Several standards are contradictory regarding the distance between LPG pumps and storage tanks
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According to GB 50160-2018, clauses 5.3.4 and 5.3.6, liquefied petroleum gas pumps installed outdoors must also maintain a distance of 15 meters from the storage tanks, and they should be located outside the fire dike. On the other hand, clauses 4.4.3 of GB 50016-2018 and 5.2.7 of GB 51142-2015 state that liquefied petroleum gas pumps installed outdoors should be placed as close as possible to the storage tanks, with no specific distance requirement. These standards seem to be contradictory; I would appreciate some guidance on this matter. Thank you.
Why does version 5.3.4 I’m looking at refer to gas tanks, semi-frozen, and fully frozen liquefied hydrocarbons? Liquefied petroleum gas does not fall into these categories
According to the definition of liquefied hydrocarbons in petrochemical regulations, liquefied petroleum gas falls under the category of liquefied hydrocarbons, and there should be no dispute regarding this.
I’m not talking about the definition of liquefied hydrocarbons; LPG is generally stored under pressure, not by freezing
Thank you very much for your explanation. It was indeed my mistake for not paying close enough attention. In the petrochemical regulations, aside from clause 5.3.4, clause 5.3.6 states that: “Class A liquids are highly dangerous; regardless of whether dedicated pumps are installed separately or not, a certain fire separation distance must be maintained between them and the storage tanks.” According to this interpretation, it should be necessary to comply with clause 5.3.5 and maintain a distance of 15 meters. Is my understanding correct? This also contradicts the statement in GB 50016 and GB 51142 that no distance limits apply; what are your thoughts on this?
Thank you very much for your explanation. It was indeed my mistake for not paying close enough attention. In the petrochemical regulations, apart from clause 5.3.4, clause 5.3.6 states that: “Class A liquids are highly dangerous; regardless of whether dedicated pumps are installed separately or not, a certain fire separation distance must be maintained between them and the storage tanks.” According to this explanation, it should be necessary to comply with clause 5.3.5 and maintain a distance of 15 meters. Is my understanding correct? This also contradicts the statement in GB 50016 and GB 51142 that no distance limits apply; what are your thoughts on this?
It’s a bit contradictory, but it can be explained forcefully for discussion: Codes such as 50016 allow installation within the tank area, so there is no distance limit, while 50160 explicitly prohibits placement within the tank area and requires installation outside the fire dike, which means the distance becomes 15m – thus it aligns again with 50016 (although 50016 only refers to pump rooms). In this light, 50160 appears to be stricter, and in practice, this is what is more often followed
According to the interpretation of the petrochemical regulations, pumps for liquefied hydrocarbons should be installed at intervals of 15 meters, and design institutes currently follow this requirement in their work； Special pumps for non-liquefiable hydrocarbons can be installed without regard to spacing requirements, but they must be located outside the fire dike. If it is a petrochemical enterprise, this spacing requirement should be set in accordance with petrochemical regulations. Reference for the other two specifications! For existing petrochemical enterprises, plans should be made as soon as possible to relocate the pumps; if relocation is not possible, a series of measures must be put in place to prevent any abnormalities with the pumps from affecting the safety of the storage tanks
\"Code for Fire Protection Design of Petrochemical Enterprises (2018 Edition)\” (GB 50160-2008), Article 5.3.5: The dedicated pump area for tank assemblies should be located outside the fire dike, and the fire separation distance from the storage tanks shall comply with the following requirements: 1. It shall be no less than 15 meters from Class A storage tanks； 5.3.6 When the dedicated pump for flammable liquid storage tanks other than Class A tanks is installed separately, it shall be placed outside the fire dike, with no requirement for a fire separation distance from the flammable liquid storage tanks. For tank farms, liquefied hydrocarbon pumps, whether they are located in a pump area or as dedicated pumps, should be placed outside the fire dike, with liquefied hydrocarbon tanks being spaced at least 15 meters apart from each other. 7.2.15 For equipment using liquefied hydrocarbons and flammable liquids whose operating temperature is equal to or higher than their auto-ignition point, a shut-off valve shall be installed on the inlet pipeline leading to the pump, near the base of the equipment. When the volume of the equipment exceeds 40 m3 and the distance between it and the pump is less than 15 m, this shut-off valve shall be a remotely operated valve with a manual function; the control button for this remotely operated valve shall be located at a distance of no less than 15 m from the pump. For the liquefied hydrocarbon equipment within the plant, such as the feed tanks and reflux tanks in the gas separation unit, additional requirements apply depending on the volume of the equipment and its spacing.