Can Article 5.3.5 of GB50160 be applied in this situation?
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A LPG tank farm consists of a certain number of horizontal storage tanks; the tank closest to the pump has a capacity of 60 cubic meters. Several pumps intended for use with these tanks are located 15 meters away from them. Can these pumps be considered dedicated pumps? Does this meet the requirement specified in clause 5.3.5, which calls for a distance of at least 15 meters from Class A tanks? However, the company’s general layout plan states that this requirement applies within the context of “Chapter 5: Process Units and Systems”, meaning that only the 25-meter spacing requirement specified in clause 4.2.12 is applicable. It’s not clear whether clause 5.3.5 can be used in this situation
Article 4.2.12 of GB50160 states from the outset that, unless otherwise specified in this code, the fire separation distances for the overall layout of petrochemical enterprises shall not be less than those specified in Table 4.2.12. Section 5.3.5 specifies the fire separation distance between the dedicated pump area for the tank assembly and the storage tanks. If it is a dedicated pump area for the tank farm, Article 5.3.5 applies. Of course, if you have enough land, it’s also fine if the distance is a bit larger.
Reply to 2# cthyf: I have reviewed GB50160-92 (2000 edition). In that version, clause 5.3.5 appeared as a note under the table regarding \"fire separation distances for the overall layout of petrochemical enterprises\". However, Chapter 5 is based on the premise of process units and systems; it assumes that the tank groups mentioned there are intermediate tanks or part of the process units. The pumps in my case are designed specifically for serving the storage and transportation tank areas, so Chapter 6 applies in this situation.
The teacher who handled the overall layout is right; there are limits on the amount of liquefied hydrocarbons in the process units and system components, and the 25-meter rule should still be applied.
Tank groups are covered by Chapter 6, but Chapter 6 does not specify the distance requirements for pumps dedicated to tank groups. Chapter 5, Section 5.3 deals with pumps and compressors; can pumps be used as process equipment or units within a tank farm? Personally, I think it is possible; moreover, section 5.3.4 does not state that this refers to the distance between a dedicated pump and an intermediate tank, but rather to the distance from the tank bank. The distance between the pump house and the tank bank in Table 4.2.12 refers to the dedicated pumps not belonging to this tank farm. I’m not sure if my understanding is correct?