Professional paper

ESTIMATING INTERNAL CORROSION RATE AND INTERNAL INSPECTION INTERVAL OF ABOVEGROUND HYDROCARBON STORAGE TANKS

Sanja Martinez ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Department of Electrochemistry, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Corrosion of aboveground storage tanks (AST) in hydrocarbon service shortens the tank’s life cycle and can lead to leaks and release of hazardous materials into the environment. Internal inspection is one of the main means to keep the tank’s integrity. Determination of internal inspection interval is imminent for balancing the safe operation requirement and inspection costs. In most instances, the area most vulnerable to corrosion in upright atmospheric AST is the tank bottom. In this paper we present the procedure for calculation of reasonable internal inspection interval based on deterministic method. Calculation and/or anticipation of the key parameter, the bottom plate corrosion rate is discussed. Corrosion rates between 0.1 and 0.9 mm year-1 of the thank bottoms that are typically 6.4 mm to 9.5 mm thick show that corrosion is an important concern in the case of long-term storage industrial tanks. It is demonstrated that precise determination of the bottom plate corrosion rate is crucial for the obtaining reliable internal inspection interval.

Keywords

corrosion; aboveground storage tank; crude oil storage

Hrčak ID:

106830

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/106830

Publication date:

28.6.2013.

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