Storing and Handling Ethanol and Gasoline-ethanol Blends at Distribution Terminals and Filling Stations

API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 1626 SECOND EDITION, AUGUST 2010

ERRATA, FEBRUARY 2011

ADDENDUM, AUGUST 2012

REAFFIRMED, MAY 2020

Storing and Handling Ethanol and Gasoline-ethanol Blends at Distribution Terminals and Filling Stations

Downstream Segment

API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 1626 SECOND EDITION, AUGUST 2010

ERRATA, FEBRUARY 2011

ADDENDUM, AUGUST 2012

REAFFIRMED, MAY 2020

Special Notes

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API publications are published to facilitate the broad availability of proven, sound engineering and operating practices. These publications are not intended to obviate the need for applying sound engineering judgment regarding when and where these publications should be utilized. The formulation and publication of API publications is not intended in any way to inhibit anyone from using any other practices.

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API is not undertaking to meet the duties of employers, manufacturers, or suppliers to warn and properly train and equip their employees, and others exposed, concerning health and safety risks and precautions, nor undertaking their obligations to comply with authorities having jurisdiction.

Information concerning safety and health risks and proper precautions with respect to particular materials and condi- tions should be obtained from the employer, the manufacturer or supplier of that material, or the material safety data sheet.

Where applicable, authorities having jurisdiction should be consulted.

Work sites and equipment operations may differ. Users are solely responsible for assessing their specific equipment and premises in determining the appropriateness of applying the RP. At all times users should employ sound busi- ness, scientific, engineering, and judgment safety when using this RP.

API is not undertaking to meet the duties of employers, manufacturers, or suppliers to warn and properly train and equip their employees, and others exposed, concerning health and safety risks and precautions, nor undertaking their obligations to comply with authorities having jurisdiction

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Copyright © 2010 American Petroleum Institute

Foreword

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Should: As used in a standard, “should” denotes a recommendation or that which is advised but not required in order to conform to the specification.

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Suggested revisions are invited and should be submitted to the Standards Department, API, 1220 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005, standards@api.org.

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Contents

Page

1. Scope 1

2. References 1

   1. General 1

   2. Normative References 1

   3. Informative References 3

3. Definitions and Acronyms 5

   1. Definitions 5

   2. Acronyms 9

4. Ethanol and Ethanol Blend Characteristics 10

   1. General 10

   2. Vapor Pressure 10

   3. Vapor Density 11

   4. Liquid Density 11

   5. Flash Point 11

   6. Flammability 11

   7. Flame Visibility 11

   8. Electrical Conductivity 12

   9. Water and Gasoline Solubility 12

5. Distribution Terminals 12

   1. General 12

   2. Product Receipts 12

   3. Blending 15

   4. Terminal Material Compatibility 20

   5. Terminal Fuel Quality 21

   6. Terminal Spill/runoff Management at Terminals 22

   7. Terminal Source Segregation 23

   8. Terminal Aboveground Storage Tanks 23

   9. Terminal Tank Vents and Air Dryers 25

   10. Terminal Flame and Detonation Arrestors 25

   11. Terminal Pipe, Valves, Pumps, and Piping Systems 26

   12. Terminal Metering 26

   13. Terminal Vapor Control Systems 27

   14. Terminal Permits 28

6. Tank Truck and Railroad Tank Car Transportation 28

   1. Compatibility 28

   2. Truck Loading 28

   3. Railroad Tank Car Loading30

7. Filling Stations 30

   1. General 30

   2. Material Compatibility 32

   3. New Facilities 33

   4. New Filling Stations with Aboveground Tanks 39

   5. Converting Existing Filling Stations to E10 39

   6. Converting Existing USTs to High-Blend Ethanol Fuels or E85 42

   7. Converting Existing Aboveground Storage Tanks to High-Blend Ethanols or E85 44

   8. Water in Storage Tanks 44

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      Contents

      Page

   9. Accelerated Corrosion and Conductivity 46

   10. Tank Truck Unloading 46

   11. Quality Assurance 48

   12. Record Keeping 48

8. Releases 48

   1. General 48

   2. Spill Causes 48

   3. Spill Response 49

   4. Reporting Requirements. 50

   5. Training 50

   6. Emergency Response and External Communication 50

   7. Consumer Concerns 50

9. Fire Protection 51

   1. General 51

   2. Fire-fighting Agents for High-blend Ethanol 51

   3. Fire-fighting at Facilities Handling Multiple Fuel Types 52

Annex A (informative) Generally Accepted Values for Gasoline and Gasoline-Ethanol Blend Properties 55

