Why You Should Monitor Blanket Gas for Atmospheric Storage Tanks
Blanket gas regulators are used to ensure that a constant gas pressure is maintained in the vapor space of a storage tank. A blanket gas regulator supplies an inert gas, Nitrogen, to prevent outside contamination of the tank which could create a flammable or explosive environment. Between the blanket gas regulator and the pressure relief vent on the top, you need to achieve a balance of enough blanket gas to be safe but not so much that you’re wasting Nitrogen.
If periodic maintenance is not performed on your blanket gas regulator, you could be using more inert gas than intended due to leaks in the o-rings, gaskets, or other components. If the regulator is not functioning properly and is allowing more gas than needed to enter the tank, this could cause a low-pressure vent, or relief valve, to chatter and damage internal parts. Besides the damage to the vent, this will create a leak point letting gas escape to the atmosphere. Nitrogen is expensive, so wasted gas is wasted money.
At Cross, we partner with you to ensure your tank accessories are functioning properly to both reduce your risk and improve your operational efficiency. This is called our Tank Optimization Program, or TOP for short. When our tank expert comes out for a TOP inspection they can identify if your blanket gas regulator is current or obsolete, and make sure you have the right equipment, working properly and optimally configured. If your set point is too high, you may be using more gas than necessary, which costs more. In addition, a lower set point allows more pressure band in the tank and emergency vents, meaning you can use vents with less metal, which are usually less expensive. They’re also easier to maintain, saving time.
Our experts can also identify if a spare is needed and recommend a preventive maintenance program for regulators, as well as other tank accessories.
