An Introduction to Low Pressure Storage Tanks

Storage tanks are an overlooked part of any refinery or chemical plant. They don’t make boatloads of money, but they are an integral part of keeping a process running smoothly and provide a buffer to help minimize lost production and shutdown time. Adequately sizing raw feed, intermediate product, and final product storage tanks should include a number of scenarios which are often overlooked by “rule-of-thumb” type considerations. This presentation is an introduction to the various design considerations for storage tanks including types, sizing, breathing calculations, and safety considerations encountered when evaluating tanks in a manufacturing facility.