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V001t02a007 Ipc2000 117
V001t02a007 Ipc2000 117
FLOATING-ROOF TANKS
DESIGN AND OPERATION IN THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
This Technical Paper is intended to provide general information with regard to the subject matter covered. It should be understood that it does not
purport to be comprehensive and that the information may not apply to specific factual situations. [For more information concerning the subject matter,
please contact Terry A. Gallagher.]
Air/Vapor Mix j
2.0 WHY USE A FLOATING ROOF?
The basic reasons to use a floating-roof have not changed in over
75 years. Safety, effectiveness and economy are the reasons floating —>f ' ' '" § •
roof tanks remain the worldwide "standard" for storage of volatile
petroleum and chemical products. Although significant advancements Figure I Figure 2
have been made since the first successful tests in 1923, the basic
principles remain unchanged. Floating roofs should be designed for
full liquid contact in order to minimize evaporation and reduce During holding periods, when no liquid is added or removed the
product side corrosion. Another benefit from reduced evaporation is vapor space will come to equilibrium based on product temperature
improved fire safety. Each floating roof must include features and vapor pressure. Emissions during holding are generated by the
designed to accept the full range of roof movement, keep product vapor space breathing process. As a result of daily ambient heating
emissions to a minimum, and provide an extended service life with and cooling processes, the air-vapor mixture in the vapor space
minimal maintenance. expands and contracts. During the daily heating process, some of the
air-vapor mixture is expelled from the tank, resulting in evaporative
emissions. During product cooling, air is drawn into the vapor space
2.1 Product Evaporative Loss Control that helps to dilute the concentration. This initiates further
Product evaporative loss is not only a significant environmental evaporation that continues until the space again reaches equilibrium.
and economic concern to an owner but is a major consideration when Emissions of volatile products due to breathing are anaturall
improving storage safety. Four conditions that affect product occurring process wherever there is a defined vapor space[l][2].
evaporation from a storage tank are: Normal tank filling and send out operations also effect the vapor
1. Liquid temperature space of a fixed-roof tank. When product is removed from the tank air
2. Vapor space above liquid is drawn into the vapor space. Unless the tank is completely emptied,
3. Ventilation of the vapor space the air in the new, larger vapor space will become saturated with
4. Available liquid surface area product vapors. During the holding period before the next tank filling
In general, for any liquid stored in a container with an open vapor operation, evaporative breathing losses w i l l increase due to the
space above the liquid surface, a portion of that liquid w i l l evaporate increased volume of the vapor space. When product is added to the
and the vapor migrate past the liquid surface to the vapor space. The tank, the increasing liquid volume displaces the air-vapor mixture
process w i l l continue until the vapor space becomes saturated with through the tank vent, resulting in significant evaporative emissions.
product vapor. Once equilibrium is established no further evaporation Tank filling operations produce more evaporative emissions than an
will occur unless one of the above conditions are altered. Saturation other tank operation in a fixed-roof tank.
conditions are specific to the product stored (liquid composition) and I f the same volatile product is stored in an EFRT (Figure 2), an
to its temperature. Since petroleum product is generally a mixture of analysis of evaporative emissions will produce significantly different
different hydrocarbons the evaporation process is slightly more results. Addition of a welded-steel floating roof w i l l significant!
complicated. Lighter, more volatile hydrocarbons (those with the reduce evaporative emissions and, as a result, greatly improve
highest vapor pressure) w i l l evaporate first. The process w i l l continue operating safety. Evaporative emissions are reduced by covering as
until saturation conditions for the specific hydrocarbon mixture is much of the liquid surface as possible without effecting the
achieved. Saturation properties for any known hydrocarbon mixture mechanical operation of the floating roof. In general the floating roof
may be calculated and used to predict evaporation rates at different covers the entire liquid surface except for a small perimeter ri space.
storage conditions. Under normal floating conditions, there should be no vapor space
How will each condition affect the loss control performance of a underneath a properly designed floating roof.
storage tank? Consider a conventional Fixed Roof Tank (FRT) shown Evaporative emissions, although reduced in excess of 98%, can
in Figure 1 and an EFRT shown in Figure 2. not be entirely eliminated. Evaporation and associated product losses
When a volatile product is stored in a freely ventilated fixed-roof will still occur from the rim space, from standard roof deck fittings,
tank (Figure 1), the concentration of volatile vapors in the vapor space from product which remains on the tank shell, and from tank
will vary depending on tank operating conditions. operations that require the tank to be emptied and the floating roof
landed on its supports for maintenance purposes.