The Bulletin – April 1971

Quarterly Journal of The Association for Petroleum Acts Administration

E. V BEEBY

J. BEER

J. BIRKS

C L. DAVillS

H. GRIFFITHS

D. HALL

S. W D. HARRIS G. H.HARVEY

THE ASSOCIATION FOR PETROLEUM ACTS ADMINISTRATION

Chairman:

Rugby R.D.C. 2071 Worcester City 23156 Chesterfield B. 2825

G.L.C. Homchurch 40794 WalsaIl C.B. 25661

NewcastIe-under-Lyme B. 60161 Gloucester R.D.C. 26223 Dudley C.B. 55433 R E. J. RODEN

Hon. Secretary: J. W FRill

Council :

W. HETHERINGTON J. W. HEWISON B HODGSON

RP . HOLDAWAY K. C . HUGHES T.KERR H. R MELLOR C. R PESKETT

Birmingham City 021-236 9944

Officers:

ANGLIA

CUMBRIA

EAST MIDLAND

NORTHERN

NORTH WESTERN SCOTTISH

SOUTH EASTERN SOUTH EAST MIDLAND WESSEX AND SOUTH WALES WEST MIDLAND YORKSHIRE

Hon Electrical Adviser:

J. A. SHARP,

Hon L egal Adviser: p , D. WADSWORTH,

Hon. Editor : B W. THACKER Branch Secretaries: J. W. FRill, B. HODGSON, J BIRKS, B. W. C . THACKER, H R MELLOR, J SHORT, C R PESKETT, R E . DUST, R HUNTINGTON , G. H. HARVEY, C. T. PEACOCK,

Witney U.D.C. 3241 Havant and Waterloo U .D.C 6311 Wigton R.D.C. 2133/5 Shrewsbury B. 55813/4 Stafford B. 3507

Glanford Brigg R.D .C. Brigg 2441/5 Blackpool C.B . 23848 Godalming B. 6191/4

Hon Treasurer: C. T. PEACOCK

J. SHORT Vice-Chairman: R P HOLDAWAY

Talking Point

The proposals contained in the White Paper on Local Government in England gave no indication as to the future administration of the Petroleum Act, together with its associated legislation, and to date we are not sure which of the two tiers of local government will be responsible. As administration of Weights and Measures, Fire and Health will be vested in the upper tier, and these are the departments usuafly associated with the enforcement of the petroleum legislation, then perhaps the first tier will be the Petroleum Authority. However, the present Act places responsibility for its administration on district councils and a strong argument must exist in favour of the second tier authority.

In some quarters, over recent years, thoughts have been expressed that all petroleum administration should be carried out by Fire Brigades and this was one of the recommemilations of the Holroyd Report. If this takes place then more centralisation must occur and with it, more specialisation. Whatever the outcome our Association has proved beyond a shadow of a doubt the value of the expertise available from different professions engaged in the administration of petroleum legiSlation. It would be a matter of great regret if this expertise were no longer available and the day to day administration placed in the hands of people with little practical experience.

notes and news

New Members

Blofield and Flegg Edinburgh Worthing West Bridgford

Officer Members

RD.C. City RD.C. U D C

Mr. C. D. Henden, G.L.C.

Norfolk Sussex Nottingham

S W.M H H

Mr. K. H. Jevons, Department of Weights and Measures,

Associate Members

Mr. P. G. Atkinson, (Electrical Engineer and Contractor),

Mr. R E. Brown, Development Manager, B.P.L. Contractors Ltd.,

Mr. H. Martin, A.M.Inst. T ., Shell International Chemical Co. Ltd.,

Mr. J. T. Ryder, (Technical Sales Representative, Avery-Hardoll Ltd.),

RETIREMENTS

Mr. H. Griffiths, Chief Fire Officer, WalsaU County Borough

Mr. Griffiths was Chief Fire Officer for the past 15 years and was a founder member of the West Midlands Petroleum Acts Administration Group, and served on the Executive Committee ill the group from that date, becoming Chairman of the Midlands Petroleum Acts Administration Group in 1964.·A keen advocate for a National Association, his chairmanship saw the emergence of the Association in this present form and he remained a member of its Council until the date of his retirement. Mr. Griffiths is to take up an appointment with H.M . District Inspectorate of Factories . Mr. W. E. Ruse, Chief Public Health Inspector, Aylesbury We wish these gentlemen a long and enjoyable retirement.

APPOINTMENTS

Mr H. J. Archer, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Coventry has been appointed Chief Fire Officer, Walsall.

Mr D. E. Jones, Deputy Engineer and Surveyor, Oadby U D.C , has been appointed Engineer and Surveyor, Berkhamsted U.D.C., he succeeds Mr. B. E. A. Bodman, appointed Civil Engineer City of Johannesburg.

Mr. J. F. Lawndes, Senior Assistant Engineer, Burton-uponTrent, has been appointed Engineer and Surveyor, Ashbourne RD.C.

Mr. R. Walker, Chief Public Health Inspector, Shipley U.D.C ., has been appointed Chief Public Health Inspector, Aylesbury.

PUBLICATIONS

Stautory Instrument 1970 No. 1945 The Petroleum (Corrosive Substances) Order 1970, obtainable from H.M S.O. 7!p

HOME OFFICE CIRCULARS No's 19/1971,

20/1971, 70/1971

Readers should note the above Circulars issued by the Home Office which refer to storing of petroleum spirit.

Circular No. 19/1971 asks if Licensing Authorities would send to Home Office, for a period of twelve months, brief reports of all incidents notified to them in which spilIages or leakages of petroleum spirit at licensed premises appear to have been caused or aggravated by a neglect of reasonable safety precautions.

Circular No. 20/1971 gives information on safety precautions to be taken to avoid serious spiIlages of petroleum spirit at bulk installations.

Circular No. 70/1971 deals with the renewal of petroleum licences; appeals against refusal to renew petroleum spirit licences and the issue of short term licences.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

The Association's Secretary has recently changed his address. Will readers please note the change which is as follows :-

J. W. FRID, Esq., M.I.W.M.A., Chief Inspector, Weights & Measures Department, Hobson House, 44 St. Andrew's Street, Cambridge.

Notification has been received from Mr L. A. Cave, who has been retired for some time, that he is still receiving correspondence and in some cases subscriptions from Authorities. Will members please alter their records accordingly.

FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS

A Public Inquiry into objections to draft regulations dealing with safety in the storage and use of highly flammable liquids in places subject to the Factories Act 1961, began on February 2nd at Church House, Westminster.

The Secretary of State for Employment has appointed Mr. John S. Wordie as Commissioner of the Inquiry.

A preliminary draft of the proposed special regulations was issued early in 1964 and this was followed by a statutory draft in June 1969.

The inquiry has been ordered in accordance with the requirements of the Fourth Schedule to the Factories Act which concerns the procedure for making special reg ulations.

DRUM TAP FOR FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS

A new drum tap for the dispensing of petrol, paraffin and corrosive chemicals from containers is claimed to eradicate the problem of fire risk through swelling of conventional taps and subsequent leakage. The manufacturers are Waddington and Duval Limited, Putney, London S W.IS.

POLLUTION CONTROL

The Megator Alpha Oil Spill Recovery System, developed by Megator Pumps and Compressors Limited, provides a practical means of cleaning up floating oil spills in inland waters, harbours and estuaries without the high cost, special clothing, fire hazards and toxicity problems associated with emulsification It is normally operated in conjuction with a boom, of either permanent or emergency type, for a fixed interceptor. It can also be used in the absence of such equipment. The central concept of the system is to recover the oil with the minimum practicable proportions of water. The system is based on the unique suction performance of the Megator sliding-shoe pump, which is not only inherently self-priming and capable of exceptionally high suction lifts but can handle with equal facility clean or dirty oil of high 'or low viscosity, water, air, or any mixture of air and liquid.

The recovery equipment comprises a skimmer, and pump with coupled petrol, diesel , compressed air or electric driving unit, floating hose suitable for suction or delivery and receptacles for the recovered oil. The suction hose can be instantly detached from the skimmer after; use and the pump and hose employed to discharge the oil from the receptacles into road tankers or elsewhere as required. The pump and hose are also extremely effective for dealing with spills or puddles on the ground, and a simple suction nozzle is available for this purpose

The pump set, complete with driving unit, can easily be carried by two men. Alternatively, it can be supplied mounted on a mobile chassis or a highway trailer.

The skimmer assembly floats on the surface and is designed to bridge the boom so that it can be launched and manipulated from the clean side.

THE HOME OFFICE Standing Advisory Committee on Dangerous Substances has decided to set up a working party to prepare proposals on controlling the conveyance of petroleum gases.

under the Petroleum Act. If it becomes disused, but remains fixed in . its position, the local authority has powers under 73 of. the Public Health Act to require occupiers or owners to take reasonably necessary steps to prevent danger. But can a tank, fixed in position, usually underground, be rendered permanently safe? Usually it is merely flushed through and left filled with water, but still of course controlled under Section 73, and Section 73 is no doubt sufficient justification for the authority to specify safeguards during excavation. The position once it has been excavated and is no longer fixed is, I suggest, inadequately covered. One branch or another of the Factory Dept. would seem to have some control if the tank is to be cut up, but there seem to be no safeguards against it being left open, unprotected, and potentially explosive, either on the site or in some scrap metal merchant's yard.

There has been occasional publicity about the dangers of fuel tanks on disused cars because of accidents caused by them: and when one considers the respective sizes of the average car fuel tank and the average petrol storage tank, it is surprising that one reads so little of the dangers of disused storage tanks. I admit that I have not heard of a serious accident caused by a disused petrol storage tank exploding, but neither had f heard of a myrcene tank exploding until six men were killed at Dudgeon's Wharf.

