SECTION 6—DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

6.1 General

This section provides requirements for design of refrigerated tank systems to meet the performance criteria
prescribed in 6.4 when subjected to applicable normal and abnormal design loads defined in 6.5. Requirements for
performing the seismic analysis are presented in 6.6.

6.2 Spacing Requirements

Spacing of refrigerated gas storage tank systems from adjacent property and adjacent tanks shall be sufficient to
support the requirements of 6.4.2. Refer to Annex D for additional guidance regarding tank spacing.

6.3 Liquid Levels and Volumes

Liquid levels and volumes used in this standard for design of the tank system are defined in Section 3 and as further
noted below. Figure 6.1 provides a graphical representation of the relationship of the terms used.

a) Freeboard—A nominal freeboard of 300 mm (1 ft-0 in.) above the design liquid level which shall be included in the
height of the tank to prevent overfill and provide for free vapor flow below the deck during venting. The height of
the tank may need to be increased further to satisfy seismic freeboard requirements.

b) Seismic Design Liquid Level—See 6.6.8.

c) Seismic Freeboard—See 6.6.9.

d) Overfill Protection Margin—A capacity defined by the Purchaser in terms of tank height, volume, or trip times
between the maximum normal operating level and the design liquid level to accommodate process shutdown prior
to reaching the design liquid level. Refer to API 2350 for further information.

e) Minimum Normal Operating Level—The minimum level for pump restart, or may be the minimum pump down level
including reduced pumping rates, defined by the Purchaser.

f) Heel—The unusable volume of liquid below the minimum normal operating level. A minimum heel of 150 mm
(6 in.) is required to maintain the operating temperature of the tank.

6.4 Performance Criteria

6.4.1 Normal Operation

6.4.1.1 The primary liquid container shall contain the liquid under all normal operating loads and conditions. Refer to
Section 5 for further definition of the meaning of primary liquid containment for various storage concepts.
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6.4.1.2 The primary vapor container shall be vapor tight during normal operation.

6.4.1.3 The primary vapor container shall have adequate pressure capacity above normal operating pressure to
prevent venting during normal operating conditions.

6.4.2 Abnormal and Emergency Conditions

6.4.2.1 The primary liquid container shall be designed to maintain liquid containment under the abnormal and
emergency conditions specified herein. However, if for any unforeseen condition the primary containment is not
maintained then the secondary liquid container or dike shall contain the liquid.
6-1

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 6-2 API STANDARD 625

300 mm (1 ft-0 in.) freeboard (nominal)

Design liquid level

Seismic Overflow
freeboard protection
margin
Maximum normal
operating level
Maximum liquid capacity

Net working capacity

operating capacity
Maximum normal

Minimum normal
operating level
Heel
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Figure 6.1—Liquid Levels and Volumes

6.4.2.2 The secondary liquid container shall be designed and sized to contain the maximum liquid capacity of the
primary liquid container.

6.4.2.3 The secondary liquid container of a double or full containment tank shall be designed and constructed to
withstand the effects of abnormal external events specified herein without causing structural damage to the primary
liquid container.

a) In the case of a primary liquid container spill and secondary liquid container fire, the secondary liquid container
wall shall contain the liquid for the duration of the fire.

b) In the case of a fire confined to the primary liquid container, the secondary liquid container wall shall retain
sufficient structural integrity to prevent collapse, which can cause damage to and leakage from the primary
container.

c) In the case of a fire in the primary or secondary container of an adjacent tank system, the secondary liquid
container shall retain sufficient structural integrity to prevent collapse and subsequent damage to and leakage
from the primary container.

6.4.2.4 Vapor containment requirements for abnormal and emergency conditions vary depending upon the storage
concept specified (see Section 5).

6.4.2.5 Refer to ACI 376 Chapter 6 for detailed criteria related to leak tightness of concrete primary and secondary
containers.

6.4.3 Commissioning and Decommissioning

6.4.3.1 The tank system shall allow the criteria specified in Section 10 to be met.

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 TANK SYSTEMS FOR REFRIGERATED LIQUEFIED GAS STORAGE 6-3

6.4.3.2 The tank system shall be capable of being decommissioned including purging to a gas to air mixture
considered safe for personnel access.

