Design of tank bunds / dyke

[gerrytt]

Looking for guidance in the form of sketches, articles, personal experience for the layout of bunds for 600,000 bbl tank, including drainage, bund cross section, and associated details. Because of real estate restrictions height will be 13 feet. Thanks in advance

gmahadeo@hotmail.com

 

[Hookem]

Consult NFPA. Containment may take several forms, earthen dykes, concrete walls, etc. The key thing is to provide enough volume outside the tank to contain a leak of that tank plus some. That "some" may be 10%; it may be "freeboard", or wave action; some amount of rainfall; some amount of firewater/foam spray; or, some combination of above.

Normally, berm heights are limited to 10' above surrounding grade. If 2:1 or 3:1 side slopes on earthen berms take up too much room, consider putting the tank bases on a level at least a few feet below grade or consider vertical concrete walls. Then you have to have ramps up to and over for vehicular traffic, and stairs/steps (in several areas) for personnel egress.

I have lots of more info. But, selection and design just requires rational objective thought. For a fee I can advise further.