In this area. following a fire which caused a number of explosions in Calor gas cylinders, the current enthusiasm seems to 'be to obtain powers to deal with L.P.G storage While this is a praiseworthy objective, I would have thought that petroleum authorities, before taking on new responsibilities, should be concerned to deal with the baby which is already on their doorstep. There would of course be difficulties in trying to control disposal of disused tanks, but I am sure those difficulties would be overcome if there was a serious accident caused by a petrol tank exploding Do we have to wait until then?

lettersThe report of the official enquiry into the Dudgeon's Wharf disaster, with its restrained criticism of the authorities involved, makes me wonder what the position would have been if the tank which exploded had formerly contained a petroleum spirit, inste ad of the little-known myrcene Would the local petroleum officer also have come in for some criticism? What were his responsibilities , legally or morally?

The installation of a tank, and its subsequent use for storing petroleum spirit, is controlled b y the local authority

Returning to the official report on the Dudgeon ' s Wharf disaster, I was surprised that the Fire Brigade Officer was criticised not only for permitting the use of flame to open up the bottom manhole of the tank, but for attempting to open the manhole at all. To quote paragraph 78, he "ought to have realised that there was at least a possibility that dangerous vapours were still lingering within the tank , accordingly his object should have been to exclude, rather than admit air into the tank . . . ". Later, in the summary, we read "This involved opening the manhole , which would be a mistake, as it would admit more air" There are no reservations in this quite definite !?tatement, but I submit that the atmosphere in the tank at the time would either be explosive, too "rich" to be explosive, or too "wea k" to be explosive. Only in the second case would it be a mistake to admit more air in both the other cases the sooner it was ventilated the better. We now know that the atmosphere in the tank was explosive, we know that the top manhole was already epen, so opening the bottom manhole was the best way to create "through" ventilation to disperse the inflammable vapours The use of an oxy acetylene torch for the purpose was a mistake , but not , in itself, the opening of the manhole.

I write as an individual , and no t as a rep re s e ntativ e o f the G.L.C , J . R. DOMONEY, Bu r gess

Hill

I blame the Postal Strike for the delay in the delivery of the January Bulletin, thus making this letter so late in the day. However, I feel I shall be speaking for many of my colleagues in supporting the new Editor in his tribute to Mr. 'Bob' Holdaway for his outstanding service to the Association as Editor for 9 years. The volumes of the 'Bulletin' are a veritable 'gold mine' of information and will be of great help and source of inspiration to our ranks for many years to come; I certainly have found them so. Very many thanks 'Bob' for a splendid job.

G. C. DAVIES, Gt. Yarmouth.

[ refer to the first query in Question and Answer, Bulletin No. 2 and thought you would be interested to learn that this particular question has already arisen here in my authority. Whilst I naturally took the same view as set out in the answer to the query, I also consulted the Home Office and you may be interested to learn that in a verbal discussion their advice was that the local authority could not require an applicant to apply for a quantity in excess of any particular amount he wished to store. The criteria is that the storage arrangements must be suitable for the amount required. In the course of the conversation I suggested the difficulty could be got over by imposing a special condition of licence that the applicant must apply for the total capacity of tankage irrespective of the amount desired should this be the less. The opinion expressed was that whilst persuasion might be tried, in the ultimate, if the prospective licensee held out (as was a recent case here in Cardiff), the only remedy which is clearly available in the Act was to keep careful surveillance of the storage arrangements and prosecute him for exceeding the licensed amount if such circumstances arose.

O. W. BARNES, Cardiff.

FIRE AT SHELL REFINERY

By H. Johnson, O.B.E., Chief Fire Officer, Teesside.

On Wednesday the 10th February, 1971 an explosion and fire occurred at the Shell Refinery, Teesside, at 0038 hours. The explosion took place in the Hydroheater section of the Process area and the resulting fire affected stripping and drying columns and associated processes in the immediate vicinity. On receipt of the call, Teesside Fire Brigade responded with a predetermined attendance of three pumps, foam tender, emergency tender and a fireboat. Approaching the refinery site the officer in charge of the appliance from Grangetown station made pumps 15. On arrival, firemen found a huge fire burning in the midst of the process area. The fire was being fed by hydrocarbons from pipework fractured as a result of the explosion. Further assistance was asked for, until eventually the fire was being fought by seventeen pumps, two foam tenders, a fireboat and emergency tender and ninety-three firemen in addition to the refinery fire crews and equipment. At the height of the blaze water from 22 jets was in use. This included ground monitors and super jets, approximately 1,400 gallons of foam compound was used through No. 10 F.M.G.S.

The refinery is provided with a fire main fed from fixed pumps at the riverside. The main was used to its maximum capacity during the fire when water was being used at the rate of 6,000 gallons per minute. Pressurised super heated mixture of naptha and hydrogen leaking from a ruptured pipe exploded either on contact with a hot process line or was ignited by static electricity. The seat of the fracture would appear to have been in the gasoline hydra treator. At this point in the processing, water is injected into the system. The corrosion tolerance is accepted at .050 inch per year, but the corrosion and erosion at this point in the process were much higher than expected for reasons not yet fully understood, but which include the presence of corrosive contaminants and an unfavourable flow pattern inside the pipe. These circumstances contributed to the excessive thinning of the pipe wall and its ultimate failure. There was also severe damage by explosion, fire and heat to approximately 10010 of the structure and concrete base, to approximately 30010 of the processing equipment, pipe line columns, heat exchangers, vessels, pumps and electric motors and slight damage to 20010 of remainder. Glazing and fittings in adjacent detached buildings on the site were damaged by blast, but none were affected by fire.

The remainder of the process area, control, offices and ancillary buildings were seriously exposed but remained unaffected by fire.

Purging Disused Petroleum Storage Tanks

Report by J. W. Frid, M.I.W.M.A., Chief Inspector, Weights and Measures, Cambridge.

An experiment which was carried out recently by my department may be of interest and value to members.

Four disused petrol storage tanks, 1 x 500 and 1 x 500 triple compartment, situated in a basement within brick chambers were inaccessible to filling with concrete and building development was such that the tanks had virtually been entombed. It was decided to attempt to disperse the vapour present in the tanks by flushing them out using a solution of chemical emulsifier SLIX RU manufactured by The Penetone Company Limited. The first 500 gal. capacity tank was filled with a mixture of 25 gallons Slix and water. The Slix was introduced to the tank, first using a semirotary pump and then the water added at a fair pressure to enable good agitation to take place. The tank was then sealed and left for seven days. At the end of this period the mixture was pumped into the next tank to be treated plus a booster addition to the chemical, 20 gallons. The first tank was then emptied and refilled with water and again emptied. Explosimeter readings taken then. indicated that there was no petroleum vapour present. This procedure was repeated on each of the other tanks using each time the initial waterchemical mixture plus a booster dose. The final results in each case were the same negative readings.

These works were carried out during July, 1970 and further explosimeter tests in January, 1971 again gave nil readings.

THE CHAIRMAN

On demobilisation from the Royal Navy in 1949, he obtained an appointment with the Finance Department of Paisley Corporation, transferring to the Weights and Measures Department after a few months service. He was successful in the Board of Trade examination for Inspectors of Weights and Measures in 1953, and thereafter secured an appointment as an Inspector with Glasgow Corporation. He moved to Clydebank Town Council in 1958 to create a new Weights and Measures Department within that Authority, and thereafter returned to Paisley to his present position in charge of the Weights and Measures Department in 1959.

He was instrumental in the formation of the Scottish Branch in 1967, and has been Branch Representative to the Council and Branch Secretary since inauguration.

A Message from the Chairman

The past year has not been an easy one. It began with new Officers in harness following the retiral of Mr. Cave and ended with a change in the editors hip of the BUlletin. The new officers settled in quickly and have discharged their duties efficiently. Perhaps the Treasurer was confronted with the most frustrating situation, knowing that at the end of the financial year he would be faced with having to report a loss. Unfortunately, due to other commitments, he will not be continuing in office to see this loss converted to a profit at the end of the current year with additional income from increased subscription rates. He demits office with our thanks for his service and good wishes for the future.

Despite these changes, membership has. slowly and activities continue to expand. Two mid week schools were held during the year and ID the current year, in addition to continuing with these schools, an Advanced Seminar for senior officers will be held. A firm booking has already been made for another in 1972. Continued liaison has been maintained With the Home Office, and partial recognition was achieved with the appointment of Mr. R. E. J. Roden to a Working Party reporting to Technical SUb-Committee IV on matters relating to a new Model COde for underground garages and multi-storey car parks. MOdel Branch Rules have been approved and are now before Branches for their adoption. Other business, relating to procedures, electrical certificates for existing and an approved list of gauges for installations With Offset fill pipes, is still before Council.

A draft of Regulations to amend the Petroleum Spirit (Motor Vehicles, etc.) Regulations 1929 to permit the use of plastic containers for petroleum spirit has been issued by the Home Office for comment. Although amendments were confined to references to containers, they highlighted the need for revision of other requirements of these Regulations to bring them into line with modern practice. Now that the Association has become firmly established as a national body, it will be my duty to channel its energies to exert pressure in the right quarters to have old legislation brought up to date.

