1. Storage and Dispensing Locations
Module 4:
Storage and Dispensing Locations
Module Time: 40 minutes/55 minutes
Materials:
Activity 4.1
Worksheet 4.1
Emergency Response Considerations video – (Show the video segment from 9:48 to 12:29)

2. 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.
Enabling Objectives
1. Describe the three common types of storage tanks at tank farm facilities.
2. List potential benefits and challenges associated with fixed fire suppression systems at fuel storage facilities.
3. Prepare a list of agencies that may be called upon for support during an event at a fuel storage or dispensing location.

3. Introduction Recognition of storage locations in the community:
Production facilities
Bulk tank farms
Rail transload
Farm cooperatives
Construction sites
Retail fueling stations
Show the video Emergency Response Considerations (9:48 to 12:29). This video was produced by the Ethanol Emergency Response Coalition (EERC).
Source: EERC. (2013). Emergency Response Considerations [Video].
Group Discussion:
Ask participants if they know how many ethanol plants there are in the United States.
Answer: As of April 2013, there were 211 operational facilities. Source: Renewable Fuels Association. (2013). Retrieved April For the most current information go to
Just as a clarification around product specifications the ASTM range is 1.96% - 5% and usually will see 2% since the government no longer subsidizes for greater.
Often when the response community thinks of storing and dispensing ethanol-blended fuels we fail to think of the retail fueling station on the corner. As a result, we can believe that if there is no bulk storage operation or production operation in our jurisdiction, we have little to worry about. This could not be further from the truth. Ethanol and ethanol-blended fuels are found at production facilities, bulk tank farms, rail transload facilities, farm cooperatives, construction sites and retail fueling stations within your community and throughout the country.

4. Storage of EBFs Production Facility
Ethanol storage at production facility:
Ethanol tanks (1 & 2)
Denaturant tank (3)
Tanks are identified by markings 1 2 3
The most common mixture of ethanol-blended fuels stored at terminal facilities is denatured fuel-grade or denatured fuel ethanol (E95, E98). Common consumer formulations, such as E85 and E10, are generally blended on site during the loading process for transport to distribution facilities or retail outlets. The blending process at a terminal commonly consists of bottom-loading unleaded gasoline and denatured fuel ethanol in the correct proportions into the tank truck. The two-blend components may go through an in-line mixing system to ensure thorough blending from the outset. The components may also be batch loaded, whereby mixing occurs en route to its destination.

5. Storage of EBFs Production Facility
Any large volume of fuel-grade or denatured fuel ethanol will typically be stored in conventional carbon steel storage tanks, such as those that are suitable for gasoline and other flammable fuels. A denatured fuel ethanol tank may be smaller than other fuel storage tanks at a terminal. Yet as consumption increases, larger ethanol tanks will become increasingly prevalent. These storage tanks can all be identified by markings corresponding with the fuel inside.
Copyright 2009, IAFC

6. 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
There are three general types of storage tanks at tank farm facilities: cone roof (closed-top) tanks (see Figure 4.1 in the Participant Guide), external floating roof (EFR) tanks which have an open top with a floating pan, and internal floating roof (IFR) tanks with a closed top and an internal floating pan. The majority of existing EFR tanks have been converted to IFR in recent years. Denatured fuel ethanol (E95, E98) will typically be stored in one of these IFR tanks. Denatured fuel ethanol (E95, E98) is commonly delivered to a terminal by tank truck or rail car; it is also being transported by barge. At this writing, there is one common pipeline delivery method for denatured fuel ethanol, but efforts are underway to develop a commercially viable ethanol pipeline.

7. Storage of EBFs Bulk Storage Terminals
Internal floating roof (IFR) tanks:
Closed roof
Internal floating pan
Eyebrow venting
Proper markings
Fire protection
The most common bulk storage tanks are IFR tanks. The characteristics to look for are closed roof, internal floating pan, eyebrow venting, proper markings, and fire protection.

8. 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
Some larger facilities have built-in fire protection systems. Fixed systems are a combination of devices including foam concentrate storage, proportioning, and delivery devices that are permanently installed to provide fire protection to above-ground fuel storage tanks, manifolds, and loading/unloading racks. The systems can be activated manually or by a detection device. However, if tanks have been converted to store ethanol-blended fuels, the systems may no longer be appropriate. Topside application foam systems may require much higher application rates for ethanol-blended fuels than for previously stored fuels. Subsurface injection systems may not work at all with ethanol-blended fuels. Fire department personnel should be working closely with terminal operators to keep abreast of changes in fuel storage at tank farm facilities. It is important to ensure the fire protection systems are meeting current industry standards and codes.

