Pumps for a tankfarm application

[StoneCold]

I am looking for the reference that states that solvent transfer pumps located inside of a secondary contaiment area have to be 18 inches above the floor of the secondary containment. Or something to that effect. This is in the US. I thought it was NFPA 30 but when I looked there I could not find it. Does anyone know what I am talking about?

Thanks

StoneCold

 

[bimr]

I have never seen that, but my thinking is that pumps should be off the floor to prevent possible damage from rain overfilling the containment area.

 

[pennpiper]

You did not state what the commodity is inside the tank(s) but regardless of the commodity, I would never support putting pumps inside the secondary containment dike.

 

[StoneCold]

Ok here is a little more information. The "farm" is two 2000 gallon thanks of ethanol on a single concrete pad. The secondary containment is concrete walls 3ft high. Possibly epoxy coated but not really relevent. There will be four pumps inside the secondary containment area. Two of them are chiller recirculation pumps and two of them are process pumps that feed the chilled ethanol into a facility for cooling. So currently they are all within the contained area. Should they be raised up above the level of the containment or only so that the motors are 18" above grade?

Thanks

StoneCold

 

[jwysmooth]

Many times electrically driven equipment will be raised to prevent it from being inside an electrical classification area for which it is not suited. In most cases the electrical classifications are delineated by company standards. Since ethanol vapors are heavier than air, at least the bottom 12" of the containment area bottom is likely to be rated as a Class I, Group D, Div. 1 area. At some height above the bottom the area classification will change to Class I, Group D, Div. 2. That level may be 18". Check your company standards for electrical classification of various process areas.
Just a thought.
jwy

 

[MJCronin]

Stone...

The placement of pumps on a "housekeeping pad" is a good idea for many other reasons. It does not matter if the pumps are in a containment or not.

The pad can take one or more pumps, I have seen many pads 36-48 inches from the floor.

Pumps for your "tank farm" can be inside or outside of the cotained area. Make sure you use fireproof seals if you have piping that penetrates the containment walls.

Make sure that you have the correct electrical classification of any electrical equipment within the contained area...

-MJC

 

[BigInch]

Doesn't make any sense to me to put pumps in a containment area. If they're not explosion proof and there's product all around them, you can't energize and move any remaining product out of there, ...well that is if the pumps haddn't caught fire already.

**********************
"Pumping systems account for nearly 20% of the world’s energy used by electric motors and 25% to 50% of the total electrical energy usage in certain industrial facilities." - DOE statistic
"Note: Make that 99.99% for pipeline companies" -

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.live.com/

 

[Unotec]

We are in O&G, our tankfarms are in containment (typically 4 to 10 tanks). Inside the containment is a utilidor building between the tanks , the nozzles and piping are inside the building to prevent freezing and allow for operations. Inside this building we have transfes pumps, heaters condensate pumps (steam) and whatnot.
The area has LEL and H2S heads interconnected to ventilation fans to de-rate the area form class 1 div 1 to class 2.
The pumps are on their skids a couple centimetres from the ground.

<<A good friend will bail you out of jail, but a true friend
will be sitting beside you saying ” Damn that was fun!” - Unknown>>

 

[StoneCold]

Ok
The pumps are rated Class 1 Div 1 Group C&D. I realize that moving them up is not really going to change there rating. What I was really interested in, was "Is there a guideline for pump placement in secondary contaiment area?" Which I think the answer is no, or it depends on your industry/application. Since the pumps are vertical inline centrifugals I think I am going to raise them up so that the motors are above the level of the containment. Then if the containment fills up my motors won't get flooded. Unless someone has a better, "best practices" guideline.

Regards
StoneCold

 

[Unotec]

If you can afford to do that, I think it is a very good idea to raise them.
We handle mortly water and oil so if it ever happens to flood, it will more than likely not cause a fire. Your case is different.

<<A good friend will bail you out of jail, but a true friend
will be sitting beside you saying ” Damn that was fun!” - Unknown>>

 

[bimr]

Putting the pumps and piping in the containment area makes good sense.

You have a higher probablity of a leak from the pumps and pipng than from the tank.

 

[BigInch]

Yes a higer probability of a leak, but of a much lower volume.

**********************
"Pumping systems account for nearly 20% of the world’s energy used by electric motors and 25% to 50% of the total electrical energy usage in certain industrial facilities." - DOE statistic (Note: Make that 99.99% for pipeline companies)

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.live.com/

 

[psafety]

NFPA 497.

 

[stookeyfpe]

Stonecold

It may be a best case operating practice but the 2006 IFC nor NFPA 30 require it. I am unsure of any recommended practices from API.