Uppermost in the thoughts of local government officers at the present time is the reorganisation of local government and the effect it will have on their future. The future of the Association will not only be affected by reorganisation effectively reducing the authorities available for membership, but also with such things as a recommendation in another report that administration of petroleum legislation should be the responsibility of one branch of an existing local authority service. One of my priorities during the current year will be to ensure that the Council considers the Association's future in the light of these proposals and my hope is that, with your support, a strong, viable and respected organisation will evolve capable of continuing and expanding its sphere of influence.

Meantime, my thanks are due to the Editor for allowing me this opportunity of expressing my hopes for the future and of thanking you, the members, for electing me your Chairman.

The Practical Application of Part 11 Section 2 of the 1968 Model Code Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928

By R. B. Robertson, Fire Services Design Engineer, H.O.C. Division, Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd.

Until 1968 any Model Code issued by the Home Office the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928 for the constructIOn and licensing conditions for petroleum issued to the Licensing Authorities only. Wlthm the offices of the industry there was a confused conglomeratIOn of pieces of information relating t? c?des based mainly on precedents set by the varIOUS hcensmg authorities controlling the storage installations of that in different parts of the country. This is no exa?geratIOn, for example, with two installations less than 20 mIles apart, administered by different authorities, the ratio of cost to protect identical floating roof storage tanks was three to one.

In 1968 the industry was allowed to buy copies of the Code for the first time, thus allowing rational discussions to take place between the authority and the applicant on interpretation. The 1968 Model Code has been written on a very broad basis, leaving much to the good sense of both sides, and because the Association for Petroleum Acts Administration exists, it is to be hoped that eventually a reasoned, consistent and nationally accepted guide to the interpretation of the Code will evolve.

Industry has a part to play in evolving such a practical interpretation, since in any capital investment programme involving storage, economic studies must be carried out to ensure that the land set aside for the purpose is utilised to the best advantage. The type of tanks to be selected, the spacing of these tanks and the water supplies required for the tank protection are all inter-related within the capital budget as they are in the Model Code. The economic study must go further than this and consider the effect of the loss of a tank and its contents by fire, on production, profits and markets.

All these factors are brought to bear on any layout long before it is submitted to the licensing authority for approval and there are generally sound reasons for what might, at first sight, be apparent inconsistencies. The Code sets down very clearly the minimum separation distances for various tank groupings and also their relationship to buildings, the fire wall, and the installation boundaries. These spacings are adequate for the safe diffusion through the explosive limits at any vapour which might inadvertently be released, but are they adequate to ensure that the radiation from a fire in a tank will be at tolerable limits in these areas?

The 1968 Code recommends that sufficient water at d quate pressure should be provided. This is a very broad :e:ommendation, particularly since no guidance is given as t hether that portion of the water required for tank cool.0 w hould be allocated to meet the requirement of a tank mg in flame from a fire in the enclosure, or to dissthe heat received by the tank from radiation from a e. n an adjacent tank. There is a great difference in the involved, and it is suggested that if a probability

factor is applied to the two possibilities the latter is the logical selection.

If the theoretical case is postulated of one tank at risk by radiation from a fire in an adjacent tank, then each variation in height or diameter of either tank would require an alteration in the cooling water rate for the tank at risk. Any variation in the distance between the two tanks would require a further permutation. In groups of the larger sized tanks set down within an enclosure designed according to the Code, it will generally be found that there is room to space those tanks likely to receive the greatest radiation flux further apart, thus reducing the hazard and also the cooling water requirement.

Storage Tanks

All tanks are generally sound pieces of equipment. It is, apart from a few exceptions, people who make them unsafe by perpetrating bad practices such as bad maintenance, overfilling, splash filling and increasing pumping rates above those recommended. With these malpractices taken into consideration, modem floating roof tanks are much safer than fixed roof tanks. This is indicated by the relaxations for floating roof tanks which are given in the Code, but how much safer are they? A statistical analysis based on known fires in the two types, indicates that one in 1,000 tank years applies to fixed roof tanks, and one in 10,000 tank years applies to floating roof tanks. However crude such an analysis might be, it is a measure which might help in determining the type at tank to be selected for the storage of a product. It must be stressed however that this is a measurement and not a prediction.

There are other factors which can influence tank selection:-

1. In the smaller sizes fixed roof tanks are cheaper than floating roof tanks. There is a break-even point as the size of the tank increases, but this denends on whether the cost analysis includes such as inert gas blanketing.

2. If water even in small quantities has a deleterious effect on the chemical process in which the stored liquid is used, then it may be necessary to use a fixed roof tank.

3. Dissolved oxygen from the air may be equally unacceptable, thus making a fixed roof tank with inert gas blanketing the only viable proposition for storing that particular product.

These are a few of the reasons why it is not always possible to select floating roof tanks for the storage of low flash point hydrocarbon liquids.

Fire Fighting Water Supplies and Tank Spacing

Water is used for two main purposes: to cool adjacent tanks threatened by a fire in a tank or in the bunded area, and to manufacture foam to extinguish the fire. Fires in the bunded area are much rarer than fires in tanks; this is one of the reasons why it is suggested that the cooling water be related to the heat received by radiation on to the tank rather than that received by an enveloping fire. There are other reasons which are given later.

Since the Code does not call for fixed cooling or foam connections to a floating roof tank, then fixed roof tanks at risk from a full tank fire is a reasonable criterion to take.

The total heat generated in a tank fire can be calculated from the density, calorific value, and the rate of burning of the liquid stored. Most of this heat will be dissipated by convection and only approximately 0.3 of the total heat will be radiated.

Figure 1 indicates a typical arrangement of a tank at hazard from a fire in an adjacent tank. The flame envelope above the burning tank is taken as a cylinder having a diameter equal to the diameter of the tank, and a height of two diameters. There is a wide variation in published literature regarding the height of flame above a pool, ranging from one diameter to three diameters, but from observations two diameters appears to be a reasonable figure to take. The average radiation per square foot of envelope can be calculated and can be assumed to radiate towards the receiving tank from a flat radiator located at the centre of the burning tank having dimensions D x 2D. Although the view factor method is used in the calculation, for the purposes of illustration a psuedo point is shown. To eliminate the drudgery of calculating the many points required for an evaluation, a computer programme has been devised for the purpose.

Figure 2 indicates the location of the nine points taken on the vertical side of the tank at A, B, and C. The radiation received by the roof is calculated at points of equal area, Y and Z.

Figure 2

The figures indicate in BthU, per sq. foot the radiation intensity received by the tank and are taken from an actual example. It is of interest to note the variation in the radiation flux over the surface of the tank. The high radiation occurs at the rim and on the top where the ullage space will be, whilst the lower parts of the tank where there is likely to be liquid receive considerably less radiation.

By virtue of the design requirements the steel shell of the tank is thinner at the top than at the bottom and the roof is also thin. There is less mass of steel at the points receiving the greater amount of heat, added to which there is gas a relatively poor conductor of heat, at these areas inside'the tank. The temperature of the steel will rise much more rapidly in the areas where it can be most dangerous and it follows that the greatest proportion of cooling water should be applied there.

If the quantity of water available for tank cooling is known this can be checked against the theoretical quantities required for a group of tanks by running a computer exercise postulating fires in various tanks in the group and evaluating the worst condition for each tank in the group. If the cooling water load is greater than that which is available, recourse must be made to spacing the tanks further apart to bring these into balance.

Figure 3 shows the effect of such variations in spacing, but it should be noted that in this case the tanks are identical. For convenience the quantities are expressed in gallons per minute per square foot of the total tank surface area, and it must be stressed that it does not indicate the required water flow pattern.

Water is also required to make foam to extinguish the fire in the burning tank. If the generally accepted application rate of one gallon of finished foam per minute per square foot of liquid surface is used and applied to the largest tank likely to be installed then the water flow in gallons per minute can be assessed.

The Model Code issued in 1960 suggested that for major installations, a fire main be provided capable of delivering at least 1,000 gallons per minute at 150 p.s.i.g. Many storage installations were developed between the years 1960 and 1968; most have found, particularly in the later years, that the minimum quantity of water specified in the 1960 Code was totally inadequate because of the increase in storage tank sizes, and more modern methods of fighting fires by Foam Monitors. It is difficult and expensive to up-rate an existing fire fighting water distribution pipe network to meet an increased demand, and since the fire brigade prefer to pass the water through an appliance pump to ensure that the water flow and pressure are correct for the type of foam-making unit they are using, it appears reasonable to provide any extra water in quantity at a lower pressure.

In an incident involving a tank fire it is essential to put cooling water on the other tanks at risk as soon as possible, since with a large tank on fire it may take some time to assemble the equipment and foam before the attack can be launched. Water flows of between 4,000 g.p.m. and 8,000 g.p.m. wilI be required for major installations where large tanks are likely to be involved.

If the water system is capable of the tank cooling duty plus the foaming of the largest tank installed on the site, then it wilI be possible to fight a pool fire within the bunded or fire wall area equal to the diameter of the tank with some hope of success. Should some pessimist wish to consider an enclosure fire of 100,000 square feet, since this area is quoted in the Code, it would require, provided an overall fire did develop, the deployment of 20 major monitors, 130,000 gallons of water per minute, and a minimum of 16,000 gallons of foam compound. These are disaster conditions and it is significant that the Code refers only to spill ages due to an overflow or a major tank leak in paragraph 2.2.2. (a).

Location of Tanks

The Code gives guidance in two specific instances on the location of tanks.

Paragraph 2.2.1.(a) states that the distance from the outer boundary to a tank shall not be less than 50 feet.

Paragraph 2.2.2.(1) states that from the main fire wall of an enclosure a fixed roof tank should not be located more than 50 feet and a floating roof tank not more than 100 feet.