9. Storage of EBFs Bulk Storage Terminals
Built-in fire protection systems
Fixed foam system
Illustration showing built-in fire protection system on a bulk storage tank containing ethanol.
Copyright 2009, IAFC

10. Fire Protection Systems
The foam deflector device is attached to most Type II fixed foam chamber discharge outlets. The deflector directs foam down and over a large area of the inside of the tank wall and onto the top of the burning liquid inside of the tank involved.  Before fire/foam attack can begin on a tank, responders need to calculate available space within the tank.  Working with facility operators to calculate the available space in gallons will allow responders to know if the product needs to be removed from the tank before operations can begin or allowed to burn off to reduce product in tank. Fire operations have to account for finished foam going into the tank so as to not overflow contents. Expansion needs to be taken into consideration. This would be the ratio of volume of foam formed to the volume of solution used to generate the foam. For example, an eight expansion means 800 gallons of foam from 100 gallons of solution.  Keep in mind foam drain time will continue throughout operation.

11. 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
More importantly, many built-in fire suppression systems are rendered inoperable at the onset or during a fire or explosion emergency involving bulk storage tanks. Emergency responders should be prepared for the likelihood of this situation. Pre-planning for potential events at tank farm facilities is extremely important. Fire department personnel should develop good working relationships with the tank farm facility operators and should be very familiar with their operations. Fire departments that help provide protection to tank farm facilities should have access to high-flow firefighting foam equipment and should have large supplies of compatible Alcohol-Resistant Aqueous Film-Foaming Foam (AR-AFFF) foam available on hand. In some areas this has been done by establishing caches of AR-AFFF foam and equipment through consortiums organized between multiple tank farm operations and the fire department.
Fire department personnel should also be aware they may not be able to contend with a major tank farm fire operation and may need to contact outside resources for ultimate control of an emergency. Fire departments are encouraged to establish healthy working relations with these groups and with the storage facilities in their response area prior to an emergency arising.

12. 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
Group Discussion:
Ask participants who “these groups” are.
Answers will vary but could include mutual aid with industrial facilities or nearby jurisdictions.
As mentioned previously, built-in fire suppression systems may become inoperable or overtaxed during a large-scale emergency; however, they are currently the best protection for bulk storage tanks. Fire department personnel and government officials should strive to promote the use of these systems on existing bulk storage tanks and make sure facilities comply with current requirements on new installations. Fire department personnel should be extremely familiar with these systems and pre-calculate their required flow rates. They should also pre-plan operations supplying these systems. Practice exercises should be scheduled at least annually to make sure responders are familiar with the pre-established plans.

13. 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
Keep in mind that there are many different challenges involved in firefighting operations at tank farms: Bulk storage tanks generally provide limited access for firefighting equipment, there may be inadequate water supplies in the area, personnel may have to contend with containment dikes and their systems, there may be miles of exposed product piping involved, and there may be unprotected loading rack facilities (just to name a few). Tank farm operations can be very complicated, and responding to a fire emergency can be very dangerous to personnel. It is also not unusual for tank farm facilities that were originally built in remote areas to now be surrounded by commercial and residential growth.

14. Storage of EBFs Bulk Storage Terminals
Spill containment dikes usually designed to contain largest tank in facility
Spill containment dikes are usually designed to contain as much volume as that of the largest tank in the facility. Incidents involving multiple tanks in the facility may overtax the designed containment area. It is important for local fire departments to be familiar with the facilities in their locations.
Copyright 2009, IAFC

15. Storage of EBFs Bulk Storage Terminals
Pre-fire planning extremely important
Pre-established working relations between fire department & facility operators
Again, pre-fire planning is extremely important, and pre-established working relations between the fire department and the facility operators cannot be over-emphasized.
Property of Wikimedia® Commons
reprinted with permission
Property of Wikimedia® Commons, reprinted with permission

