The function of the oil expansion tube in oil tanks
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What is the purpose of the expansion tube and air intake branch on an oil tank in terms of design?
Could you tell me what it looks like? Generally speaking, an expansion pipe is used for pressure relief in order to prevent the increase in pressure within the pipeline due to weather conditions or other factors from causing damage to gaskets or flange welds and leading to leaks. It is also used during operations such as transferring oil between tanks, pumping oil, and blending it. As for branch pipes, they are used when transferring oil in, and they can also serve as a means of pressure relief, though this is not common practice. This is my understanding.
I found an explanation of an oil storage facility online at the address http://cjxy.lnpu.edu.cn/%E7%BB%8F%E5%93%81%E8%AF%BE/%E6%B2%B9%E5%BA%93%E8%AE%AE%E8%AE%A1%E4%B8%8E%E7%AE%A1%E7%90%86/%E8%B5%84%E6%96%99/%E6%95%99%E5%AD%A6%E8%AF%BE%E4%BB%B6/%E7%AC%AC%E4%BA%94%E7%AB%A0%20%E5%82%A8%E6%B2%B9%E5%92%88%E5%82%A8%E6%B2%B9%E8%AE%AE%E6%96%BD.pdf; you can go and take a look. It might be helpful to you.
The expansion pipe is used to release pressure into the storage tank when the material inside the pipeline connected to the tank expands due to heat, thereby preventing damage to the pipeline caused by excessive pressure.