,thestructuralattachmentsarenotdesignedtobefrangible.
ForallreportedADRoverpressurizationincidentstodate(lessthansix),however,theperipheralflashing
hasbehavedasifitwereafrangiblecomponent.EvenonADRtankslessthan40ftindiameter,inwhich
frangiblejointsarenotconsideredreliableforSCRtanks,theflashinghasbehavedasafrangible
component.
TheventareaofthealuminumdomeflashingshouldexceedtheventarearequiredunderAPI2000,
Section2.4.3.2,whichcoversemergencyandnormalventingfor"TanksWithoutWeakRooftoShell
Attachment."ThereisanopenAPIagendaitemtoallowthealuminumdomemanufacturertodocumentthe
frangibilityofapanelcomponentandallowthedocumentedcomponenttocontributetotheventareaas
requiredbyAPI2000.
Componentfrangibilityisnotthesameasafrangiblerooftoshelljoint,whichisdefinedunderAPI650,
Section3.10.2.5andAPI2000,Section2.4.3.1.Componentfrangibilityiscategorizedseparatelyunder
API2000.
Safetyaccess
IntherareeventofafirewithinanIFRT,thealuminumdomepanelsprovidegoodaccesstothe
firesurfaceforextinguishing.Thepanelswillmeltawayorallowanaxtopenetratethesurface.
http://www.ogj.com/articles/print/volume96/issue20/inthisissue/generalinterest/aluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanks.html
9/13
10/22/2016
AluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanksOil&GasJournal
Inoneincidentconcerningatankwithanaluminumroof,duringafirestartedbyweldingadjacent
toawastewaterbasin,thepanelsquicklymeltedawayallowingthefiretobepromptly
extinguished.
ThissameabilitytoremoveADRpanelsfacilitatesaccesstothetankinteriorintheeventthatpersonnel
withinthetankrequireemergencyverticalretrieval.
Bibliography
AluminumDesignManual:SpecificationsforAluminumStructures,theAluminumAsssociation,
Washington,D.C.
APIManualofPetroleumMeasurementStandardsChapter19,EvaporativeLossMeasurement,
AmericanPetroleumInstitute,Washington,D.C.
APIPublication2026SafeAccess/EgressInvolvingFloatingRoofTanksinService,American
PetroleumInstitute,Washington,D.C.
APIStandard2000VentingAtmosphericandLowPressureStorageTanks:Nonrefrigeratedand
Refrigerated,AmericanPetroleumInstitute,Washington,D.C.
APIStandard650WeldedSteelTanksforOilStorage,NinthEdition,1993,AmericanPetroleum
Institute,Washington,D.C.
Barrett,A.E.,"Geodesicdometankroofcutswatercontamination,vaporlosses,"OGJ,July10,
1989,p.90.
EPA40CFR60U.S.EPANewSourcePerformanceStandards(SubpartKb),40Codeof
FederalRegulations,Washington,D.C.
Myers,PhilipE.,AbovegroundStorageTanks,McGrawHill,NewYork,ISBN007044272X.
OSHA29CFR1910U.S.OccupationalSafetyandHealthAdministration,29CodeofFederal
Regulations,Washington,D.C.
TheAuthors
http://www.ogj.com/articles/print/volume96/issue20/inthisissue/generalinterest/aluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanks.html
10/13
10/22/2016
AluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanksOil&GasJournal
PhilipE.MyersisaseniorstandardsengineeratChevronProductsCo.Hehashadexperience
inprocessandprojectengineeringintheutility,chemicals,petrochemicals,andrefining
businesses.Inrecentyearshehasspecializedintanksandpressurevesseltechnology.Myers
servesaschairmanofthesubcommitteeforTanksandPressureVesselsfortheAmerican
PetroleumInstitute(API)andisvicechairmanofASME'sB96.1CommitteeforAluminumTanks.
HeholdsaBSinchemicalengineeringfromtheUniversityofCalifornia.
GeorgeL.MorovichispresidentofTank&EnvironmentalTechnologiesInc.(TETI),whichhe
foundedin1991.TETIrepresentsagroupofcompaniesofferingengineering,manufacturing,and
contractingservicesrelatedtoindustrialliquidshandling.Morovich'sprimaryfocusispetroleum
storagetankequipment,emissioncontrolsystems,waterstorage,andwastewatertreatment
equipment.Hehas20yearsofexperienceinthepetroleumstoragetankindustry.Since1989,he
hasservedtheAPIasamemberofthesubcommitteeforTanksandPressureVessels,ofthe
TaskForceonMetricationofStandards,andofanenvironmentaltechnicalassistancegroup.
MorovichholdsaBSingeographyfromSamHoustonStateUniversity.Heisarecipientofan
environmentalsciencegrantfromtheNationalScienceFoundation.
http://www.ogj.com/articles/print/volume96/issue20/inthisissue/generalinterest/aluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanks.html
11/13
10/22/2016
AluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanksOil&GasJournal
EarlJ.CrochetisaseniorengineeratPlantationPipeLineCo.,responsibleforcorporate
maintenance.Plantationownsarefinedproductspipelinewithabout170abovegroundstorage
tanks.Crochethasbeeninvolvedinallaspectsofabovegroundstoragetanks,firstasan
inspector,andthenlaterastheleaderofPlantation'stankintegrityprogram.CrochetholdsaBS
inmechanicalengineeringfromLouisianaStateUniversity.
Copyright1998Oil&GasJournal.AllRightsReserved.
Home
Events
GeneralInterest
MarketConnection
Exploration&Development
WhitePapers
Drilling&Production
Webcasts
1455WestLoopSouth
Processing
PennEnergyJobs
Houston,Texas77027
Transportation
Equipment
(713)6219720
Unconventional
Research
GISData&Maps
Copyright2016:PennWellCorporation
RSS
AllRightsReserved.
Advertise
AboutUs
NewsletterSubscription
PennWell
BookStore
ViewAllPennwellWebsites
PrivacyPolicy
ViewAllPennwellEvents
Terms&Conditions
SiteMap
ContactUs
Webmaster
MagazineSubscription
Mobile
http://www.ogj.com/articles/print/volume96/issue20/inthisissue/generalinterest/aluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanks.html
12/13
10/22/2016
AluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanksOil&GasJournal
http://www.ogj.com/articles/print/volume96/issue20/inthisissue/generalinterest/aluminumagoodalternativetosteelforfixedrooftanks.html
13/13