[MFD594]

Looking to gain a little more knowledge here...

Tank Overfill Devices...

On you BBQ Tank you have a OPD, but what do gas stations have?

I see tank overfill alarms with bells & lights on many firehouses & schools, but havent seen one at a gas station, or for that matter, many other tank storage facilities.

...At a "recent" incident, a gasoline tanker making its scheduled delivery to a gas station over-filled the underground tank. #1) Where was the driver of said tanker, 2) Why does a place with over 10,000 of underground gasoline storage have no alarms to inform said driver (or anyone else) that he's overfilling? 15 lbs of shit dont fit into a 10 gallon bucket.

...Much like my other favorite, the oil-to-gas conversion private dwelling where the oil delivery guy just keeps dumping oil into a basement where the stem wasnt sealed.

[Navy076996]

I'm no expert, but gasoline isn't pressurized, so I'm pretty sure that the gasoline would just overflow through the port that it is being filled through, right? The tanks are vented via an array of pipes that you often see on the side of the gas station property---looks like four pipes sticking out of the ground.

[MFD594]

Originally Posted by Navy076996

I'm no expert, but gasoline isn't pressurized, so I'm pretty sure that the gasoline would just overflow through the port that it is being filled through, right? The tanks are vented via an array of pipes that you often see on the side of the gas station property---looks like four pipes sticking out of the ground.

True, but I dont think Diesel or #2 Oil is pressurized either yet every school builidng I encounter has the overfill alarm.

(Not being a smartass, just confused as all heck)

[Navy076996]

Ah, now I see what you're talking about.

[You Dont Know About That?]

the overfill alarm on P/d's is a whistle...caused by the fumes of the #2 oil leaving the tank thru the vent...u ever light cold #2 fumes on fire?...me neither...

if gas had the 'whistle' style alarm...umm that could be explosive if an ignition sorce is near by..

i know years ago...when filling an in ground gas tank, you would have to use one of those measuring sticks...lets just say you need 3000gals of Regular...then thats what you would get in the truck...not 5000reg and the driver would measure off how much hes putting in...so if you order 5000 but u need 3000...looks like 2000 gallons of fuel is getting spilled somewhere...

[MFD594]

[quote=You Dont Know About That?;126758]the overfill alarm on P/d's is a whistle...caused by the fumes of the #2 oil leaving the tank thru the vent...u ever light cold #2 fumes on fire?...me neither...

if gas had the 'whistle' style alarm...umm that could be explosive if an ignition sorce is near by..

quote]

Ahh, finally a plumber in the house he he.....

>>the overfill alarm on P/d's is a whistle...caused by the fumes of the #2 oil i know years ago...when filling an in ground gas tank, you would have to use one of those measuring sticks...lets just say you need 3000gals of Regular...then thats what you would get in the truck...not 5000reg and the driver would measure off how much hes putting in...so if you order 5000 but u need 3000...looks like 2000 gallons of fuel is getting spilled somewhere...[/leaving the tank thru the vent...u ever light cold #2 fumes on fire?...me neither...

..No, but County-Wise there's at least 250+ gal of #2 that go into houses that no longer use oil heat weekly... Its ultimately the homeowners fault, but person that did conversion, as well as oil co's that deliver should be held accountable as well....

>>>if gas had the 'whistle' style alarm...umm that could be explosive if an ignition sorce is near by..

...Damn right! But there no sort of float-type device (like the one that is in every vehicle in the USA since 1990) that indicates approximately how much product is in said container?

...i know years ago...when filling an in ground gas tank, you would have to use one of those measuring sticks...lets just say you need 3000gals of Regular...then thats what you would get in the truck...not 5000reg and the driver would measure off how much hes putting in...so if you order 5000 but u need 3000...looks like 2000 gallons of fuel is getting spilled somewhere...[/

...I think they ALL still use the "stick" method, which troubles me... also a 5000 Gal tanker is usually split into 2 or 3 "holds" (i.e reg, medium, super)

[Jimmy Mac]

Formerly being with NCFM Haz Mat here is what I can tell you…..

It is the delivery driver’s job to “stick the tank”, and make sure that there is available room in the tank to accept the delivery of the product before beginning the transfer.

That being said, do over fills happen?
Sure, that’s why we are in business.

Does it leak from the fill port where at the top of the tank?
It shouldn’t. That is a liquid tight connection and isn’t supposed to leak. Key word…. Isn’t!

Where does it go?
I have been on runs where it shot out of the vent pipes of the station. The vent pipes are like when you used to drink out of the old soda cans before pull tops. You had to have that second vent hole. Well, the product backs up into the vent system and if the driver isn’t paying attention, or at the control valve where he belongs, that is where it will come out. Sometimes onto the ground, and sometimes onto the roof of the gas station.

How do you get rid of the product?
Leave the delivery hose connected to the tank. Use the stations pumps to dispense product until the liquid in the tank drops below the top of the tank. Now the delivery driver can disconnect with out a bigger mess.

Jimmy Mac