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Tank Farm Electrical Area Classification 1

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miaki16

Mechanical
Nov 12, 2008
2
I am looking at installing a mechanical mixer on a water storage tank at a natural gas compressor station. I have been unable to locate the electrical area classification drawings.

I was wondering what classification of electrical motor should be used to power the mixer?

I am still in the process of locating the drawings as I know they exist somewhere. I was wanting to know the motor classification so I can budget accordingly.

Thanks
 
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Sorry, but without the drawings there's no way to tell.

I can only suggest looking for an existing piece of electrical equipment as close as possible to your new motor and using the same classification for budgetting, and carry the risk that you may have to change it later.

Matt
 
Have you looked at API RP 500 to see what the generic distances are? People do justify setting the areas different from those recommendations, but it is rare enough that RP 500 distances can be used until you find the original drawings (if they exist, I've seen a lot of compressor stations built to ASME B31.8 that don't have that particular drawing).

David
 
Thanks David, I was able to price the motor based on the generic distances. The engineering firm that designed the facility is still searching for the drawings to confirm the classification.

Mike
 
Mike,

I don't know if you already have the mixer in hand, but have you considered "jet mixing" by recirculating back to the lower side of the tank? You may be able to use an existing pump intermittently. Water is low viscosity and relatively easy to be turbulent.

Good luck,
Latexman
 
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