API 2006 Storage Tank Conference Tulsa, Oklahoma

Preparing Tanks for Hurricanes

Presented By: Ray Penny Prepared By: Steven L. Braune, PE

Tank Industry Consultants, Inc.

You own a bunch of tanks and there is a big storm coming

Katrina at Landfall August 29, 2005

Now what?
API Standard 650 has provisions for addressing some of the storm related issues that affect storage tanks.

Storage Tanks Vulnerabilities

Wind Issues
Shell Buckling Tank Overturning Roof Damage

Flooding Issues
Floating Off of Foundation Shell Buckling

Wind Loads on Tanks

API Standard 650 has specific requirements for shell buckling and tank overturning There are no requirements in the current Standard that address roof damage

Shell Buckling
In general, new tanks are designed to resist wind speeds of 100 mph In the absence of an owner-specified wind speed, manufacturer may select shell thicknesses only for liquid loads and then report the permissible wind speed to the purchaser

API-650 Shell Stability

Tank is most vulnerable when empty API procedures originated in early 1960s Methods based on uniform vacuum analogy using the maximum wind pressures on shell

Shell Buckling During Construction

Shell Buckling When Empty

Shell Buckling After Loss of Roof

No shell Buckling after loss of roof

Tornado Damage

Buckling on Windward Side

Wind

Storage Tank

Empty Tank Shell Stability

H1

Check permissible unstiffened shell height, H1

3

Diameter, D

& t # H1 = 600,000(t ) $ ! %D"

My Tank Engineer says

Tanks constructed to API-12C are generally resistant to wind buckling for wind speeds in the range of 95 to 120 mph Resistance to wind buckling varies for tanks constructed to API-650. The typical wind speeds are in the range of 80 to 105 mph Tank diameters up to 260 and shell heights to 48

What if shell is not stable for the expected wind speed?

Hope for the best (we can do better than that) Fill tank with product, if possible Partially fill tank

Add Product to Tank to Reduce Risk of Shell Buckling

H1

Your Tank Engineer can determine a recommended product depth using API-650 principles

Wind Overturning
Primarily a problem for small diameter tanks that are empty Doesnt happen often, but should be considered API-650 has simplified procedures to verify

Wind Overturning Loads

Overturning Moment, M Per API-650
W

M max = WD/2 (Tank Empty)

Knocked Over Tanks

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Toppling of Small Diameter Tanks

Tank Toppling Speed (40 ft High Tank)
Wind Velocity (mph)
200 150 100 50 0 0 10 20 30 40 50

Tank Diameter (ft)

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Add Product to Tank to Prevent Overturning of Unanchored Tanks

Your Tank Engineer can determine a recommended product depth

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Fixed Roof Damage

Roof uplift pressure will occasionally damage tanks Roof -to-shell joint may tear and peel away roof plate Roof structure may be dislodged by distortion of shell

Wind

Peeling Off of Roof Plate

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Plate Pulled Off Tank Roof

Floating Roof Damage

Roof uplift pressure and wind forces may cause ponded water to shift on a floating roof. Unsymmetrical load may lead to roof structural failure Water may shift away from location of roof drains overloads with water may result

Wind

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Floating Roof Damage

Rolling Ladder Damage

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Tank Flotation
Tanks are most vulnerable to floatation when empty Minimal flood depth required to float a tank off of its foundation Wind may displace a floating tank laterally

Dike Flooding
Flood depths of less than two feet will float most large diameter storage tanks when they are empty

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AST Displaced by Flooding

ASTs Displaced by Flooding

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ASTs Displaced by Flooding

Avoid Tank Flotation

Your Tank Engineer can determine a recommended product depth

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Avoid Tank Flotation

If tank is empty and clean, leave the shell manholes open

Shell Buckling Due to Dike Flooding

Water pressure may cause collapse of the shell, if it is empty and anchored Your Tank Engineer can determine a recommended product depth

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Summary
Design for the expected conditions (primarily wind) Maintain your tanks A well maintained tank will fair better than a ragged tank. Add liquid to prevent flotation, overturning, wind buckling, & shell buckling from external pressure (rising water) A full tank will fair better than an empty tank.

QUESTIONS?
Steven L. Braune, P.E. 804-897-7176 office 804-897-7178 fax 804-307-5609 mobile Braune@TankIndustry.com

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