Typical Deisel Generator Oil Storage Systems 1

On yachts, the transfer pumps are large enough so that you don't spend all day just filling the day tank.

They are also often set up so they can be run continuously to 'polish' the fuel in any tank, running it through a water separator and filter and back to the tank, to remove the junk from a bad batch of fuel.

Beyond that, I know nothing.





Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

You didn't say the size of the day tanks, I'm guessing 1000 liters.

Look at how many hours you want to spend filling up all the day tanks (from zero), while all gen sets are running. That will give you the minimum pump rate.

So, (pump_rate - 500 l/hr)* pump_hrs = 40000
4000/pump_hrs = pump_rate - 500 l/hr
pump_rate = 4000/pump_hrs + 500

Say 1/2 a shift = 4 hours,

pump_rate = 4000L/4hrs + 500L/h = 1500L/hr

Note, as you increase the hours needed to fill, the flowrate drops by a power function approximating
(4000+500)^(4000-500)/(4000+500)

If you plot that and draw the tangets, you get a rough intersection at 2000 L/h, which I always thought was a reasonable (optimum?) max. So somewhere between 1500 and 2000.

Size the line for 2 m/s velocity.

is there an extra zero in there?

Anyway, I assume you get the idea. Base it on a reasonable refill time with all tanks hitting empty at the same time. It will happen.

We generally use the same pump that is used to fill the main tanks from a tanker, to fill day tanks also. Like BigInch suggested, the capacity of day tanks is an important variable. We have a limitation of 1000 liters for diesel here. If you don't have such limitations and if you size it for 1 shift operation then the total capacity is 20cu.mtr.

We design our main pumps to empty the tanker in maximum 1 hour and thus it is 12cu.mtr/hr. If you go with that capacity and start pumping into day tanks when the level is 1000 liters then you require about one and half hour.

It doesn't matter much, with respect to total power consumption, whether you take a small pump and run for many hours or take a big pump and run for lesser hours.

Thanks guys

BigInch

The head engineers here are insisting that I use double walled piping. They are super concerned with spilage. Do you have any extra comments regarding this. I'm not sure that I mentioned that this system is for a Mine. I don't know if that makes much difference but I just thought I would mention it.

Pipeline operators will never agree that full casing is needed. There is simply too many problems with cathodic shorting, humidity, corrosion and inspection of pipe inside casings. The biggest factor of danger for pipelines is acutally damage by third parties installing utilities in the area. Perhaps they are thinking about that factor, but it is something that can be easily handled by good marking, or laying in a trench with red colored concrete sloop poured in the top layer of backfill. I can't agree with their assessment, if it is based on corrosion leakage alone. Besides leaking diesel isn't the same thing as leaking gasoline. I've worked 10 years on large underground storage plants for gasoline, diesel and jet fuels and we did not have a single double walled or cased pipe at any of the sites.

I would be much more concerned about spillages in the storage tank area. Otherwise its just a matter of keeping excavation or other machinery away from the line in some effective manner.