In paragraph 2.2.1.(a) the 50 feet minimum distance should be suitable for the safe diffusion of vapour through the flammable limits, but some form of measurement would be helpful to ascertain whether the distance is adequate to protect adjacent property against radiation from a fire in a tank. The Fire Research Organisation recommend that the spacing of buildings be such as to preclude radiation being received in excess of 3,960 BThU's per square foot per hour from a fire in adjacent property. If residential property, wood yards, or similar types of industrial property are near to the outer boundary of an installation, then the tanks should be located to ensure that the radiation flux received by the property does not exceed this figure. There have been a few cases reported in America where such close proximities have resulted in loss of life and damage to private property.

Figure 4 indicates four tanks all of the same height but of varying diameters set at 50 feet from the boundary and shows the approximate radiation flux which could be expected to fall on a vertical object at ground level from a tank fire.

Figure 5 shows the same tanks set at distances from the boundary so that the radiation flux from each would be of equal intensity namely 4,000 BThU's per square foot per hour.

If the dimensions of a building in the area were given, together with the distance from the boundary, then a radiation calculation would assist in determining how far from the boundary it would be advisable to place either the building or the tank.

Paragraph 2.2.2.(f) does not state the number of points on the circumference of a fixed roof tank which should be within 50 feet of the fire wall, and since there is a free choice in shaping the enclosure it is advisable to consider two aspects which could have a bearing in deciding the dimensions of the enclosure and the location of the tanks within it.

The first of these is prevailing wind directions. Meteorological data is available for most parts of the country, and in coastal areas the prevailing winds can blow for up to 40% of the year. If such winds are significant, then it would be reasonable, if there is a choice, to set the tanks in line across the wind rather than in line with it.

The second aspect is the land type major monitor which has been developed in recent years as a tank fire fighting weapon. With the tanks set down as previously mentioned, advantage can be taken of the wind. This holds good for tanks protected by fixed foam pourers, since in a fire one or more of the pourers might be damaged in which case a monitor could make up the deficiency.

Some information on the location of a major monitor related to tank height is essential before such layouts can be made. There is little information so far from the manufacturers, although it is hoped that it will be forthcoming in the near future.

Where there are numbers of tanks of varying sizes in the same enclosure it is generally economic to group the smaller tanks together. By doing so a safer layout can be achieved as an intermediate fire wall can be raised to enclose them to contain spillage up to the capacity of one tank if desired thus avoiding putting the larger tanks in the group in jeopardy.

it, such as the net area of the enclosure of 100,000 sq. feet given in paragraph 2.2.2(f).

If a single tank of 60,000 or 120,000 water tons capacity is considered and the enclosure· is designed to hold the contents of the tank with the permitted net area maintained, then the walls would be so high that they would cost a fortune since the retaining structure would have to be made in concrete to obtain stability. This problem is at present theoretical for most of the industry, but it will arise in the not too distant future.

If the total storage of 60,000 water tons is split into two tanks in the same enclosure and the same restraints applied, then the fire walls are still very high. In some cases it will be found to be more economical to increase the size of the enclosure and reduce the height of the fire walls to say 8 feet, so that they can be formed from cheap materials which are available locally, and to insert between the tanks intermediate fire walls.

High fire walls have many disadvantages apart from cost. They can deflect the wind so that its dilution effect at the floor of the enclosure starts at a distance between three and six times the height of the wall from its base. The possibility of an accumulation of vapour in the still air areas cannot be ignored. High walls also add to the difficulties of fire fighting and access together with means of escape.

RADIATION 4000 aTh.u/sa/FT/HR 190'

Fire Walls and Means of Escape

The only way to fully understand the implications of the new Code with regard to the height of fire walls is to work out some examples using the recommendations set out in

OPEN FORUM

WHITHER BASEEFA

Petroleum licensing authorities must be among the best 'Clients' of BASEEFA if 'client' is the right word to describe ?n authority which is content to accept the Service's certIficates. Many petroleum licensing authorities are members of the Association for Petroleum Acts Administration. What then is more sensible than that BASEEFA should be offered the opportunity to report its activities through the columns of the "Bulletin"?

th It is true that a licensing authority not only determines e :xtent of 'danger areas' within its jurisdiction but also the types of 'safe' apparatus which it will allow those areas. Nevertheless BASEEFA would be failing in function if it. did not advise the authority ?n the. type f apparatus whICh the Service regards as bemg SUItable Or the various danger areas.

Access to the enclosure is required for normal routine work, and this access forms the first means of escape. If this is the man's usual way of entering the enclosure it is logical to attempt to locate the foot of the tank stairway at the shortest distance from this point. If a man travels the route regularly he could subconsciously know the direction to be taken in an emergency. Alternative means of escape should be provided within 150 and 200 feet of the foot of the tank stairway.

It would be so easy to take the figures and recommendations set down in Part 2 Section 2 of this Model Code and to apply them rigidly, conveniently forgetting that this is a guide. It is to be hoped that this contribution may help in some small way towards the practical application of this section of the Code which is of interest to us all.

It is alleged that standards are being prepared by the Service which do not indicate to what type of 'danger area' they relate. If this is true, does it not show a lamentable breakdown in communications?

Rumour has it that some difficulty is being experienced with the new BASEEFA petrol pump code and this again may be the result of poor communications. From an authority's point of view the only pump which requires special certification is one which has within its housing components which are not separately certified as being flameproof intrinsically safe. Moreover, full certification of a pump IS not necessary if the only non-flameproof or non-intrinsically safe component is one which is constructed to a comparable foreign standard having BASEEFA blessing for use in petrol pumps generally.

BASEEFA's purpose is to aid both industry and enforcing authority. To this end information should be disseminated and discussion encouraged. So far as petroleum licensing authorities are concerned, is this not what the "Bulletin" is all about?

PETROLEUM SELF SERVICE

Self service vending has developed considerably since the first primitive oil well of Edwin Drake was drilled to a depth of 69 ft. at Titusville, Pennsylvania in 1859. At that time dispensing was in cans or barrels and indeed it was mainly paraffin oil and not petrol which was used. Even up to the founding of the Royal Dutch Shell Group 26 years later in 1885 when a tobacco planter called Jans Zijlker struck oil in the middle of an Indonesian jungle and named his Company Royal Dutch, paraffin was basically the commodity in demand for lighting purposes.

Self service from 1885 until 1910 was common practice for the early autocarists who bought their two gallon cans of Pratts motor spirit from oil shops, grocers or local motor car and cycle works and filled their own vehicles.

Petrol itself has developed considerably over the years as has the equipment for measuring and dispensing it. One of the major break throughs in the development of petrol was the introduction, in minute quantities, of tetra-ethyl lead to gasoline by Charles Kettering at the beginning of the 20th century. This was to overcome detonation and pinking and allow the use of higher compression ratios and higher revs in car engines. Similarly one of the major changes in the dispensing of petrol came to this country by the introduction of the electric motor to the petrol pump in 1931 and later the introduction of Blenders and self service equipment at Plymouth in Easter 1963.

Since then self service equipment has evolved rapidly although the acceptance by the public and licensing authorities has not been quite so pronounced. The introduction in 1968 of the new model code which gave some guide lines for pre and post payment requirements has given momentum to the recent escalation of self service sites. Also during the period from 1963 to 1968 there were a number of pilot sites operating in the more densely populated areas in England which has helped to bring about the acceptance of this type of dispensing in these areas by the general motoring public, and this too has had an effect on the recent rapid growth of self service.

Acceptance of this type of petrol vending varies from area to area depending on a great deal of variables and the Oil Company research teams are only now beginning to tabulate these variables with any degree of accuracy. We are told that one of the major factors is the sheer economics of operating the present type of attended sites. However, economics do not really affect the public's attitude to buying petrol as has been proven with various types of cut

B. Rankin, Esq.,

Manager,

price schemes and trading stamp systems in the past which did, for a limited period of time, increase sales, but on the long term simply reduce profitability and bring the sales level back into balance. Irrespective of the economics of self service vending the motoring public in Scotland, Wales and the South West of England are much more reluctant to purchase petrol at self service sites, which is no doubt much to the distress of at least one Oil Company who, in the last year, have been involved in a massive self service programme in Scotland.

It does certainly appear that subject to acceptance by the customer and a minimum sales volume of at least 400,000 gallons per annum self service vending can be more profitable in comparison to the conventional means of dispensing petrol. Therefore, the Oil Companies, as well as the equipment manufacturers, have been promoting the use of self service equipment over the past two years where possible.

Since 1968 self service vending has accelerated to such an extent that there are currently over 1,000 sites on either pre or post payment systems which is between 2 % and 3 % of petrol outlets. Current production of this type of equipment represents more than 50% of the total production ?f forecourt pumps so we can expect, if this trend contmues, that at least half the Filling Stations in Britain will be operating on the self service sometime between 1975 and 1980.

There are basically, as you know, four different types of self service.

1. What is known as the poor man's self service which has conventional pumps and an attendant on the forecourt with a cash bag.

2. self service where the customer pays in or. notes or multiples of each prior to dispensing hiS requirements and the pump automatically stops at the value prepaid.

3. Post payment self service where a customer takes the amount required and then pays afterwards.

4. Credit card self service where no cash transaction takes place, but the quantity taken is recorded on a punch tape or magnetic tape and is invoiced at a later date or for that matter pre paid and credited after each transaction.

Presented by O.

