Stress Analysis of storage Tank piping

Jeba Anand Nadar

Contents

• Introduction
• Classification of Tank (fluid, construction type)
• Dyke wall
• Tank settlement
• Bulging of Tank
• Tank behavior
• Modeling of storage tank in Caesar
• API 650 calc data for Analysis
• Nozzle check as per API 650
• Routing of line connected to tank
INTRODUCTION
The storage tanks are vessels that holds liquids, compressed gas, used for the short or long
term storage and transportation of different liquid and semi fluid products independently on their
form.
Based on position & location, they can be vertical and horizontal, aboveground, semi
underground and underground, to carry static and dynamic loads, to work under vacuum and
over pressure, upon the wind, seismic and temperature influences.
The biggest part from this group engineering facility which are widely used in almost all
industrial sectors are the Aboveground Steel Vertical Tanks, which are the sheet constructions
with cylindrical form.
CLASSIFICATION OF TANK

1. Based on process Fluid Type

Crude oil and its derivatives are potentially hazardous materials. The degree of the hazard is
determined essentially by volatility and flash point.
The OISD has specified the following classes:

Class A - Liquids which have flash points below 23 ⁰C

Class B - Liquids which have flash points 23 ⁰C and above but below 65 ⁰C

Class C - Liquids which have flash points 65 ⁰C and above but below 93 ⁰C

Excluded petroleum - Liquids which have flash points 93 ⁰C and above

CLASSIFICATION OF TANK

2. Based on Tank Construction

For safe storage of petroleum products, we have to consider the flash point, internal pressure,
properties of product, volatility, pour point and others before designing and constructing.
Storage tank comes in many shapes and sizes depending on the product to be stored, potential
for fire and amount of storage.

Open Top tanks

This type of tanks are used for storing city water, fire water and cooling water.

Open Top Tank

CLASSIFICATION OF TANKS

FIXED ROOF TANKS

These types are divided into two types
-Cone roof
-Dome roof

This is one of the most common type of storage tanks and are provided with self supporting roof
structures either cone or Doom type roofs.
Mainly for storing low pressure fluids
Most common type used for storing countless products, including petroleum, chemicals,
petrochemicals, food products and water
CLASSIFICATION OF TANKS

Fixed roof tank with Floating Covers ( Internal Floating roof type)
In a fixed roof tank a floating cover can be installed to give a further reduction of vapor losses. These
tanks are fitted with breather vents either at the top course of the shell plate or on the roof edge.
Typical feedstock stored are : DPK ( Kerosene, Jet A1)

 Floating Roof Tank

These tanks are designed to work at atmospheric pressure. Roof of this tank rises and lowers with the
stored contents, there by reducing vapor loss and minimizing the fire hazard. Typical Products stored are
Crude Oil, gasoline, gasoline components , Solvents.
CLASSIFICATION OF TANKS
Horizontal Pressure Tank ( Bullet)
The very volatility and high vapor pressure product such as Iso pentane, LPG & Butane will be stored in a
vessel that will withstand product pressure and prevent any product vaporization. Due to high pressure
the vessels are usually mounted underground to prevent thermal radiation in case of fire nearby.

Horton sphere Pressure Tank

Used to store large quantities of liquids and gases under pressure

DYKE WALL

 Due to risk of failure of storage tanks and primary piping systems, means must be provided to
contain the spills. The containment for petroleum storage tanks is in the form of Dyked
enclosures.

 Dykes may be constructed of earth, steel, concrete or solid masonry. They may be square,
rectangular, circular or irregular in shape depending on the natural terrain around them.

 Lines penetrating concrete dike walls may be secured against leakage by commonly available seals.

 The figure below shows the Seal with a minor line movement

 Proper pipe supporting to be provided on either side of the Dyke wall penetration to prevent load
on the Dike wall.
DYKE WALL
TANK SETTLEMENT

Settlement in tanks will be in two stages

 Settlement during Hydro Test
 Long term Settlement
1. Settlement during Hydro Test
This is a one time settlement and usually caused due to the Hydro load during Hydro-testing before
the Pre-commissioning stage.
The Tank is Hydro tested separately before connecting the Lines. Hence this settlement is not
considered in our Analysis
2. Long Term settlement
This settlement which takes place during the entire life cycle of the tank. Most settlement occurs
during hydro testing of the tank. Gradual settlement continue for years since it's a slow process and
it may take more years to reach full settlement. The tank settlement amount depends on soil
characteristics-primarily, consolidation and compressibility.
For piping stress analysis only long term settlement is considered.
TANK SETTLEMENT

Hydro testing of tank Piling provided for foundation Settlement

Differential settlement at the base of a tank Tilted tanks due to uneven settlement
BULGING OF TANK

Tank bulging-radial growth occurs on the shell due to product static head for large diameter tanks.
Bulge formations appear because a static head may cause circumferential and longitudinal strains.

