Intermediate wind girder not continuous welded

[cornemo]

Dear all,

an existing tank has to be equipped with an intermediate wind girder.
Tank cooling is however provided by a water free flow from the top of the fixed cone roof.

If we want to attach an intermediate wind girder without having to add a sprinker ring for cooling just underneath the new girder, we must place the girder with a spacing from the tank shell. This means we have to attach supports/stiffeners to the tank shell and weld the girder to those supports/stiffeners with 10 or 20 mm spacing from the shell.

I am trying to find some guidance in API650 or EN14015 for such design details, but can't seem to find any.

Are there design requirements and/or guidelines for such design details? I am mainly looking at the spacing and size of the supports/stiffeners as I assume the wind girder itself can be designed using the standard methods as provided in the design codes.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

[saplanti]

I do not think your idea is allowed. The wind girder is to be welded in accordance with the code. However, if your concern is to drain the wind girder you are allowed to provide some holes. Additionally the method that you are offering will be too costly in terms of construction at that elevation.

I do not think providing a cooling water ring main under the ring girder will be too costly either. You may even attach it to the ring girder, close to the shell surface. This is the cheapest to my knowledge.