General

Tokheim Corporation, U.K. Division, at the General Meeting of the Scottish Branch

Taking the first of these four systems, the poor man's self service, has been tried out in many areas, especially the south west, and it is a relatively straight forward means of dispensing petrol. The customer simply serves himself using conventional pumps and at the end of the transaction the forecourt attendant collects the money accordingly. The main danger with this system is that at busy periods the attendant cannot keep his eye on all the pumps, and there is nothing to stop a customer from zeroising half way through a delivery and quickly switching on again, in this way obtaining a quantity of petrol without it being recorded at the time of payment. We developed a key control system to overcome this problem which was tried out at Queenslie Service Station on the Edinburgh Road. The system proved to be fool proof, and is now to be tested in the Birmingham area where self service is more acceptable to the public, and for that mater site tenants, managers, staff, etc.

The second system I mentioned is pre payment. This has considerable advantages over other systems. The main reason why it is not so extensively used at present is the inherent trouble that has been found with the note validator and coin acceptor units. However, after more than 2! years of development a few extremely reliable systems are now emerging on the market. One of these is the Automation Devices system that will be demonstrated after this discussion, and another one which is a much more simplified version which we ourselves are about to produce. Our system will accept multiples of 10 new pence, 50 new pence and £1 notes to the value of approximately £3.50 and has a small cabinet adjacent to each pump which will accept the customer's money and transfer the appropriate credit to the pump. This is not a highly sophisticated system and further, does not appear to have any of the inherent problems that other systems were bugged with. For instance the coin acceptor unit is not easily jammed as has been found possible with the coin units fitted directly to petrol pumps. When these units are jammed, free petrol can, of course, be dispensed all night or until somebody of authority notices it. Also our note validator does not reject Bank of England £1 notes to the extent other systems do, and subsequently we do not have to blame the inconsistancies of the printing of the £1 note to the same extent. Pre-payment can can also be linked into post payment systems as well as the kiosk method, which again will be demonstrated later.

The third system I mentioned is post payment, and apparently the most popular type of self service at present. The systems used are either of the ticket printer type, electronic readout type, or electro mechanical type, or combinations of both. Some of the ticket printer systems available are extremely good, and are not plagued with problems, however, if there is any fault on the printmechanism or the memory section of the equipment it Immediately affects all the pumps in the forecourt and can lead to complete shutdown. Secondly, the equipment is extremely complex, and is well beyond the capabilities of the average pump fitter to understand or for that matter beYond the capabilities of highly skilled technicians unless they have had some indoctrination on the particular circuitry. Electronic cash read outs or combined cash and quantity read .outs suffer from the same problems as previously mentIOned with the exception that there is no printing

mechanism. But, they are still complex and not as reliable as sometimes made out to be.

The electro mechanical counter type have also had their problems which have generally been related to the very high count rate that they have to cope with, that is upwards of 2,000 counts per minute. As a result they have generally been superseded by electronic systems which do not have this limitation. We have managed to overcome the high count rate with our very simple 402 A.F.C. post payment units, which again will be demonstrated later. As a result of our being able to reduce the count rate to approximately 600 counts per minute we have been able to produce an extremely accurate and inexpensive system which, when connected to the second generation of Blending Pumps, brings this type of post paymp.nt into the correct perspective.

The fourth type of self service is the credit card system which is even more complex than the previous three types and is not, at present, generally used in this country. All these systems were on show at our Exhibition held in Holland last November which was the first of its kind in Europe and by far the largest and most comprehensive Exhibition of its type to be held to date. For obvious reasons credit card systems are not popular in this country and, therefore, I will not expand further on this subject, but am more than willing to discuss any queries or questions you may have regarding it later.

I think over the next five years we are going to see a continuing change in petrol vending with entirely new systems appearing on the market. We already have the Tokheim Westinghouse system of post payment, which does not have a computer in the pump at all but relies entirely on an electronic computer to control the blending ratio and record the value and quantity ill petrol dispensed in the pump as well as in the console. This is obviously a system which lends itself to considerable development and is particularly attractive to the marketing people who can visualise all sorts of permutations of forecourt design. I also .think that as pre payment units are becoming more dependable and much simplified this will be used in ever increasing quantities especially where a 24 hour service is required. From the customer's point of view it is probably the most acceptable way of buying petrol as he does not have to wait at the kiosk to pay for the petrol that he has just received, nor does he have to move away from his vehicle to any great extent to pay as the small acceptor unit can be placed next to each pump.

We will, of course, also see the continued use of the conventional way of dispensing petrol for many years to come as there is a wide scope for the family concern or composite type of garage offering good service with personal attention, something that is always welcome but is becoming increasingly scarce.

From a marketing view self service vending is bound to be here for many years to come, and it is also bound to increase in proportion to the total volume of petrol dispensers. The acceptance of serve yourself in the grocery and commodity field has proven without doubt that this trend is controlling the future pattern of purchasing by the general public. Experience has also proven that given a relatively high volume of sales, self service vending is more economical than the attendant service.

One other major factor is the difficulty in obtaining good reliable forecourt staff. It appears that the British worker is very reluctant to serve others, for instance, they do not make very good Cafe or Restaurant waiters nor Hotel domestic staff, whereas Southern Europeans are much more willing to do this type of work. Similarly serving petrol appears to be a distasteful occupation, and it is more than difficult to find an attendant who will give a really good, willing and cheerful service. Most autoroute Service Stations on the continent automatically wash your windscreen and really clean it. One seldom gets this type of treatment on a motorway site in Britain, and if you do it is with an oily rag that leaves the windscreen smeared.

From the safety factor which you gentlemen are more than interested in, practice has proven without doubt that a self service site, be it pre or post payment is no more of a hazard than the attendant type of site, and in many instances considerably safer. Newer and more sophisticated types of equipment in use and the natural self preservation instinct of customers, as well as the loving care lavished on their family car all contribute to the excellent operational record to date.

The safety requirements for pumps and associated equipment are generally covered in the revised model code of

1968. However, the Board of Trade together with BASEEFA stipulate other specifications which are intended to increase the safety factor. These specifications are adhered to by all manufacturers even though we do not think some of them are at all necessary. There is one point which does give manufacturers some considerable concern, and I hope you will not take exception to my mentioning it at this time. The Home Office Code is, as you know, simply a guide for local authorities who can interpret it in many different ways, and it is not a binding legislation that the whole country has to follow. What is acceptable in one area is not in another, and what is interpreted one way in one area can be interpreted completely different in another. This not only applies .to the and the associated equipment, but also to the mstallatlOn, etc. You can appreciate that to a manufacturer and to installation Companies non standardisation extra time, work, material and effort which simply mcreases the cost of the project which in turn has to be handed on to the customer and inevitably handed on to the motorist. It is hoped that the move towards the O.I.M.L. and E.E.C. Regulations which will become law in the continent during 1972 will also result in complete unification of regulations in this country and of their interpretation by all concerned.

COUNCIL at SOLIHULL

Report of a meeting held on 3rd March, 1971

Present

J. Birks, J. Forman, J. W. Frid, D. Hall, S. W. D. Harris, G. H. Harvey, W. Hetherington, J. W. Hewison, R. P. Holdaway, K. C. Hughes, T. Kerr, H. R. MelIor, C. T. Peacock, R. E. J. Roden, J. Short and B. W. C. Thacker.

Apologies

Apologies were received from Messrs. E. V. Beeby, J. Beer, G. N. Dean and C. R. Peskett.

Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting (circulated) were received and after some discussion were accepted.

Matters Arising

Mr. Holdaway, the previous Editor, suggested that as the result of the second reprint of the Model Codes, Branch representatives should keep a stock of Codes for sale and distribution. This was agreed.

Correspondence

The Honorary Secretary reported that he had . d receIve correspondence from the Home Office including the draft of the proposed amendments to the Petroleum S 't M h · . pIn ( otor Ve lcles etc.) RegulatIOns 1929 which will allow th f I t · e use 0 p as IC con tamers for the keeping of petroleum "t Th A t' , spIn . e SSOCla IOn s comments were invited on the I d se proposa s an the. Secretary reported that these had been obtained and notIce of them conveyed to the Home Offi ce.

The Secretary further reported that a t' h C '1'" , c mg on t e ounCI s mstructIOns, he had been in commun' t' 'th h lca IOn WI t e Home Office regardmg representation by th A h e ssocIatIOn on t e Home Office Committee which is shortly to commence work on the production of a new Model Code for and multi-storey car parks. The Secretary was mformed the sub-committee, which had had this task delegated to It, had agreed to set up a working party to a new Model Code. The Association was asked to nommate a representative to serve on this work' t d 't d' mg par y an 1 was eClded to submit the name of Mr. R. E. J. Roden,the present Chairman of the Association and this was accepted by the Home Office.

It was proposed by H. R. MelIor, seconded by G. H. Harvey that the Secretary's action be confirmed and that R. E. J. Roden be nominated as the Council's representative to serve on the working party of this new Home Office Committee. This was agreed.

It was agreed that the subject of a letter received from J. Birks, Secretary of the East Midland Branch, be deferred until later in the meeting.

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

This was incorporated in his report as Chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

SECRETARY'S REPORT

The Secretary reported that due to the heavy booking commitments at York University for 1972, he had made a provisional booking at Vanbrough College from Sunday, 16th July to Wednesday, 19th July 1972 for the second advanced seminar. He asked that Council confirm his action. It was proposed by C. Peacock, seconded by B.W.C. Thacker that the Secretary's action be confirmed. This was agreed.

