Design and Construction of LPG Installations

API STANDARD 2510 EIGHTH EDITION, MAY 2001

Design and Construction of LPG Installations

Downstream Segment

API STANDARD 2510 EIGHTH EDITION, MAY 2001

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Copyright ? 2001 American Petroleum Institute

FOREWORD

This standard provides minimum requirements for the design and construction of installa- tions for the storage and handling of lique?ed petroleum gas (LPG) at marine and pipeline terminals, natural gas processing plants, re?neries, petrochemical plants, and tank farms. This standard takes into consideration the specialized training and experience of operating personnel in the type of installation discussed. In certain instances, exception to standard practices are noted and alternative methods are described.

This standard does not include information on the production or use of lique?ed petro- leum gas.

It is not intended that this standard be retroactive or that it take precedence over contrac- tual agreements. Wherever practicable, existing codes and manuals have been used in the preparation of this standard.

This standard requires the purchaser to specify certain details and features. Although it is recognized that the purchaser may desire to modify, delete, or amplify sections of the stan- dard, it is strongly recommended that such modi?cations, deletions, and ampli?cations be made by supplementing this standard rather than by rewriting or incorporating sections of this standard into another complete standard.

API standards are published as an aid to procurement of standardized equipment and materials. These standards are not intended to inhibit purchasers or producers from purchas- ing or producing products made to speci?cations other than those of API.

API publications may be used by anyone desiring to do so. Every effort has been made by the Institute to assure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained in them; however, the Institute makes no representation, warranty, or guarantee in connection with this publication and hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting from its use or for the violation of any federal, state, or municipal regulation with which this publication may con?ict.

Suggested revisions are invited and should be submitted to the standardization manager, American Petroleum Institute, 1220 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005.

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1. REFRIGERATED STORAGE 17

   1. General 17

   2. Design Requirements 17

   3. Siting Requirements 17

   4. Thermal Considerations 18

   5. Tank Accessories 18

   6. Piping Requirements 19

   7. Refrigeration System 19

APPENDIX A PIPING, VALVES, FITTINGS, AND OPTIONAL

EQUIPMEN 21

Table

1 Minimum Horizontal Distance Between Shell of Pressurized LPG

Tank and Line of Adjoining Property That May Be Developed 4

Design and Construction of LPG Installations

1. Scope

   This standard covers the design, construction, and location of lique?ed petroleum gas (LPG) installations at marine and pipeline terminals, natural gas processing plants, re?neries, petrochemical plants, or tank farms. This standard covers storage vessels, loading and unloading systems, piping, or and related equipment.

   1. The size and type of the installation; the related facili- ties on the site; the commercial, industrial, and residential population density in the surrounding area; the terrain and cli- mate conditions; and the type of LPG handled shall be con- sidered. Generally speaking, the larger the installation and the greater the population density of the surrounding area, the more stringent are the design requirements.

   2. Design and construction considerations peculiar to refrigerated storage, including autorefrigerated storage, are covered in Section 9 of this standard.

   3. In this standard, numerical values are presented with

      U.S. customary units only. These U.S. customary values are to be regarded as the standard values.

   4. This standard shall not apply to the design, construc- tion, or relocation of frozen earth pits, underground storage caverns or wells, underground or mounded storage tanks, and aboveground concrete storage tanks.

   5. This standard does not apply to the following installa- tions:

      1. Those covered by NFPA 58 and NFPA 59.

      2. U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) containers.

      3. Gas utility company facilities; re?nery process equipment; re?nery and gas plant processing equipment; and transfer sys- tems from process equipment upstream LPG storage.

      4. Those tanks with less than 2000 gallons of storage capacity.

      
      

   6. RETROACTIVITY

      The provisions of this standard are intended for application to new installations. This standard can be used to review and evaluate existing storage facilities. However, the feasibility of applying this standard to facilities, equipment, structures, or installations that were already in place or that were in the pro- cess of construction or installation before the date of this pub- lication, must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis considering individual circumstances and sites.

      
      

   7. CHARACTERISTICS OF LPG

      LPG is customarily handled in a liquid state achieved by its liquefaction under moderate pressure. Upon release of the

      1

      
      

      pressure, LPG is readily converted into the gaseous phase at normal ambient temperature.

      
      

   8. SAFETY

      The safety of LPG storage installations is enhanced by the employment of good engineering practices, such as those rec- ommended by this standard, during design and construction.

      
      

2. Referenced Publications

The most recent edition or revision of each of the following manuals, codes, recommended practices, publications, stan- dards, and speci?cations shall form a part of this standard to the extent speci?ed:

API

RP 500 Classi?cation of Locations for Electrical Installations at Petroleum Facilities

RP 505 Recommended Practice for Classi?cation of Locations for Electrical Installations at Petroleum Facilities Classi?ed as Class I, Zone 0, Zone 1 and Zone 2

RP 520 Sizing, Selection, and Installation of Pres- sure-Relieving Devices in Re?neries

RP 521 Guide for Pressure-Relieving and Depres- suring Systems

RP 550 Manual on Installation of Re?nery Instru- ments and Control Systems (out of print)

RP 551 Process Measurement Instrumentation

Std 607 Fire Test for Soft-Seated Quarter-Turn Valves

Std 620 Design and Construction of Large, Welded, Low-Pressure Storage Tanks

RP 752 Management of Hazards Associated with Location of Process Plant Buildings, CMA Manager?s Guide

RP 1102 Steel Pipelines Crossing Railroads and Highways

Std 2000 Venting Atmospheric and Low-Pressure Storage Tanks: Nonrefrigerated and Refrigerated

RP 2003 Protection Against Ignitions Arising Out of Static, Lightning, and Stray Currents

Publ 2218 Fireproo?ng Practices in Petroleum and Petrochemical Processing Plants

Publ 2510A Fire Protection Considerations for the Design and Operation of Lique?ed Petro- leum Gas (LPG) Storage Facilities

Spec 6FA Speci?cation for Fire Test for Valves Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards, Chapter 5,

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