© August 2022| IJIRT | Volume 9 Issue 3 | ISSN: 2349-6002

Fire Protection for Oil Storage Tank

G Jagadish Reddy1, Gulab Chand Sahu2,

1
Student, Shri Rawatpura Sarkar University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India
2
Assistant Professor, Shri Rawatpura Sarkar University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India

Abstract—Large liquid storage tanks are used in attention and this could be due to several reasons,
industries to store petroleum and its allied products for including:
a variety of purposes, and these tanks contain large • The fact that the offsite hazards are relatively
amounts of oil that can catch fire. Because of the
small.
enormous fuel supply for the fire, oil fires are more
difficult to extinguish than regular fires. These fires can • The fact that the technology is relatively static and
result in the loss of millions of barrels of crude oil, as well thus new hazards are unlikely.
as ecological problems caused by the large amounts of In such major storage tank fires, the incident may
smoke. To extinguish oil fires, several techniques such as escalate to adjacent tanks, due to the effect of radiant
foam systems and high powered water sprays are used. heat from the fire on the adjacent tank and the
The primary goal of this project is to propose an active subsequent effect on the contents of the tank [2]. This
firefighting system for the Super Kerosene Oil storage heat can cause the temperature of the liquid and vapour
tank in plants, Industry. There are altogether four tanks
in the adjacent tank to rise and, as a consequence, the
situated in the plant. The diameter and height of first two
vapour space pressure will increase and exceed the
tanks are 10.65m and 9m. The diameter and height of
other two tanks are 8m and 7.5m. The total storage pressure/vacuum relief valve (PVRV) set point, in
capacity of four tanks is 2140 K.Lts. Detailed study was order to allow the vapours to escape. If the adjacent
carried out on various factors which include type of tank, tank contains flammable material, there is the potential
type of oil stored, location of tanks etc. According to for the ignition of the vapours and thus escalation [3,
OISD Standard, Semi fixed foaming system with 4]. In order to minimize the risk of escalation, there is
minimum one discharge outlets using AFFF type of foam a need to reassess the existing basis for atmospheric
has been suggested. The amount of foam and water storage tank spacing, fire protection and fire fighting
required Safe distance between tanks has been calculated
resources. The existing engineering codes are
and suggested. Many other important suggestions also
extensive and have largely been proven to be very
have been included in the project.
effective in the detailed design of atmospheric storage
Index Terms—AFFF; Semi fixed foam system. tanks; however, they are deficient, in respect of the
I. INTRODUCTION above issues. 1 This is due to the fact that the
engineering codes relating to tank spacing and tank
Atmospheric storage tanks are an essential aspect of fire protection are based on experience, rather than
refineries and terminal installations. The basic proper engineering judgment [10].
technology of tank design and fire protection is well
established and has not changed substantially in recent II. PROBLEMS IDENTIFICATION
years; however there have been some incremental • To carry out a detailed study regarding fire safety
improvements. In the last century, a series of major for the oil storage tank situated in Plant industry.
accidents, such as Flixborough, and Bhopal, have • To suggest a suitable foaming system for fire
focused attention on the potential hazards posed by the suppression in oil storage tank.
chemical industry and the impact of such hazards on
• To suggest modifications and improvements
nearby communities [1]. Attention has primarily
regarding fire safety for oil storage tank.
centered on process areas and pressure storage and, in
particular, on situations where large vapour clouds of III. METHODOLOGY AND CALCULATION
flammable or toxic materials may form [2]. A. FLOW CHART
Atmospheric storage tanks have received much less

