API Standard 2000

Venting Atmospheric and Low-pressure Storage Tanks

SEVENTH EDITION | MARCH 2014 | 87 PAGES | $225.00 | PRODUCT NO. C20007

This standard has been developed from the accumulated

knowledge and experience of qualified engineers of the
oil, petroleum, petrochemical, chemical, and general bulk
liquid storage industry.
Engineering studies of a particular tank can indicate that
the appropriate venting capacity for the tank is not the
venting capacity estimated in accordance with this
standard. The many variables associated with tankventing requirements make it impractical to set forth
definite, simple rules that are applicable to all locations
and conditions.
This standard covers the normal and emergency vapor
venting requirements for aboveground liquid petroleum or
petroleum products storage tanks and aboveground and
underground refrigerated storage tanks designed for
operation at pressures from full vacuum through 103.4
kPa (ga) (15 psig). Discussed in this standard are the
causes of overpressure and vacuum; determination of
venting requirements; means of venting; selection and
installation of venting devices; and testing and marking of
relief devices.
This standard is intended for tanks containing petroleum
and petroleum products, but it can also be applied to
tanks containing other liquids; however, it is necessary to
use sound engineering analysis and judgment whenever
this standard is applied to other liquids.
This standard does not apply to external floating-roof
tanks.

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(+1) 303-397-7056
(Local and International)
Fax:

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Contents
Page

Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Terms, Definitions, and Abbreviated Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

3
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7

Nonrefrigerated Aboveground Tanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Causes of Overpressure or Vacuum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Determination of Venting Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Means of Venting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Considerations for Tanks with Potentially Flammable Atmospheres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Relief-device Specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Installation of Venting Devices and Open Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

4
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4

Refrigerated Aboveground and Belowground Tanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Causes of Overpressure or Vacuum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Relief-device Specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Installation of Venting Devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

24
24
25
28
28

5
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4

Testing of Venting Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Flow-test Apparatus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Method for Determining Capacities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Production Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

29
29
29
33
34

6
6.1
6.2

Manufacturer's Documentation and Marking of Venting Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Documentation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Marking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Annex A (informative) Alternative Calculation of Normal Venting Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Annex B (informative) Basis of Emergency Venting for Table 7 and Table 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Annex C (informative) Types and Operating Characteristics of Venting Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Annex D (informative) Basis of Sizing Equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Annex E (informative) Basis for Normal Out-breathing and Normal Inbreathing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Annex F (informative) Guidance for inert-gas Blanketing of Tanks for Flashback Protection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Annex G (informative) Explanation of Differences in Thermal Inbreathing Using the General Method
and Annex A Method. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Figures
1
Test Apparatus for Flow Testing of Venting Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2
Typical Ratio Limits for Capacity Testing of Venting Devices Using the Coefficient of
Discharge Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
B.1 Curve for Determining Requirements for Emergency Venting During Fire Exposure (SI Units) . . . . . . .
B.2 Curve for Determining Requirements for Emergency Venting During Fire Exposure (USC Units) . . . . .
C.1 Open Vent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C.2 Side-by-side Pressure/Vacuum Vent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C.3 Large, Weight-loaded Emergency Vent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
v

30
33
49
50
51
54
54

Contents
Page

C.4
C.5
C.6
D.1
F.1
G.1
G.2
G.3

Direct-acting Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pilot-operated Pressure Vent (Single Diaphragm). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pilot-operated Pressure/Vacuum (Double Diaphragm). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Isentropic Expansion Coefficient . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trip Pressure Diagram for Nitrogen Blanketing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Surface to Volume Ratio for Conical Roof Tanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rate of Change of Tank Vapor Space Temperature Used in the Two Sizing Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Maximum Inbreathing for Various Tanks Sizes; Solid Black LinesThermodynamic Model;
Solid CrossesAnnex A Method; Red Line V = 5V 0.7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
G.4 Rate of Change of Tank Vapor Space Temperature vs Rain Density. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tables
1
Y-factor for Various Latitudes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2
C-factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
Heat Input, Q (Expressed in SI Units) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
Heat Input, Q (Expressed in USC Units) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
Venting Capacity (Expressed in SI Units) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6
Venting Capacity (Expressed in USC Units). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7
Emergency Venting Required for Fire Exposure vs Wetted Surface Area (Expressed in SI Units). . . . .
8
Emergency Venting Required for Fire Exposure vs Wetted Surface Area (Expressed in USC Units) . .
9
Environmental Factors for Nonrefrigerated Aboveground Tanks (Expressed in SI and USC Units) . . .
10 Maximum Allowable Leak Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A.1 Normal Venting Requirements (Expressed in SI Units) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A.2 Normal Venting Requirements (Expressed in USC Units) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A.3 Normal Venting Requirements for Thermal Effects (Expressed in SI Units) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A.4 Normal Venting Requirements for Thermal Effects (Expressed in USC Units) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
D.1 Guidance on Converting Calculated Flows to Normal/Standard Conditions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
G.1 Surface to Volume Ratio of Small, Medium, and Large Flat Roof Tanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
G.2 Assumptions Used in the Annex A Method and General Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

vi

55
56
57
70
77
79
80
81
82
10
11
13
14
14
15
16
17
18
34
40
40
41
42
67
79
80