It was further reported by the Secretary that the Chairman's Badge of Office had been received and this was duly handed over to the Chairman. The Secretary was authorised to order, on the Chairman's advice, bars bearing the names of past Chairmen, for attachment to the collarette of the badge of office. Resulting from this, the Secretary asked if the Council would consider making an interest-free loan to any Branch which may wish to purchase a replica for their own Chairman. It was proposed by D. Hall, seconded by G. H. Harvey that the Treasurer be authorised to loan cash for this purpose if requested by a particular Branch. This was agreed.

Lastly, the Secretary drew the Council's attention to the question of powers of entry to Crown Property when construction works (underground car parks, etc.) were being undertaken by a government department for future lease to non-government departments (e.g. Post Office). The Secretary was instructed to refer this matter to the Chairman of the Reference and Legal Committee.

TREASURER'S REPORT

The Honorary Treasurer submitted his annual statements which will be presented at the Annual General Meeting.

Arising out of the discussion, it was proposed by J. Short, seconded by W. Hetherington that the financial position and future prospects of the Association be reviewed by the Finance and General Purposes Committee for report to Council. This was agreed.

The Honorary Treasurer announced his resignation from his post. He did so most reluctantly but he felt that the work which was involved was more than he had expected and he now found that the calls upon his time were so great that he could no longer give the necessary attention tothistask.Heunder took to remain in office until a replacement could be found. The Chairman and Council members present expressed their appreciation and gratitude for the good work which Mr. Forman had done on behalf of the Association. It was agreed that steps should be taken forthwith to obtain a replacement Treasurer.

EDITOR'S REPORT

The Honorary Editor reported that he had been able to obtain quotations for the printing of the "Bulletin" and also the "Questions and Answers" supplement which were well within the budgeted amount specified by the Council. It was with regret that he announced that the January edition of the "Bulletin" had not yet been sent to members. This was due to the postal dispute. He assured members that these would be despatched as soon as possible.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

(a) Finance and General Purposes Committee

The Chairman reported on the metting of this Committee which was held at Solihull on the 16th February, 1971.

Annual General Meeting

It was confirmed that this would be held on April 6th and would take place at the Council Chambers, Gilmour Street, Paisley. There was a multi-storey car park adjoining the Council Chambers with an entrance off Smithhill Street. The Provost and Magistrates had invited Association members to lunch and this would take place at the Brabloch Hotel which was about half a mile from the Council Chambers. It was anticipated that about 70 members of the Association would be attending the meeting.

In view of the postal strike and the need to give twenty-one days notice in writing of the Annual General Meeting to all members contingency plans were considered and it was agreed that these would be discussed at the next Council meeting which has been re-arranged for 3rd March, 1971.

A notice of motion was received from the South East Midland Branch proposing that an amendment be made to Rule 4(E) of the Association's Constitution and Rules. After some discussion it was agreed to refer this to Council.

The Treasurer, Mr. Forman, was still drawing up the balance sheet assisted by Mr. Harvey at Dudley while this meeting was taking place. He had, however, sent a copy of his proposed report to the Annual General Meeting. This was accepted by the Committee without discussion.

Subject to the following items, the report was accepted.

In the light of the recent postal difficulties it was proposed by T. Kerr, seconded by C. Peacock that the 1971 Annual General Meeting of the Association be deferred until proper arrangements could be made to hold it, the date to be decided by the Chairman, ViceChairman and Honorary Secretary. This was agreed.

After lengthy discussion on the resolution which is to be put by the South East Midland Branch at the Annual General Meeting regarding the modification of Rule 4(E), it was proposed by J. Short, seconded by B. W. C. Thacker that the Council do not support this resolution. This was agreed, the Council being of the opinion that the existing rules already catered for the circumstances in question.

(b) Education and Publications Committee

The Chairman presented the on a meeting which was held at York UmversIty on Wednesday 3rd February, 1971.

Mr. E. Fletcher, Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures for the City of York, was co-opted to the Committee in the capacity of Liaison Officer for the York University Advanced Seminar.

It was agreed that the Hon. Editor and th.e Hon. Secretary should investigate and proceed wIth. the production of a printed brochure for the York Semmar.

The following points were also agreed by the Committee :-

(i) the maximum number attending the be limited to 60/70 together with 12 non-resIdential applicants.

(ii) (iii) (iv) (v)

that an application be made for an extension of the bar facilities. that arrangements be made for end-of-course dinner to be given on Tuesday evemng, 6th July. that arrangements be made by the Secretary the provision of technical assistance and eqUlpment to enable lecturers to project slides, films etc. various other domestic problems were discussed and it was agreed that the Hon. Secretary be authorised to proceed with the arrangements as necessary.

The following officers of the should attend the seminar on behalf of the AssoclatlOn :J. Short, Chairman; J. Frid, Hon. Secretary; W. C. Thacker Hon. Editor; R. E. J. Roden, ImmedIate Past Chairm;n; R. P. Holdaway, C. T. Peacock, Education Committee ChaIrman;. and H. E. Fletcher: the Chairman to open the semmar and to chair the course forum on Wednesday, 7th. The Immediate Past Chairman to chair the lectures on Monday, 5th. The Vice-Chairman to chair the lectures on Tuesday, 6th. The Hon. Editor and Hon Secretary to liaise with lecturers, delegates and semmar arrangements generally.

A second meeting of the Education Committee took place on the morning of the Council Meeting and it was decided :-

(i) in view of the 1,90Oth Anniversary of the foundation of the City of York, it would be a nice gesture to make a special presentation to one of the speakers at the Advanced Seminar Herr J. M. Dopner. It was agreed that the presentation should take the form of a special goblet prepared by the City of York. The presentation to Herr Dopner would be made by the Chairman of the Association at the end-of-course dinner.

(ii) The closing date for applications for places at the Advanced Seminar had been fixed for 1st April but in the light of the postal strike it was agreed to extend this date to the 1st May. Over 30 applications had already been received and it is expected that the target figure of 60 will be easily achieved. A selection committee of the Vice-Chairman, the Secretary and the Editor will meet at York on Monday, 3rd May to select applicants for the course. The arrangements for this meeting to be made by Mr. Thacker.

(iii) it was agreed that for non-residential students the charge be £3.00 per day.

Resolved that the report be accepted.

Other Business

The Secretary drew the Council's attention to a letter which had been received from J. Birks, Honorary Secretary of the East Midland Branch, regarding the installation of central heating equipment within garages in private houses. The Honorary Editor pointed out to the meeting that the answer to this query was contained in the current 'Questions and Answers' supplement which he had as yet been unable to post to members, a copy was made available for Mr. Birks.

It was agreed that arrangements for the next meeting of the Council be left to the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Honorary Secretary.

BRANCH REPORTS

Yorkshire

A meeting of the Branch was held at the Department, Oakroyd Hall, Bradford Road, Bradford, on Monday, 12th October, 1970.

Present

Fire Service

Birkenshaw,

. M E L Darwin and 22 members. The ChaIrman, r. .., . h H d the meeting by welcommg t e on. The ChaIrman opene Secretary back after his brief sojourn in hospItal.

Apologies

Apologies for absence were receiVed from Messrs. Fletcher and Skelton.

Minutes

The minutes of the last meeting, held at Scarborough on the 6th May, 1970, having been circulated, were taken as read. It was resolved that they be signed as a true record.

Matters Arising out of Minutes

Enquiries concerning simultaneous delivery mentioned in the last minutes were deferred until later in the meeting.

Correspondence

The Hon. Secretary read the letter from Mr. J. A. Sharp, the Association's Hon. Electrical Adviser, received in reply to the Branch's query concerning the use of a megometer in a Division 2 area. Mr. Sharp stated that an insulation tester was usually used and that the point of supply, which is in a safe area, was the place to test. In the case of Storage Depots where the equipment may be in Division 1 or 2 areas, intrinsically safe instruments may be obtained.

Any Other Business

(1) Multiple Deliveries

At the last meeting it was generally agreed that simultaneous delivery at two points not more than 8' 0" apart was reasonable provided that both points were visible at the same time. Two members stated that this was contrary to the Code. It was pointed out that simultaneous deliveries were permissible unless the circumstances were exceptional and the Licensing Authority considered it unsafe.

It was also pointed out that in 5(d) on page 7 of the Association's Code, no opening shall be provided in a storage tank for the sole purpose of dipping but that 7(ii) on page 28 requires that "the dipping pipe, where such a pipe is separately fitted to a storage tank, shall be kept securely closed". It was generally agreed that this was to cover existing installations where an offset fill-pipe is already in use and it would be unreasonable to require complete compliance with the Code.

Mr. Dick pointed out that if the dip pipe were kept locked until the delivery be completed there would be no danger.

(2) Termination of Tenancy

An enquiry was received concerning a petrol station owned by a company but rented by an occupier. The occupier gave up the tenancey of the premises leaving petrol in one of the tanks. It was agreed that the licensee could not be prosecuted as the Act refers to "the occupier", and he no longer occupied the premises, neither could the company as they were the owners but not the occupiers. No other legislation seemed applicable.

(3) Electrica! Certificate

The difficulty in finding a man qualified in accordance with the requirements of the Code who was willing to complete the Electrical Certificate was expressed by several members and a request was made for a leaflet or an article in the "Bulletin". The Hon. Secretary was instructed to draw both matters to the attention of the General Council.

An enquiry was made concerning the provision of a cover to a petrol interceptor in a Distributing Depot or Major Installation. No definite conclusion was reached and the Hon. Secretary was instructed to refer the query to the General Council.

Talk

In the afternoon an excellent paper on liquified petroleum gases was given by Mr. R. Bull of Shell-Mex and B.P. Gases Limited.

North Western

A meeting of the Branch was held at Altrincham on 22nd October, 1970.

Present

Fourtyeight members were present.