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The water tank is situated at 8(m) height, by using the

head of the tank they are maintaining a pressure of 2-
3 kg/cm2 in the hydrant line in the plant.
Physical properties And Characteristics:
• Sp. Gravity : 0.81-0.91
• Vapor density : 3-5
• Flash point : 32ºc - 56ºc
• Explosive limit : 0.7 to 9% by volume in air
• Ignition Temperature : 256.6 ºc
• Vapor Pressure : < 1mm Hg
• Insoluble in water
• Brown to light brown
C. INFERENCE
Depend upon the physical properties of SKO oil it
belongs to the petroleum products of class B.
Figure [1] Flow Chart
According to OISD STD-116 fixed roof tank storing
class-A and class-B petroleum products, semi-fixed
B. PLANT VISIT AND DATA COLLECTION
foam system is suitable.
The project is carried out in Plant Industry (one of the
heavy engineering industries), Seamless Steel Tube Semi-Fixed foam system:
Plant (Industry) was set up in 1979. They A fixed piping system from outside of dyke area is
manufactures Seamless Steel Tubes of world connected to foam maker cum vapour seal box in
Standards, catering to the needs of a wide spectrum of case of cone roof tank. It gets foam through mobile
customers from power stations , petrochemicals ,oil & foam tender.
gas exploration, automobiles, refineries, sugar
industries, textiles, etc. It has the most advanced
facilities for the manufacture of seamless steel tubes
and pipes – both hot finished and cold-drawn in carbon
and low alloy steel grades. Industry offers seamless
steel tubes and pipes in a wide range of sizes with outer Figure [2] Example of Semi-fixed foam system with
diameters ranging from 19mm to 133 mm and wall foam chamber
thicknesses from 2mm to 12.5mm. The SKO is mainly D. CALCULATION OF FOAM COMPOUND
used for heating of the tubes for the production REQUIREMENT:
process. Thus the SKO storage tanks play an important According to OISD-116 the amount of foam
role in the production of seamless tubes. compound required has been calculated for the fixed
• Tank infrastructure in Plant industry (Typical): cone roof tank storing SKO.
Data:
Table [1]: SKO storage tank details Total storage capacity = 3140 m3
Tank.no Tank Product Dia.(m)
Height Capacity No. of tanks = 2 with 750 m3 and 2 with 320 m3
(m) (K.Lts)
1 CVRT SKO 10.65 9 750 capacity each Diameter of each tank = 2 with 10.65(m)
2 CVRT SKO 10.65 9 750 and 2 with 8(m) each
3 CVRT SKO 8 7.5 320 Height of each tank = 2 with 9(m) and 2 with 7.5(m)
4 CVRT SKO 8 7.5 320
each
Table [2]: Water storage tank details The quantity of foam compound shall be calculated as
Tank Dia Height Tankage follows:
Type Service
no (m) (m) (KL) Consider foam solution application @ 5 lpm/m2 for the
1 CVRT WATER 10 8 630
liquid surface of the single largest cone roof tank in the
dyke area.

