Liquid product like Chemical, condensate, etc is commonly stored in fixed roof vertical

cylindrical tank. Inert gas blanketing system is provided to avoid air and moisture contact and
contaminate liquid product. Liquid movement by content filling (pump-in) or emptying
(pump out) and weather changes (ambient heating or cooling) will results internal
pressure increase (overpressure) or decrease (vacuum) in the tank. Thus, a protecting system
providing inbreathing or outbreathing gas is provided to maintain a constant pressure in the
tank.

Inbreathing
Emptying (pump-out) and ambient cooling will lead to normal inbreathing. General equation to
determine inbreathing flow :

Vin,air = Vpe + CVtk0.7 Ri

where
Vin,air = Total inbreathing in Nm3/h (Air)
Vpe = Pump-out or emptying in m3/h
Vtk = Tank capacity in m3
Ri = Insulation reduction factor
C = Factor subject to vapor pressure, average temperature and latitude (see Table 1)

Table 1 : C-factor for Inbreathing

Vapor Pressure
Hexane Higher than hexane
Latitude or similar or unknown
Average Storage Temperature (oC)
< 25 >=25 < 25 >=25
Below 42o 4 6.5 6.5 6.5
42o to 58o 3 5 5 5
Above 58o 2.5 4 4 4

Outbreathing
Filling (pump-out) and ambient heating will lead to normal outbreathing.General equation to
determine outbreathing flow :
 Vout,air = Vpf + YVtk0.9 Ri

where
Vout,air = Total Outbreathing in Nm3/h (Air)
Vpf = Pump-out or filling in m3/h
Vtk = Tank capacity in m3
Ri = Insulation reduction factor
Y = Factor subject to latitude (see Table 2)

Table 2 : Y-factor for Outbreathing

Latitude Y-factor
Below 42o 0.32
42o to 58o 0.25
Above 58o 0.2

Determination of Ri = Insulation reduction factor

If no insulation,

Ri =1

If fully insulated including Shell and roof,

Ri = Rin = (1 + h x Lin / Lamdain)-1
If partial insulated,

Ri = Rinp
Ri = (Ainp / ATTS).Rin + [1-(Ainp / ATTS)]

Lin = Insulation thickness in m

Lamdain = Insulation thermal conductivity in w/mK
h =Inside heat transfer coefficient in w/m2K [4 w/m2K is commonly assumed]
Ainp = Insulated surface area of tank in m2
ATTS = Total tank surface area (shell + roof) in m2