6.4.4 Boil-off Rate

6.4.4.1 The tank insulation system shall limit the boil-off rate to below the rate required by the plant design or the
maximum rate specified by the Purchaser.

6.4.4.2 The boil-off rate, typically specified in percent per day of maximum liquid capacity assuming a pure product,
shall be based on climatic conditions as specified for the project.

6.4.4.3 Climatic conditions to be considered in the determination of the boil-off rate include:

— highest one day mean temperature,

— no wind,

— solar radiation effects.

6.4.5 Rollover

For stored products subject to rollover condition, the tank system shall provide a means to prevent rollover. See 7.5.4
for requirements for active management of the stored product when rollover conditions are determined to be
applicable.

6.4.6 Design Temperature

The minimum design temperatures of components of the tank system shall be as follows.

a) For primary and secondary liquid containers and process lines carrying liquid or gas, no higher than the pure
product boiling temperature at one atmosphere (see Annex A). Design conditions such as introduction of sub-
cooled product may require a lower design temperature.

b) For refrigerated temperature roofs and suspended decks, equal to the design temperature for the primary liquid
container.

c) For warm product vapor containers, equal to the lowest one day mean ambient temperature reduced by
5 °F unless a thermal analysis is made.

d) For purge gas containers, not subject to containment of product vapor, equal to the lowest one day
mean ambient temperature reduced by 5 °F unless a thermal analysis is made.

e) For local areas of the warm product vapor container (e.g. process nozzle thermal distance piece connections to
the vapor container) which are subjected to temperatures below ambient conditions, determined taking this local
cooling effect into consideration.

6.4.7 Differential Movements

6.4.7.1 The design of the tank system shall provide for differential movements between tank components resulting
from differential design temperatures and erection vs operating temperature.

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 6-4 API STANDARD 625

6.4.7.2 Components that are restrained from free differential movement shall be designed to incorporate adequate
flexibility to maintain structural integrity.

6.4.8 Foundation Settlement

Design conditions for the storage tank system foundation, including the supporting soil, shall include predicted
settlements. The following components shall be designed for predicted settlements (both short term and long term):

a) bottom insulation system,

b) metal or concrete primary and secondary liquid containers,

c) post-tensioning system,

d) tank attachments including connecting piping,

e) piles or other structural support systems.

Comment: Annex B provides guidance for evaluating settlements.

6.4.9 Protection from Freezing of Soil

Where freezing of liquid in the soil under the tank foundation is possible and could cause heaving of the
soil, the tank foundation design shall include a means to maintain the soil at a temperature above 0 °C
(32 °F), or provide an elevated foundation to separate the cooling effect of the tank from the supporting soil.

6.4.10 Seismic Performance

6.4.10.1 Tank systems shall be designed for the following three levels of seismic motion.

1) Operating basis earthquake (OBE): The tank system shall be designed to continue to operate during and after
OBE event.

2) Safe shutdown earthquake (SSE): The tank system shall be designed to provide for no loss of containment
capability of the primary container and it shall be possible to isolate and maintain the tank system during and
after SSE event.

3) Aftershock level earthquake (ALE): The tank system, while subjected to ALE, shall provide for no loss of
containment from the secondary container while containing the primary container volume at the maximum
normal operating level.

6.4.10.2 The magnitudes of the seismic ground motions are defined in 6.5.2.

6.4.10.3 The primary liquid container shall contain the seismic sloshing wave as defined in 6.6.9.

6.4.10.4 Sliding resistance requirements are defined in 6.6.10.

6.4.10.5 In addition, the design shall meet the requirements of the applicable local building codes.

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 TANK SYSTEMS FOR REFRIGERATED LIQUEFIED GAS STORAGE 6-5

6.5 Design Loads and Load Combinations

6.5.1 Design Loads

The following types of design loads shall be considered in the design of the containers and foundations. API 620 and
ACI 376, Chapter 5 list the design loads and load combinations to be used for the components within their respective
scopes. The following loads, specific to tank systems covered by this standard, shall be included.