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Foam solution rate = 446 lpm Fire water for supplementary hose stream = 43.71
Foam compound required = = 13.3662 lpm m3/hr
Foam compound quantity for 65 minutes = 868.54776 Total water required :
litre Tank cooling = 216.7m3/hr
Consider one portable foam monitor of 500 lpm foam Foam application = 26.71 m3/hr
solution capacity : 3% Foam compound required = 15 Supplementary stream = 43.71 m3/hr
lpm Total water required = 290 m3/hr
Foam compound required for 65 minutes = 975 litre The number of discharge outlets required, application
Consider 1 hose streams of foam with a capacity of rate, time of discharge, number of hose streams
200 lpm of foam solution capacity required, time of discharge of hose streams required is
3% Foam compound required = 6 lpm taken according to OISD-116 and they are given
Foam compound required for 65 minutes = 390litre below:
Total foam compound required for cone roof tank area 1) Foam agent used = AFFF
Protection: 2) Application rate and discharge time of foam:
Foam compound required for Cone Roof Tank = 869 According to OISD-116 for cone roof tanks containing
litre liquid hydrocarbon foam solution delivery rate shall be
Foam Compound required for 1 Foam Monitor = 975 at least 5lpm/m2 of liquid surface area of tank.
litre Duration of foam discharge for tanks containing class
Foam Compound required for 1 hose streams= 390 A and class B petroleum is 65min.
litre 3) Supplementary protection:
Total = 2234 litre
Say : 2300 litre Table [3]: Operating times for supplemental hose
streams
E. CALCULATION OF FIRE WATER FLOW Diameter of tank (m) Minimum operating time (min)
RATE: Up to 10.5 10
According to OISD-116 the amount of fire water 10.5 to 28.5 20
above28.5 30
required for foam making and for cooling the surface
of tanks has been calculated. Table [4]: Selection of supplementary hose streams
Data: Diameter of tank (m) Number of hose stream
Total storage capacity = 3140 m3 Up to 19.5 1
19.5 to 36 2
No. of tanks = 2 with 750 m3 and 2 with 320 m3
above 36 3
capacity each From the above tables we can determine number of
Diameter of each tank = 2 with 10.65(m) and 2 with hose streams required and minimum operating time.
8(m) each
Height of each tank = 2 with 9(m) and 2 with 7.5(m) 4) Number of discharge outlets required can be
each determined from the table given below:
Cooling water requirement: Table [5]: Selection of number of discharge outlets
Cooling water rate=3 lpm/m2 of tank shell area for Tank diameter(m) Minimum no. of discharge Outlets
tank-on-fire Up to 20 1
20 to 25 2
Cooling water required = 903 lpm
25 to 30 4
Cooling water required for other tanks at the rate of 35 to 40 5
3lpm/m2 of shell area for tanks falling within (R+30) 40 to 45 6
45 to 50 8
metre from centre of tank on fire, Above 50 10
= 162.54 m3/hr
Total cooling water rate = 216.72 m3/hr F. CALCULATION OF SAFE DISTANCE
Foam water requirement (for 1 tank only) @ 5 BETWEEN TANKS USING POINT SOURCE
lpm/m2, MODEL:
Foam solution rate = 445.18 lpm

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In this model, it is customary to model the flame by a flux, qrc” which is generally taken as equal to 4.732
point source located at the center of the real flame in kW/m2.Critical heat flux is the radiation at which no
order to predict the thermal radiation field of flames. other material will catch fire.
The point source model is the simplest Table [6]:Intensity of radiation at particular distance.
configurationally model of a radiant source. The Distance between rims (m) Radiation (Kw/m2)
3 11.66
critical value of incident heat flux, defined as the 4 10.036
minimum value of the heat flux which can ignite the 5 9.34
fuel in the target tank is given as: 6 7.94
8 6.68
9 5.45
10 4.57

Distance (vs) Radiation Graph by using Point source

model:

Figure [3] Schematic diagram of tank on fire for

point source model
Here, Qr is obtained Qr = λQ
Here, λ can be determined as λ = (0.21- 0.0034 x D)
D is diameter of tank in (m) Q is the total heat released
by fire and can be estimated as follows:
Q = (ή x m” x π x D2 x ΔHc)/4
Where, ή is the combustion efficiency.
m”(kg/m2 s) is the volumetric loss of liquid per unit Figure [4] Distance Vs Radiation graph
pool surface area.
ΔHc is heat of combustion of fuel (KJ/Kg). By using this model the safe distance between the
tanks is determined as Lsafe= 9.6(m)
IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Where Hf is the flame height(m) above the tank. It is
Result Outcomes:
obtained as
• The amount of foam compound required is
Hf = 0.235Q(2/5) – 1.02D
2300litre
Cosθ = L/R
• Amount of water required for making foam,
L is the inter-tank separation distance measured from
cooling of tanks and supplementary stream is
the centre of source tank to the edge of target tank.
290m3 /hr.
Substituting values of all the parameters in equation
• By using point source model safe distance between
and calculating qr” for various distances, for each of
tanks is 9.6m.
the configurations, one can obtain the safe distance
corresponding to the critical heat flux, qrc” which is
generally taken as equal to 4.732 kW/m2.
For SKO ή = 1 , m” = 0.039 (kg/m2s), ΔHc =
43,200(KJ/Kg)
Assuming that the large diameter (D=10.65m) tank on
fire and the inter-tank separation distance measured
from the centre of source tank to the edge of target
tank. Substituting values of all the parameters in
equation and calculating qr” for various distances, for
each of the configurations, we can obtain the safe
Figure [5] Model layout with foaming system
distance corresponding to the critical heat.
arrangement.

