Is it necessary to install a nitrogen blanket for underground methanol storage tanks?
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There is a small project involving two horizontal methanol storage tanks, each with a capacity of 50 cubic meters; these tanks are to be buried for storing methanol. I would like to know whether these two buried tanks need to have a nitrogen blanket. Are there any regulatory guidelines regarding whether such a blanket is necessary or not? Please, some expert can help me?
It's needed. Methanol has a flash point of 11°C and is highly volatile, posing significant hazards. Storage tanks should be equipped with self-regulating nitrogen valves, vent valves, and rupture disks; the connected pipelines must have static electricity bonding systems in place, as well as static grounding. Explosion-proof equipment and static discharge columns are also necessary. Combustible gas detection alarms should be used. According to clause 5.1.16 of the SH3047-93 \"Design Code for Occupational Safety and Health in Petrochemical Enterprises,\" storage tanks for methanol, vinyl acetate, methyl acetate, and acetaldehyde should be fitted with nitrogen purging systems, and their exhaust gases should be treated through water washing.
Now, it is no longer allowed to use buried tanks for storing gasoline; the environmental protection authorities prohibit this. It is also advisable not to use such tanks for storing methanol – nitrogen sealing is necessary
The petrochemical regulations explicitly stipulate that a nitrogen seal must be installed
SH/T 3007-2014: Nitrogen sealing is required, as well as the collection of the gases emitted; a flame arrestor safety valve must also be installed
A dual-protection tank will work; it has two layers with leakage detection for flammable gases