Fig. 1. When lightning struck on or near this tank at Magellan Midstream Partners distribution terminal 1.2 million gallons of unleaded gasoline, caught fire.
Preventing petroleum tank lightning strikes
New options make satisfying API RP 545 fast, economical, and safe for floating roof tank lightning protection. Del Williams reports.
Las nuevas aplicaciones convierten la eficaz API RP 545 en una normativa rápida, económica y segura para la protección contra rayos en depósitos de techo flotante. Del Williams informa.
Neue Optionen in der vom American Petroleum Institute empfohlenen Handlungsanweisung API RP 545 führen zu schnellem, wirtschaftlichen und sicheren Blitzschutz von schwimmenden Dachkonstruktionen. Ein Bericht von Del Williams.
W 42
www.engineerlive.com
hen lightning struck on or near a petroleum tank at the Magellan Midstream Partners distribution
terminal in Kansas City, Kansas, USA, in 2008, the tank, containing approximately 1.2 million gallons of unleaded gasoline, caught fire, sending a large plume of smoke across portions of the greater Kansas City metro area. About one-third of all petroleum tank
fires are due to lightning strikes. Floating roof tanks (FRTs), like the one that caught fire due to lightning in Kansas City, can be especially vulnerable. Te costs can be catastrophic: from loss of product, equipment, and production; to loss of life, business, and goodwill; to lawsuits and increased regulatory scrutiny. In fast developing, lightning-prone areas such as Florida, China, Malaysia, and Singapore, the risks are highest.
To reduce the risk of tank fires, the American Petroleum Institute (API) recently issued API RP 545, Recommended Practice for Lightning Protection of Above Ground Storage Tanks for Flammable or Combustible Liquids. Tere are some new options to make satisfying API RP 545 fast, economical, and safe.
Key findings API RP 545 recommends three modifications to FRTs: 1. Install submerged shunts between the roof and shell every 3 metres around the roof perimeter, and remove any existing above- seal shunts; 2. Electrically insulate all seal assembly components (including springs, scissor assemblies, seal membranes, etc) and all gauge and guide poles, from the tank roof; 3. Install bypass conductors between the roof and shell no more than every 30 metres around the tank
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