An official welcome to the Branch was extended by the Worshipful the Mayor of Altrincham, Councillor W. Hiett. The immediate past Chairman of the Branch, Mr. J. R. Roberts of Manchester, suitably replied.

Minutes

The minutes of the last Annual General Meeting held on 2nd July, 1970 were approved.

Report of Secretary and Branch Representative

Mr. H. R. MelIor reported on the September meeting of the Council of the Association and following this it was agreed that the Executive Committee consider the revised model Branch Rules now issued by the Council of the Association and submit recommendations to the 1971 Annual General Meeting of the Branch.

The Secretary also reported on the preliminary arrangements for the holding of the Northern School at the University of York on 13th-15th April, 1971, and on the Advanced Petroleum Seminar also to be held at the University of York on 5th-7th July, 1971.

Address

The Chairman introduced Mr. J. Beer, F.I.W.M.A., Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures, City of Worcester, who presented his paper "The Testing of New and Existing Petroleum Spirit Storage Tanks"; this paper appeared in "The Bulletin" October, 1968, pages 102-105.

The first question in the ensuing discussion related to trade resistance in the application of a 10 Ib.jsq. in. pressure on old tanks. In reply, Mr. Beer said that he considered a 10 lb.jsq. in. pressure on an old tank might be oversevere. He suggested a pressure between 5 and 7 lb.jsq. in. He felt it was necessary to be satisfied that the tank was sound, not only at the time it was tested but also that it would remain sound for a reasonable number of years and this could only be achieved by stressing a tank to a degree.

Asked about the necessity of completely emptying an existing tank before applying a pressure test, Mr. Beer said that if a tank was leaking at the bottom when pressure was applied, this could result in the leak being increased by pressure. Since this was the very situation which the tests were intended to avoid, he would always have a tank bottomed before pressure, using an inert gas such as nitrogen, was applied. Accommodating the removed petrol could create a problem but this would have to be resolved at each site. Perhaps it could be put in other tanks or in motor cars. It was for this same reason that he did not favour ullage tests as the filling of the tank with petrol to just below the neck might result in a leakage of petrol from a previously unsuspected hole in the upper part of the tank.

When asked for his views on the inventory check as recommended in the Home Office Model Code, Mr. Beer said that whilst he knew of some areas where this check was used and where the petroleum officers were apparently satisfied with the results, he had doubts as to whether it was sufficiently accurate. The Weights and Measures Regulations permitted petrol pumps at a garage to give up to 2 fluid ounces per gallon overmeasure before they were rejected. In view of this he would be reluctant to use a form of test which was based on stock plus receipts of petrol delivered balanced against the readings on a petrol pump which could have an error of up to one gallon in eighty.

A member enquired whether the plus or minus corrections to be applied to the readings of a pressure gauge at the end of the 24 hour test could be dispensed with if the zero indications of the gauge were made adjustable in such a way that zero could become equal to atmospheric pressure. Replying, Mr. Beer said that this suggestion would not give the desired results. If atmospheric pressure was at 14.7 Ib./sq. in. and a tank was pressurised to 10 lb./sq. in. the tank would then be at 24.7 Ib:/sq. in.absolute pressure. Provided that the tank did not leak and that the temperature did not vary, this absolute pressure would remain constant. If atmospheric pressure dropped by 1 lb. to 13.7 Ib./sq. in., the result of adjusting the zero reading on the pressure gauge to 13.7 Ib./sq. in. would be that the pressure gauge would indicate 11 Ib./sq. in., (Le. 24.7 lb. less 13.7 lb. equals 11 lb.)

Replying to questions on ullage testing, Mr. Beer said that in his opinion it was essential to disconnect the vent pipe from the tank before taking dips and desirable to disconnect the suction line as well. For checking lines he considered that pressure tests should always be applied.

Owing to the pressure of time the Chairman then had to terminate the discussion and Mr. Beer was thanked for his very able presentation of this paper. Thanks were also expressed to Mr. B. E. Chapman and Mr. L. Ryan of Altrincham for making the necessary arrangements of the meeting.

Visit

After lunch, members visited the factory of the Budenburg Gauge Co. Ltd., at Altrincham where they were conducted through the works in small parties and shown the various processes and techniques which had been developed to produce the reliability and precision claimed by the company in respect of their instruments. The tour proved most interesting and instructive and was followed by refreshments provided by the company.

ScoHish

The Annual General Meeting of the Scottish Branch was held at Glenrothes, Fife on Tuesday, 16th March, 1971. The meeting was opened by Councillor Alex Carstairs, Convenor of the General Purposes Committee, Fife County Council, who welcomed the 52 members present. The Vice-Chairman, Mr. Gavin Arneil thanked Councillor Carstairs for officially opening the proceedings and made reference to the Branch Chairman's absence owing to illness. The Secretary was instructed to write to Mr. R. Donnelly expressing the good wishes of the meeting and wishing him a speedy recovery.

Apologies

Apologies were received from R. S. Brown (Argyll and Bute) and T. Cairns (Glasgow).

Minutes

The Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held at Dalkeith, Midlothian on 17th March, 1970, as printed in the Bulletin dated July, 1970 were approved.

Self Service Equipment Talk and Visit

During the mor?ing session the meeting was addressed by Mr. O. General Manager, Tokheim Corporation, U.K. who gave a talk on self service equipment. A short tlme was allowed following his talk during which he capably dealt with questions put to by members. Thereafter, at the invitation of Tokheim Corporation, members toured the factory at Glenrothes and . 1 d' saw a practlca emonstratlOn of self service eqUipment.

Lunch was kindly provided by. Fife County Council, and members were welcomed by SIr David Er k' C t C Th V· Ch' s me, oun y e Ice- aIrman, Mr. Arneil thanked Sir David for hIS welcome on behalf of the Branch F 11 I h 0 owmg unc the bus mess meetmg took place.

Secretary and Treasurer's Report

The Report of the Secretary and Treasurer' " , CopIes of WhICh had been prevlOusly CIrculated, was app d was made to the decision by th B rove Reference e ranch Executive CommIttee to place an order for a Branch Cha' Office. Delivery had been held up Badge of

Report by Branch Representative

The Branch Representative circulated Council meeting held at Solihull on 3rd Ma report on the Council meetings had been fully reported' archh, 1971. Other m t e BUlletin

Specific attention was drawn to the po t Annual General Meeting of the Associati:nPonement of the arrangements for holding the meeting at Pa.nd to the new day, 26th April, 1971. alsley on Mon-

The extension of the closing date to 1 receipt of applications to attend the May 1971,. for at York University from 5th-10th J lanced Semmar intimated. u y 1971. was also

Branch Bye-Laws

On the motion of Mr. R. S. L. Anderson (A Mr. Senior (Dumfries), the meeting ad/? seconded by Branch Bye-Laws as approved by the C p. ed the Model iation, subject to the amendments ap ouncll of the AssocE" proved by th B h xecutlve CommIttee and previously c· 1 e ranc ing. lrcu ated to the meet-

Election of Officers and Committee

The Office Bearers and Committee were I Ch e ected as follows: azrman

G. ArneiI Mid & East Lothian Vice-Chairman

K. McLeod Dunbartonshire

Honorary Secretary and Treasurer

J. Short Paisley Branch Executive Committee

R. S. L. Anderson Ayr J. J. MacKeIIar Perth W. Anderson Port Glasgow G. A. Taylor Perth & Kinross Auditor

R. Mc Gill Clydebank Branch Representative to the Council J. Short Paisley

Other Business

Mr. Wilson (Kirkcudbright), referred to a recent report on the Fire Service which recommended that enforcement of legislation relative to safety should be carried out by fire prevention officers. He asked if the Branch knew whether this recommendation was likely to be implemented. No official answer to this question was known.

Mr. Taylor (Perth and Kinross), raised the question of rendering safe underground petrol tanks which had been discontinued in use. He had experienced difficulty in cases where the owners of the premises had gone into liquidation, and the Conditions of Licence could not be enforced against the liquidators. After some discussion, it was agreed that this matter, together with other unsatisfactory aspects of petroleum legislation, should be remitted to the Branch Executive Committee for further consideration.

Place of Next Meeting

An invitation from Mr. Kerr (Forth Ports Authority), to provide accommodation for holding the next Annual General Meeting at Grangemouth was remitted to the Branch Executive Committee.

Vote of Thanks

The meeting closed with Mr. R. S. L. Anderson proposing a vote of thanks to all who had contributed to the success of the meeting, particularly Fife County Council, together with the County Convenor, Sir David Erskine, and Councillor Alex Carstairs, for their hospitality and presence, Tokheim, U.K. Division, together with Mr. Rankin, for facilities and hospitality, and the Chairman, Secretary and Mr. Reid, Chief Inspector of Fife County, for their efforts in organising the meeting. The Secretary was instructed to send letters of appreciation to the County Clerk and to Tokheim, U.K. Division.

Anglia

The Annual General Meeting of the Anglia Branch was held at the Town Hall, Harlow, on Wednesday, 31st March, 1971.

Present

The meeting was opened by the Chairman, Mr. J. G. Clark, Who welcomed the 22 members who were present. Five apologies were received.

Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting and also the completed minutes of previous Branch meetings were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

Matters Arising

The Honorary Secretary-Treasurer replied to one question raised by a member concerning Powers of Entry as reported in the minutes of the meeting at Bacton on 17th September, 1970.

Chairman'S Report

The Chairman reported that a meeting of the Branch Committee had been held and that during this meeting it had been decided that a nomination for the post of Vice-Chairman should be submitted for the approval at this meeting. The Chairman stated that he would put this name forward after nominations had been asked for, for this post.

