×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

How should freeboard be determined ?

How should freeboard be determined ?

How should freeboard be determined ?

(OP)
I am having trouble finding any guidelines on establishing what is reasonable "freeboard" for a small process chemical tank. ( An FRP tank less than 10,000 gallons)

(Freeboard is defined as the distance from the bottom of the overflow connection to the top of shell)

This is NOT a SEIMIC TANK DESIGN (I am aware of the API-650 requirements for freeboard in a seismic design i.e. to prevent excessive roof loadings during a "sloshing event")

What are reasoonable numbers ? 6 inches....12 inches ? ZERO ?

Is there any reference of guideline available ?

Does the amount of freeboard in the design depend on the tank loading method ?

Is it just a guess ?????????????

   

RE: How should freeboard be determined ?

The general API usage is 0.7 times the calculated wave height.  I would use this value as a starting point then adjust for ease of fabrication.

RE: How should freeboard be determined ?

To a large degree it depends on your fill rate, your containment capacity around the tank, the severity of issues should there be a overfill condition, your ability to monitor your fill rate, your high-level sensors and alarms and how long it takes to turn off the fill pumps in the event that your high level sensors activate.  API 2350 covers most of this in detail and would be a good guide.  

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources