Category Archives: Atmospheric Storage

Fixed Roof / Floating Roof Tanks

The choice between Fixed Roof and Floating Roof tanks, particularly for API 650 standards, is a critical engineering decision. Fixed roofs are economical for non-volatile liquids like water but create evaporation losses (emissions). Floating roofs eliminate the vapor space, preventing up to 98% of losses for volatile products like crude oil. The selection depends on product volatility, cost, and environmental regulations.

API 650 Storage Tanks

API 650 is the global standard for large, atmospheric storage tanks, designed for hydrostatic load, not internal pressure. The choice between a Fixed Roof (for water, fuel oil) and a Floating Roof (for crude oil) depends on product volatility to prevent emissions. The standard integrates other codes like ASTM (materials) and ASME (welding) for field erection and testing.