Containment trench for Molten Sulphur Storage Tanks 4

[ikshwaku]

Hello

Just wondering if anyone has some guidance to offer re: whether or not a containment trench is needed by default for molten sulphur storage tanks. Is it more of a jurisdictional or client preference issue.

Thanks

 

[chichuck]

ikshwaku,

some years ago (circa 1980's) I worked on a number of storage tanks for liquid sulfur, at refineries. They were always buried. Usually there was no barriers of any kind, just a buried concrete box with the top sticking out of the ground a foot or two.

Because they were concrete, they did get cracks. Some sulfur leached to the outside, but I guess it solidified when it cooled on the way through the crack and essentially healed itself. I ran into no regulatory issues with tank containing liquid sulfur. I'm not sure, but I think liquid sulfur is not deemed hazardous because it does not react with other stuff, like SO4, SO2 and the like.

If envronmental regulations are different now, you may have to provide containment. EPA regs and state regs should tell you what you need to do.


Regards,

chichuck

 

[rmw]

I can't say this authoritatively, but I think I remember seeing rules that stated that any above ground tank had to be contained, but in the case of sulfur, what would be the use. Any leakage would solidify before it filled up the containment area.

I expect, depending upon where you are, and who has jurisdiction, that this is an argument that you could never win with a bureaucrat who was just looking at rules written on a page.

rmw

 

[ikshwaku]

Thanks to those who replied. I had thought about the solidification of the molten sulphur as being sufficient self-containment, but as was noted, regs can be more restrictive.