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IV. CONCLUSION the vapour space pressure, thermal loading over the
surface of the tank can be predicted. Combining the all
The Super Kerosene Oil storage tank at plant
those models presents a number of innovative features
(Industry) lacks a standard fire fighting system. This
such as predicting the distribution of thermal load on
project aims to suggest an adequate fire fighting
tanks adjacent to the tank on fire and thermal load on
system for the storage area. By going through many
the ground. A wide range of design and fire protection
sources like OISD standards, NFPA standards, etc.,
alternatives, such as the water cooling system and the
the amount of foam, water required has been
minimum separation distance between storage tanks,
calculated. By using the point source model the safe
can be assessed using these models. The subsequent
distance between tanks has been calculated in no wind
results will help to identify any recommended
condition. By going through OISD standard the
improvements in the design of facilities and
following recommendations have been suggested. The
management systems (inspection and maintenance), in
recommendations made will act as guidelines for the
addition to the firefighting response to such fires.
design of an adequate fire fighting system for SKO
storage tanks at Plant industry. REFERENCE
• According to OISD-STD-116 Fixed roof tanks
[1] James I. Changa, Cheng-Chung Lin, “A study of
storing Class-A and Class-B petroleum products
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• Each dyke shall have roads all around for access [2] C. Crippa, “Fire risk management system for safe
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• The minimum distance between a tank shell and Industries 22 (2009) 574–581.
the inside toe of the dyke wall shall not be less [3] Ibrahim M. Shaluf, Salim A. Abdulla “Floating
than half the height of tank. roof storage tank boilover”, Journal of Loss
• In any case the boundary wall shall be of Prevention in the Process Industries 24 (2011) 1-
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(up to 10m diameter) should be 0.5D= 5.325m. crude oil tanks”, Journal of Loss Prevention in the
By using point source model the safe distance Process Industries 25 (2012) 166-175.
calculated is 9.6m. [5] C.D. Argyropoulos, “A hazards assessment
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is suggested to use the safe distance measured by tanks”, Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process
point source model (9.65m). Industries 25 (2012) 329-335.
• Loading/unloading point should be at least 4.5m [6] LANG Xu-qing, “Study of Fire Fighting System
away from the tanks. to Extinguish Full Surface Fire of Large Scale
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and stores or amenities is minimum 4.5m or (2011) 189–195.
Diameter of tank. [7] FU Xuecheng, “Application of compressed air
foam system in extinguishing oil tank fire and
V. SCOPE FOR FUTURE WORK
middle layer effect”, Procedia Engineering 45 (
In this, the safe distance between tanks has been 2012 ) 669 – 673.
calculated under no wind condition only, by using [8] WANG Wen-he, “Numerical Simulation of Fire
some other methods like Mundans model and Thermal Radiation Field for Large Crude Oil
Sanegupta model safe distance between tanks in case Tank Exposed to Pool Fire”, Procedia
of wind and no wind condition also will be calculated Engineering 52 (2013) 395 – 400.
and by comparing them much better result can be [9] Esteban J. Bernechea, Josep Arnaldos,
suggested. By using the Thermal Response Model “Optimizing the design of storage facilities
thermal response of contents of adjacent i.e variations through the application of ISD and QRA”,
in the liquid and vapour temperature, any increase in

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Process SafetyandEnvironmentalProtection92 ( 2
0 1 4 ) 598–615.
[10] T. P. Tsai1a, H. C. Yang, " The Application of
Concurrent Engineering in the Installation of
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[11] Angan Sengupta, A.K. Gupta, “Engineering
layout of fuel tanks in a tank farm”, Journal of
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(2011) 568-574.
[12] Moosa Haji Abbasi, Emad Benhelal, “Design of
optimal layout for a fuel storage tanks farm”,
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[13] Jian Shuai, Kejiang Han, “Risk-based inspection
for large-scale crude oil tanks”, Journal of Loss
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166-175.
[14] OISD STANDARD-244, Storage and Handling
Of petroleum products at depots terminals.

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