6.5.1.1 Normal Loads

a) Seismic loads (OBE, defined in 6.5.2).

b) Decommissioning loads.

c) Loads induced by predicted differential settlement.

6.5.1.2 Abnormal Loads

In addition to the normal loads indicated above, the following loads from abnormal events shall be considered in the
design.

a) Loads from liquid spill condition (for double and full containment tank systems).

b) Loads based on a assessment of risk such as: fire, pressure wave, external projectile etc. (when specified by
Purchaser).

c) Seismic loads (SSE and ALE, defined in 6.5.2).

6.5.2 Seismic Loads

Probabilistic seismic hazard studies are required to determine the seismic ground motions for design of tank-fluid-
foundation system. The three levels of the seismic ground motions that shall be considered are:

a) Operating basis earthquake (OBE): The OBE is defined as the seismic ground motion having 10 % probability of
exceedance within 50 year period, i.e. 475 year recurrence interval. The OBE is also referred to as operating level
earthquake (OLE) in API 620, Appendix L.

b) Safe shutdown earthquake (SSE): The SSE is defined as the seismic ground motion having 2 % probability of
exceedance within 50 year period, i.e. 2,475 year recurrence interval adjusted by the requirements of ASCE 7
Chapter 21. The SSE is also referred to as contingency level earthquake (CLE) in API 620, Appendix L.

c) Aftershock level earthquake (ALE): The ALE is defined as half of the SSE.

6.5.3 Load Combinations

The design loads shall be combined to produce load combinations to be used in the analysis and design of the
containers. Load combinations are dependent on the material type of the container. See API 620 for load
combinations for metal containers and ACI 376 for concrete containers.
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 6-6 API STANDARD 625

6.6 Seismic Analysis

6.6.1 General

The tank system shall be designed for three levels of seismic ground motions as defined in 6.4.10 and 6.5.2. The
rules in API 620, Appendix L shall be applied to all steel tanks designed to this standard. The rules of ACI 376 shall be
applied to all concrete tanks designed to this standard.

6.6.2 Site-Specific Response Spectra

The site-specific horizontal and vertical acceleration response spectra shall be developed for both OBE and SSE for
different damping values of up to 20 %.

6.6.3 ALE Design

The ALE earthquake shall be considered only for the seismic design of secondary containment with full liquid
condition, assuming that the primary container is damaged after the SSE event.

6.6.4 Tanks Supported on Rock

When the tank foundation is supported on rock-like site (defined as the site class A and B in IBC or ASCE 7), the fixed
base condition is considered. In this case, the structural damping values shall be used for determining the seismic
responses (SSI is not considered).

6.6.5 Soil-structure Interaction

When the tank foundation is supported on soil (defined as the site class C to F in IBC or ASCE 7), soil-structure
interaction seismic analysis (SSI) shall be considered. In this case, dynamic soil and pile stiffness and damping
parameters shall be included in the tank model for SSI analysis. Dynamic soil/pile properties are evaluated by
considering the effects of seismically induced soil strains and forcing frequencies. System damping for SSI shall be
calculated for determining seismic response, and shall be limited to 15 % for OBE and 20 % for SSE.

6.6.6 Response Modification Factors—OBE

In order for the tank system to remain in continuous operation during and after OBE, the elastic method of seismic
analysis shall be performed. The response modification factor, R, applied in the response spectra design method shall
be 1.0.

6.6.7 Response Modification Factors—SSE

Response modification factors for SSE greater than 1.0 not defined by API 620 or ACI 376 shall be demonstrated not
to reduce the seismic performance criteria of 6.4.10. Response reduction factors are not applicable for non-linear
dynamic analysis methods incorporating fluid-structure and soil-structure interaction.
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6.6.8 Seismic Design Liquid Level

The maximum normal operating level shall be applied to all seismic design including freeboard determination.

6.6.9 Seismic Sloshing Wave Height

The seismic sloshing wave height shall be calculated in accordance with API 620, Appendix L. The seismic freeboard
height shall be determined based on the OBE sloshing height plus 300 mm (1 ft) allowance or the SSE sloshing
height, whichever is larger.