Annex B (informative) Components that Require Listing as an Approved Device 56

Annex C (informative) Orderly Approach to Assure that Proper Equipment and Procedures are

used in Preparation of Underground Storage Tanks, Piping, and Dispensing Equipment 57

Figures

1. Splash Blending Schematic 16

2. Sequential Blending—Dedicated Meters and Control Valves 18

3. Sequential Blending—Single Meter and Control Valves 18

4. Ratio Blending Schematic 19

5. Equipment Pyramid 31

6. UST System Showing Location of Flame Arrestors for High-blend Ethanol Storage 43

Tables

1. Internal Tank Coating Comparisons 25

2. DOT Hazard Class Identification 30

3. Stage II Vapor Recovery Requirements 37

A.1 Ethanol and Gasoline-Ethanol Blend Properties 55

B.1 Components that Require Listing as an Approved Device from a Nationally

Recognized Testing Laboratory 56

Introduction

Ethanol is widely blended with gasoline in concentrations up to 10 % (E10). E85, a high-ethanol/gasoline blend is available in many parts of the US and will be required under current Federal rules in the near future. Also, there is interest in increasing the ethanol percentage in gasoline to 15 %.

This recommended practice (RP) provides guidance for designers and operators of terminals and filling stations in ethanol fuel blend service. This document will help interested parties understand the properties of ethanol fuel blends and how they differ from gasoline. It will assist in the design and selection of equipment that will promote safe storage, handing and dispensing of quality ethanol blends.

vi

Storing and Handling Ethanol and Gasoline-ethanol Blends at Distribution Terminals and Filling Stations

1. Scope

   This publication describes recommended practices for the storing, handling, and fire protection of ethanol and gasoline-ethanol blends from E1 to E15 and from E65 to E100 (used for E85) at distribution terminals and filling stations. Where information exists for gasoline-ethanol blends from E11 to E15, it is shared. Recommended practices for E16 through E69 are not covered because currently these blends are not legal gasolines blends or alternative fuels. There is a general lack of information on the properties of these blends and there are currently no filling station components certified by any nationally recognized testing laboratory for these blends.

   
   

   This document is current at the time of publication, but changes to regulations and listings may affect the accuracy certain recommended practices. See the form in Annex D to provide suggestions for updating or revision.

   
   

   While this publication does not address second or future generation biomass-based alcohols which use feedstocks and manufacturing processes that are different than those employed for current U.S. ethanol supplies, it is unlikely that sugar or cellulosic ethanols will alter the overall recommendations in this RP.

   
   

   Future generation bioethanol fuels may have different properties and the practices described in this publication may not be applicable. When dealing with those fuels, good engineering practices should be employed until this document is updated.

   
   

   This publication does not address ethanol diesel blends.

   
   

   This publication does not address health effects or the remediation of ethanol or gasoline-ethanol blend spills or releases.

   
   

2. References

   1. General

      
      

      The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

      
      

   2. Normative References

API Publication 327, Aboveground Storage Tank Standards: A Tutorial

API Recommended Practice 562, Lining of Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tank Bottoms

API Standard 570, Piping Inspection Code: Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Rerating of In-service Piping Systems

API Recommended Practice 574, Inspection Practices for Piping System Components

API Recommended Practice 579/ASME FFS-1, Fitness-for-Service

API Recommended Practice 580, Risk-Based Inspection

API Recommended Practice 582, Recommended Practice and Supplementary Welding Guidelines for the Chemical, Oil, and Gas Industries

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