Module 4:

Storage and Dispensing

Locations

Objective
Upon completion of this module, participants will
be able to discuss common locations for storage
& dispensing of ethanol-blended fuels. It will
provide a basic understanding of these
storage/dispensing sites.

Introduction
Recognition of storage
locations in the community:

Production facilities
Bulk tank farms
Rail transload
Farm cooperatives
Construction sites
Retail fueling stations

Storage of EBFs
Production Facility
Ethanol storage at
production facility:

Ethanol tanks (1 & 2)

Denaturant tank (3)

2
3

Tanks are identified by

markings

Storage of EBFs
Production Facility

Copyright 2009, IAFC

Storage of EBFs
Bulk Storage Terminals
Typically stored in conventional carbon steel
storage tanks
May be smaller than other tanks at terminal

3 general types of storage tanks:

Cone roof (closed-top) tanks
External floating roof (EFR) tanks have open top
with a floating pan
Internal floating roof (IFR) tanks with closed top &
internal floating pan
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Storage of EBFs
Bulk Storage Terminals
Internal floating roof
(IFR) tanks:

Closed roof
Internal floating pan
Eyebrow venting
Proper markings
Fire protection

Storage of EBFs
Bulk Storage Terminals
Built-in fire protection systems:
Fixed systems:

Combination of devices permanently installed

Provide fire protection
Can be activated manually and/or by detection device
Fire protection systems should meet current industry
standards & codes

Storage of EBFs
Bulk Storage Terminals
Built-in fire
protection systems
Fixed foam
system

Copyright 2009, IAFC

Fire Protection Systems

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Storage of EBFs
Bulk Storage Terminals
Pre-planning for potential incidents at tank farm
facilities is extremely important
Fire departments that help provide protection to
tank farm facilities should have:
Access to high-flow fire fighting foam equipment
Large supplies of compatible AR-AFFF foam
available on hand

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Storage of EBFs
Bulk Storage Terminals
Consortiums between multiple tank farm
operations & fire department
Built-in fire suppression systems currently best
protection for large storage tanks
Fire department personnel should be familiar
with systems & pre-calculate required flow rates
Pre-plan operations supplying systems
Practice exercise at least annually
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Storage of EBFs
Bulk Storage Terminals
Challenges:

Provide limited access for fire fighting equipment

Ensure adequate water supplies in area
Contend with containment dikes & their systems
Include miles of exposed product piping
Include loading rack facilities

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Storage of EBFs
Bulk Storage Terminals
Spill containment dikes usually designed to
contain largest tank in facility

Copyright 2009, IAFC

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Storage of EBFs
Bulk Storage Terminals
Pre-fire planning extremely important
Pre-established working relations between fire
department & facility operators

Property of Wikimedia Commons,

reprinted with permission

Property of Wikimedia Commons

reprinted with permission

15

Storage of EBFs
Bulk Storage Terminals
Small bulk plant & distribution facilities
Smaller bulk distribution storage facilities may
pose greatest challenge to local fire departments
Possibilities include:
No fire protection
Unstaffed
Limited site resources

Flammable liquid fuels stored at facilities in

modest quantities
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Storage of EBFs
Bulk Storage Facilities
Vertical storage tanks
Also known as dome
roof tanks
Bolted vs. welded
construction
Differences in fire
behavior if not
constructed to
API 650 specifications
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Storage of EBFs
Bulk Storage Facilities
Small storage tanks
Horizontal
Vertical

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Storage of EBFs
Bulk Storage Facilities

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Transloading Sites

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Storage of EBFs
Retail Dispensing Stations
Majority have underground
storage tanks
Relatively small in storage
volume, large in number
throughout the U.S.
May/may not have vapor recovery
systems associated with sites
Larger volume retail fueling
stations may have above-ground
storage tanks
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Storage of EBFs
Retail Dispensing Stations
EBF normally stored in:
Underground tanks
Small volume above-ground steel
tanks

Vertical/horizontal design
Filled by highway cargo tankers
E10 distributed to ~160,000
fueling sites
E85 distributed to thousands of
fueling sites
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Storage of EBFs
Retail Dispensing Stations
Stored in horizontal
underground tanks
Location of:
Emergency shut-off
valves
Loading & unloading
points vary
Risers for multiple tanks
color-coded/marked to
identify product
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Property of Hildebrand and Noll, reprinted with permission

Summary
Most commonly found ethanol-blended fuel at
terminal facilities is denatured fuel ethanol
Facilities that are equipped with fixed fire
suppression systems should be pre-planned
Pre-planning for potential events at tank farm
facilities extremely important
Small, bulk, & farm sites have varying amounts
of EBFs stored
Retail fueling stations may have small storage,
however sheer number may require additional
planning
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Activity 4.1:
Ethanol in Your Jurisdiction
Purpose:
To allow participants to determine the potential for
ethanol emergency in their jurisdictions.

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