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 TANK SYSTEMS FOR REFRIGERATED LIQUEFIED GAS STORAGE 6-7

6.6.10 Resistance to Base Shear—Sliding

The rules in API 620, Appendix L shall be applied to determine sliding resistance. In high seismic regions a more
extensive analysis may be applied, provided it includes evaluation of the response of the shell, the fluid, and
foundation (in the case of a slab) to the fluctuation of liquid pressures in the tank. When applying this approach, the
horizontal and vertical seismic response shall be applied based on the component combination of 100 % and 40 %.
The case for the 100 % vertical plus 40 % horizontal load case shall be evaluated in addition to the 100 % horizontal
plus 40 % vertical load case defined by API 620, Appendix L. Alternately, a time history analysis approach may be
applied incorporating both horizontal and vertical motions simultaneously.

6.6.11 Evaluation of Damage from an Earthquake

The seismic design may assume that when a tank system is subjected to an earthquake exceeding an OBE
magnitude event, the tank system will be evaluated for permanent distortion, continued safe operation, and the need
for repairs.

6.6.12 Interaction between Tank and Adjacent Structures

Consideration for flexibility of components connecting the tank system to adjacent structures shall be included in the
tank system design.

6.7 Foundation Design

6.7.1 General

6.7.1.1 Tank systems shall be installed on foundations designed to transmit all loadings to suitable load bearing soil
strata. Acceptable types of foundation support systems consist of Raft or Mat foundations, pile foundations (i.e. steel
H-piles, cast in-situ concrete piles or precast prestressed concrete piles) and elevated foundations supported on
drilled shafts or vertical walls. ACI 376 Chapter 10 provides foundation design requirements.

6.7.1.2 Foundation support systems are dictated by detailed geotechnical investigation of the location for siting of
the tank systems. The extent and detail of the soil investigation shall be specified by qualified geotechnical engineers.
See ACI 376 10.2 for detailed requirements on the geotechnical investigations to be performed.

6.7.1.3 The materials of construction and the foundation type shall be designed to adequately resist the operating
and emergency temperature conditions. The foundation shall maintain integrity under normal operating conditions.
One method of maintaining the foundation integrity is to utilize foundation base heating for grade supported mat
foundations where subsoil freezing would occur under normal load conditions. Elevated foundations with adequate air
gap between the bottom of the foundation and grade shall be considered in cases where base heating methods are
not feasible.

6.7.2 Anchorage

6.7.2.1 Anchorage of primary or secondary metallic containment tanks shall consider the following:

a) differential movement between the anchorage and the connection to the container;

b) local stresses at the connection to the container;

c) differential strength along the length of the anchor due to thermal effects and weld materials;

d) connection details where the anchor extends through a containment boundary (e.g. the secondary containment
bottom of a full or double containment tank).

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 6-8 API STANDARD 625

6.7.2.2 The anchorage shall exhibit ductile behavior prior to failure. Connections of the anchors to the container and
foundation shall be designed for 1.25 times the anchor capacity at the minimum specified yield stress increased to
account for thermal increases in material properties at design temperature.

6.8 Thermal Corner Protection System (TCP) for Concrete Tanks

6.8.1 If required by ACI 376, the design of the wall-to-slab junction of a concrete container shall include the effects of
differential movement between the wall and base. Design of the junction shall also consider the application of
differential thermal stresses and prestress forces to provide liquid containment in case of a spill.

6.8.2 For tanks having a fixed wall-to-base, a standard solution applies a metallic thermal corner protection
expansion joint and a secondary bottom. The TCP may be designed to withstand the full hydrostatic pressure from a
full spill, or may transfer a part of the pressure to the wall through load bearing insulation.

6.8.3 If a TCP is required, the following shall be included in the design of the TCP:

a) the location of the top of the TCP as related to the prestress force diagram;

b) differential thermal movements between the connection to the wall and secondary bottom including the following
conditions: operating, small spill, full spill, and full spill plus ALE;

c) differential movements due to wall prestress and creep;

d) wall rotation due to foundation settlement;

e) differential shrinkage between the wall and top of TCP connection;

f) erection tolerances between the TCP and the load bearing insulation.

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