oil on the floating roof tank 1

[aneskd]

Dear gen;
could you assist to determine the causes of the oil discovered on the floating roof (see attached photo), first investigation showing that it is coming from the automatic bleeder vents.

thanks

 

[gr2vessels]

The link doesn't seem to work.

 

[racookpe1978]

Still a dead link.

 

[sshep]

Hey aneskd,

What is the style of floating roof?
What is the SG of the product vs design?

Troubleshooting is more like science than engineering: data -> hypothesis -> testing -> new data -> new hypothesis -> repeat until solved (Eureka!).

There can only a limited number reasons. Example: The roof doesn't float high enough because one of the pontoons is leaking or the SG of the fluid is lower than design (such as designed for water, but product is oil). The roof floats lower than expected and oil can can leak up through the vacuum breaking vents.

If these hypothesis don't explain, then move on to other ideas. Other ideas are excessive surface turbulence in the tank, higher than expected pressure fluxuations in the vapor space, vapor coming in below roof (burping liquid through vent), condensation, etc.

good luck,
sshep