16. 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
Smaller bulk distribution storage facilities may pose the greatest challenge to local fire departments. These facilities are located throughout communities to better distribute fuel to end-users. Storage tanks in these facilities can be of a multitude of styles and layouts, depending on age and location. Storage tanks may be vertical, horizontal, or a combination of both. Normally the flammable liquid fuels, including gasoline and the ethanol-blended fuels, are stored at these facilities in any modest quantities, on the order of several tank trucks or rail cars. Bulk distributors are normally established to store and distribute heating fuel to local areas. Any gasoline or ethanol-blended fuels on site are for the distributors’ use in their vehicles or for some limited customers such as local farm operations. These fuels are normally stored in underground tanks or small volume above-ground steel tanks. If ethanol-blended fuel is stored at these locations, it will most likely be an E10 mixture. Most of these facilities do not have built-in fire protection systems. These facilities are normally designed with limited fuel spillage containment structures or areas and are typically unstaffed.

17. 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
Group Discussion:
Ask participants if they are aware of any of these types of facilities in their jurisdictions.
Answers will vary.
Follow up by asking participants if they have planned their response to potential events at these facilities.
These tanks may be vertical or horizontal in design. Vertical storage tanks are also known as “dome roof” tanks. The tanks are usually constructed either by welding or using bolts. If these tanks are not constructed to meet API 650 specifications, there can be differences in fire behavior.

18. Storage of EBFs Bulk Storage Facilities
Small storage tanks
Horizontal
Vertical
Small storage tanks may be constructed horizontally or vertically as well.

19. Storage of EBFs Bulk Storage Facilities
Images of a various sized smaller bulk storage tanks. 19

20. Transloading Sites

21. 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
The majority of retail fueling stations have underground storage tanks. These facilities are relatively small in terms of storage volume but very large in terms of their number throughout the country. Depending on location, they may or may not have vapor recovery systems associated with the sites. Some of the larger volume retail fueling stations may have above-ground storage tanks similar to those at the bulk distributor.

22. 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
In most areas these retail fueling stations are filled by tankers coming directly from tank farm facilities. Many of these facilities have multiple loads of fuel that are being delivered daily. Currently, there are thousands of fueling sites handling E85 throughout the country. The majority of these fueling sites are located in the Midwest with more sites being developed. E85 is normally stored in underground tanks and dispensed through standard fuel-dispensing equipment. There are approximately 160,000 sites handling E10.

23. 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
At retail sites the ethanol-blended fuels are stored in horizontal underground tanks. The maximum pressure under which any underground tank is capable of holding its contents is 0.5 pounds per square inch gauge (psig). Tank capacities range from a few thousand gallons up to 20,000 gallons. These tanks are typically constructed of steel and are double walled. Emergency shut-off valves will vary for each container due to design and construction differences. Loading and unloading points will vary due to design and construction. Risers for multiple tanks will be color-coded or marked to identify the product.
Property of Hildebrand and Noll, reprinted with permission

24. 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
The most commonly found ethanol-blended fuel at terminal facilities is denatured fuel ethanol (E95, E98). It is typically stored in carbon steel storage tanks that are suitable for the storage of gasoline. Although these bulk storage facilities will likely be equipped with fixed fire suppression systems, it is important to remember these systems will often be rendered inoperable at the onset of an incident. Pre-planning for potential events at tank farm facilities is extremely important. A significant piece of this pre-planning must include consideration for mutual aid partners. As the ethanol is moved along its distribution route, the next stop will often be a regional bulk plant. These are smaller facilities that will often have underground storage in place without any fixed fire suppression system. They may rely more heavily on containment than suppression as a way to react to spills and leaks. Finally, the ethanol-blended fuel arrives at local retail fueling stations. These stations will use underground storage and above-ground dispensing units. Although the amount of fuel stored at each station is small, especially when compared to bulk storage operations, the sheer number of retail fueling stations requires that each be pre-planned.

25. Activity 4.1: Ethanol in Your Jurisdiction
Purpose:
To allow participants to determine the potential for ethanol emergency in their jurisdictions.
Time: minutes
Materials: Worksheet 4.1
Instructor Directions:
Participants should work individually or in groups of two (if both are from the same jurisdiction).
Have participants read the items in Worksheet 4.1 and write down their answers.
After about 5 minutes call time and conduct a discussion covering each item.
As participants discuss the items, point out differences. Depending on the audience, it is likely that participants may have vastly different guesses for the number of retail stations in their jurisdictions.