API 2000 - SEVENTH EDITION, MARCH 2014

ANNEXURE - F , "Guidance for Inert gas inert gas blanketing of tanks for flash back protection"

LEVEL - 3 (No additional protection against flame propagation from outside to the inside of tank is required)

Required flow rate

Volume of reserve inert gas

Tank Dimensions:
Dia = 22
Height = 13
Slope of cone roof = 12 1
Site Latitude = 23-24 °
In Flow rate = 398 m3/hr
Out Flow Rate = 440 m3/hr
Operating Pressure = 3 kPag
Operating Temperature = 65 °C
wall thickness of insulation lin 5.00E-02 m
inside heat transfer co-efficient h 4 W/(m2.K)
thermal conductivity of insulation λin 0.043 W/(m.K)
Reduction factor for insulation Rin 0.177
C Factor for Lattitude = 6.5
Tank Volume Vtk 5057.88 m3
Out flow rate Vpe 365.95 Nm3/hr

Required Nitrogen flow rate = 591.12 Nm3/hr

Volume of reserve inert gas = 606.9452 m3 @ 3 kPag, 65°C

Volume of reserve inert gas = 79.60567 m 3
@ 600 kPag, 25°C

Required Outbrething flowrate = 520.0629 Am3/h Air

Required Outbrething flowrate for PVRV = 420.0508 Nm3/hr Air
Required vaccum capacity for PVRV = 570.7385 Nm3/hr of Air
Required Outbrething flowrate for SAPCV = 435.0526 Nm3/hr of N2

Emergency Relieving
Reference API 2000 : Section 3.3.3.3 : Fire Relief Requirements

Considering hexane
Wetted surface area 631.7115 m2 631.7115 m2
Q 4,129,700 W 208.2
F 0.15 1
L 1519000 j/kg 334900 j/kg
T 338.15 K 288.75 K
M 30.33 86.17

q 1234.486 41200.84 6427.331

Table 1 — Y-factor for various latitudes
Latitude Y-factor
Below 42° 0.32
Between 42° and 58° 0.25
Above 58° 0.2

Table 2 — C-factors
Latitude C-factor for various conditions
Vapour pressure
Hexane or similar
Higher than hexane, or unknown
Average storage temperature °C
°C <25 ≥25 <25 ≥25

Below 42° 4 6.5 6.5 6.5

Between 42° and 58° 3 5 5 5
Above 58° 2.5 4 4 4