Spacing between 98% sulfuric acid storage tanks
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Based on the properties of 98% sulfuric acid, how should the distance between the two storage tanks be determined? It seems that, according to building codes, it is considered a Class B medium. The spacing requirement for petrochemical facilities applies only to flammable media of Class A and B. 98% sulfuric acid is highly oxidizing but non-flammable. So how is the spacing between storage tanks determined?
It can be seen that for the sulfuric acid tanks of most manufacturers, the spacing between them is quite small, usually around 2-3 meters
Spacing is not the most important thing; it’s the safety barrier. The setup of the emergency pool is what’s most important
The building codes provide an example in which the fire hazard associated with the concentration area of fuming sulfuric acid is classified as Category B; the fire hazard of 98% sulfuric acid does not fall within this category. There are no specific distance requirements regarding the placement of tanks containing 98% sulfuric acid – only convenience in operation needs to be taken into consideration.
In my company, the spacing between rows seems to be around 2.3 meters
It mainly depends on the conditions on site; if there’s enough space, it can be larger, and if there’s not enough space and so many items need to be placed, then it has to be smaller. There’s no standard either for inspections.
In our company, the spacing is around one meter, mainly to facilitate pipeline installation; it is important to have leak prevention dikes and protective walls.
Nowadays, security requirements are stricter; the distance between the outer walls of the equipment must be at least 4 meters, to serve as a fire escape route. In some areas, it is required that, in accordance with Class B building standards, this distance should be no less than 0.6D of the diameter of the larger of the two adjacent tanks