For large-diameter storage tanks( above 36” dia ) with heavy liquid, tank bulging occurs since there is a
slight growth of the tank shell in radial direction. When this radial-shell growth occurs at the nozzle
location, the nozzle is rotated slightly. Even the smallest nozzle rotation will cause the associated piping
to either lift-off from the first support from the tank foundation or excessively compress the pipe at the
first support from the tank foundation. This happens even if the vertical displacement of the tank nozzle
is in a downward direction. This condition is assumed when the first support is a rigid support from the
tank foundation extension.
TANK BEHAVIOUR

THERMAL GROWTH
OF TANK

TANK
SETTLEMENT
TANK BULGING DUE
TO LIQUID HEAD

THERMAL GROWTH OF
CONNECTING PIPE
TANK BEHAVIOUR

Bulging of Tank because of pressure head

Tank GA DWG
MODELLING OF STORAGE TANK IN CAESAR
Modeling the storage considering settlement and Bulging effect:-
1. Input the design and operating Temp & Pressure
2. Model the nozzle flange 10-20.
3. Model the projection as pipe element 20-30 with same pipe dia & schedule given in the drawing for the
nozzle up to nozzle pipe and Tank intersection.
4. Define API 650 Nozzle at element 20-30 i.e. Check mark the Nozzle option and select the type as API
650.

5. Fill up the details of the tank in API Nozzle spreadsheet from the Data Sheet provided by the vendor.
6. Fill up the details as nozzle node as 30 (intersection of tank and nozzle) and tank node as 40.
7. Start the next element 40-50 length equal to the radius of the tank with dia & schedule of the tank.
8. Model 40-50 as weightless rigid element with dia & schedule of the tank.
9. Model 50-60 vertically length equal to the elevation of the nozzle up to bottom of the tank as rigid with no
weight and dia and schedule that of the tank.
10. Define the Anchor at 60 with C Node 61.
11. Define the displacement at node 61 DY equal to the Tank settlement in mm and input 0 in all other fields
DX, DZ, RX, RY, RZ.
MODELLING OF STORAGE TANK IN CAESAR

12. For the Tank Bulging effect and radial expansion of tank, define the displacement at node 40 along the
Nozzle axis DZ in mm and rotations RX in degrees and input 0 in all other fields DX, DY, RY, RZ IN
VECTOR 2.
13. Check the Nozzle loads at node 30 against the allowable given by the vendor from the datasheet.
API 650 CALCULATIONS DATA FOR ANALYSIS

Input data
 Tank Diameter
 Nozzle Height above bottom Plate
 Nozzle Outer Diameter
 Shell Course Thickness
 Max Fluid Height above bottom plate
 delta Temperature
 Modulus of Elasticity
 Expansion Coefficient
 Fluid Specific Gravity
 Reinforcement on Shell or Nozzle
API 650 CALCULATIONS DATA FOR ANALYSIS

Displacement for Settlement of Tank (vector1)

Displacement for Bulging & expansion tank (vector 2)
LOAD CASE FOR TANK IN CAESAR

WHERE D1= DISPLACEMENT DUE TO SETTLEMENT

D2= DISPLACEMENT DUE TO BULGING EFFECT
NOMENCULATURE OF APPENDIX-P
TANK NOZZLE DISPLACEMENT
NOZZLE CHECK AS PER API 650
 For external piping connected to tanks can be used for Tanks size greater than 36m (120 ft) in diameter.
 The purchaser can decide for the Tank size 36” and smaller as per API 650 design
 The recommendations of this appendix represent accepted practice for the design of shell openings in the lower
half of the bottom shell course that have a minimum elevation from the tank bottom and meet the requirements of
Table 5-6.
SHELL DEFLECTION AND ROTATION
1 Radial Growth of Shell
The unrestrained outward radial growth of the shell at the centre of the opening connection resulting from product
head and/or thermal expansion shall be determined as follows:

2 Rotation of Shell
The unrestrained rotation of the shell at the centre of the nozzle-shell connection resulting from product head shall be
determined as follows:

The allowable Nozzle load can be calculated as per Appendix P- (p.2.7) or the allowable loads can be used which will be
furnished by Vendor/ Mechanical Static.
NOZZLE CHECK AS PER API 650
NOZZLE CHECK AS PER API 650
Group of Tanks
ROUTING OF LINES CONNECTED TO TANK
TANK LINE BEHAVIOUR
SUPPORTING OF LINES CONNECTED TO TANK
SUPPORTING OF LINES CONNECTED TO TANK
SUPPORTING OF LINES CONNECTED TO TANK

Note:- 1. In desert conditions Hanger type springs is used to prevent malfunctioning of Spring due to the
accumulation of sand particles
2. for Large diameter tanks, tank bulging plays a important role in nozzle loading and support
selection . Spring support can be advised .
Thank You !!
Back
NOMOGRAM

Back