He further reported that a badge of office had been obtained for the National Chairman and it was suggested that a replica of this be obtained for Chairmen of this Branch. The Chairman went on to inform the meeting that during the year the Association had, for the first time, been given direct representation on the Home Office Working Party set up by Home Office Sub-Committee IV. This Working Party is to prepare a Model Code of Practice covering basement, sub-basement and multi-storey car parks. It was proposed by Mr. Phipps, seconded by Mr. Lee, that the Association be congratulated upon its work in obtaining representation on the Home Office Working Party.

Honorary Secretary-Treasurer's Report

The statement of the Branch's action previously circulated to members was received and after some discussion was accepted by the meeting. The Secretary-Treasurer reported that during the year a number of queries on petroleum matters had been raised by Branch members and that these had been forwarded to the Chairman of the Association's Legal and Reference Committee.

The Honorary Secretary-Treasurer drew members' attention to the fact that the replies to these questions and all others raised throughout the country will in future be published for the information of all members in a Question and Answers supplement to the "Bulletin". After some discussion the Secretary-Treasurer's report was accepted by the meeting and it was agreed at the request of the Secretary-Treasurer to formally minute the agreement reached at the first meeting of this Branch held at Saffron Walden on 10th September, 1969 to the effect that an honorarium of £10 be paid annually to the Honorary Secretary-Treasurer.

Branch Representative's Report

It was reported that the Branch Representative had attended four meetings of the National Council and five Committee Meetings during the year. Mr. Frid drew members' attention to the fact that there appeared to be a growing awareness of the Association's activities which was reflected by the fact that the Council during the year were asked to comment upon :-

(i) A new British Standard for plastic containers for petroleum spirit produced by the British Standards Association;

(ii) The B.A.S.E.E.F.A. Certification Standard SFA 3002 "Requirements for the certification of metering pumps for filling stations" produced by the Department of Trade and Industry;

(iii) The amendments to the Petroleum Spirit (Motor Vehicles) Regulations 1929 submitted by the Home Office;

(iv) The inclusion of a member of the Association in the Home Office Working Party previously mentioned.

He further reported that the membership of the Association continues to grow steadily and that its finances since the increase in subscription rates now appear to be satisfactory. He then gave members present details of the three courses which the Association is sponsoring in the present year at Surrey University (1) and York University (2).

There followed some debate on these reports during which the Chairman, Secretary-Treasurer, Representative, answered various questions. It was then proposed by Mr. Kemp, seconded by Mr. Martin, that the two officers concerned, Mr. Clark and Mr. Frid, be thanked for the work which had been done on behalf of the Branch during the year. This was agreed. The Honorary Secretary-Treasurer in reply to the thanks of the Branch stressed that much of this appreciation should be directed towards the staff in his own office, particularly his Secretary, Mrs. Sergeant.

Election of Officers and Committee

The following were elected :Chairman

Mr. J. Wookey. Vice-Chairman

Mr. Parcell Huntingdon & Godmanchester RD.C. Hon. Secretary-Treasurer Mr. J. Frid Cambridge City. Committee

Mr. Lee Chelmsford RD.C. Mr. Scrivener Saffron Walden RD.C.

Hon. Auditors

Mr. Hoyle South Cambridge RD.C. Mr. Hill Cambridge City. Branch Representative Mr. J. Frid Cambridge City.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

WEST BROMWICH

Contravention of Conveyance Regulations

As a Petroleum Officer entered the forecourt of a service station, he saw a tank wagon being driven forward, although, at the time it was discharging petrol into an underground storage tank. The driver's explanation was that wheels were standing onanother manhole cover he

Model Branch Rules

The Model Branch Rules as agreed by the Association, having been previously circulated, were discussed. The Honorary Secretary-Treasurer explained briefly the reason for the Association's desire that Branches should operate under similar sets of rules. He went on to inform members that Model Rules differed only slightly from the present Branch Rules and after some questions and answers, during which various dates, times and numbers were inserted in the new rules, it was proposed by Mr. Daynes, seconded by Mr. Lee, that these new rules be accepted by the Branch and that the Secretary be instructed to submit these to the Association for its final approval. This was agreed.

Any Other Business

A question regarding the licensing of car parks which was raised by Mr. Shears of Epping and Ongar RD.C. was discussed. It was felt by the meeting that this subject could be explored more fully at a later date and it was suggested that perhaps a speaker from the Council could attend at a future meeting when this matter could be explored more fully The Secretary-Treasurer undertook to approach the Association's present Chairman on this matter.

Next Meeting

Mr. Wookey, the Chairman, reported that he had been in contact with Messrs. Fisons Limited of Harston, Cambridgeshire regarding the possibility of holding the Branch's next meeting there to include a tour of the works. The date to be finalised between himself, the Vice-Chairman and the Secretary-Treasurer. This was agreed by the meeting.

Visit

Members then adjourned to enjoy the hospitality extended to them by B.P. Limited at their Harlow Headquarters. After a very pleasant meal, as guests of B.P. Limited, Mr. W. Bunn expressed a few words of thanks to the catering staff for the excellent lunch. At 2.15 p.m. members returned to the Town Hall at Harlow where they were shown three films on the petroleum industry's work which B.P. Limited had kindly made available and which were projected by a member of the Public Health Department at Harlow.

At the conclusion, Mr. Bunn thanked the Harlow Council for their hospitality and for the excellent facilities which had been afforded the meeting making particular mention of the efforts made by Mr. Gethin of Harlow without whose help the meeting would not have been possible.

The meeting closed at 4.15 p.m.

wished to lift. Almost immediately, petrol issued from a vent and also spurted out from the fill-pipe in the tank manhole. There appeared to be nobody in charge of the storage tank and the petroleum officer switched off the main electrical supply in an adjacent kiosk, told the driver to cut off his supply from the tank wagon and placed cones at the entrances to prevent cars from coming onto the forecourt.

Investigations revealed that no certificate as required by the Conveyance Regulations had been made out and that the tanker driver had mixed the grades of petrol and was attempting to discharge 800 gallons into a tank which only had an ullage of 500 2allons.

Legal proceedings were instituted under the Petroleum Spirit (Conveyance by Road) Regulations, 1957, against the licensees, for failing to ensure that a competent person was in charge of the storage tank. They pleaded guilty and were fined £50 with £6 costs. The tanker driver pleaded guilty to two offences under the same Regulations (i) that his tank wagon engine was not stopped during the whole time of the operation of filling the underground tanks (ii) that he made a delivery before witnessing the signature of the person in charge of the underground tank on the Conveyance Regulation Certificate. He was fined £15 and £25 respectively.

TEESSIDE

Leakage of Petroleum Spirit

Investigations carried out at a filling station after a leak of 700 gallons of petroleum spirit had been reported, revealed that this had occurred whilst a 3,000 gallon underground storage tank was being refilled.

It was discovered that although the prescribed forms had been signed the storage tank had not been dipped and was not capable of receiving the total amount of spirit.

The licensee and forecourt attendant pleaded guilty to contravention of Section 6 of the Conveyance Regulations and No. 5 of the Conditions of Licence. They were fined £75 and £10 respectively.

SHREWSBURY

Storing Petroleum Mixture without a Licence

Legal proceedings were taken against the proprietor of an antique business for storing petroleum mixtures without a licence.

The mixtures, in the form of some 71 gallons of cellulose thinners, paints and lacquers, were discovered during the course of routine inspection in the vicinity of the premises, where they were used in restoration work.

At Shrewsbury Magistrates Court on 29th March, 1971 the defendant pleaded guilty and was fined £5 with £2.10 costs.

REFINERIES OF GREAT BRITAIN No. 2 Shell Haven

The Early Years

The name "Shell Haven" originated long before the arrival of the refinery. It appears on a map of the time of Henry VIII and on Saxton's slightly later map of Essex, dated 1576. Samuel Pepys mentions it twice in his diary.

The modern history of Shell Haven started when a provisional licence was issued to the Asiatic Petroleum Company Limited on the 18th January 1912 to keep petroleum in tanks of iron construction, each containing not more than 4,000 tons, with a maximum capacity for the whole site of 80,000 tons. Today there are tanks in the refinery with a capacity of 100,000 tons each. The refinery began operations in 1916 with a single distillation unit for manufacture of fuel oil for the Admiralty on a 100 acre site. In those days an 8,000 ton tanker capable of discharging 100 tons per hour could keep a plant working for a montha far cry from today's tankers with capacities as large as 200,000 tons and discharge rates of 12,000 to 14,000 tons per hour.

From such small beginnings the refinery has developed almost continuously. In 1919 the original distillation unit was converted to manufacture bitumen for road making. In 1925 a bench still was erected for the manufacture of industrial lubricating oils; a bench still was an early type of continuous process unit-very different from the modern, highly automated units. It has since been demolished to make way for new bitumen units.

Developments in international combustion engines produced a demand for higher quality motor oils, and Shell's first high viscosity index lubricating oil complex in the United Kingdom was erected at Shell Haven, between 1936

and 1937; the feed stock for this unit was a distillate shipped in from Curacao. Development at Shell Haven continued until the outbreak of the second world war; the last project to be completed was the blending plant for the production of horticultural chemical products.

During the war Shell Haven suffered a certain amount of air raid damage but apart from a few weeks after the Dunkirk evacuation the refinery operated continuously and in 1944 work was started on a small paraffin wax unit which was completed in 1946.

Post War Development

After the war a number of considerations, including the increasing availability of large and economical oil tankers, the expansion of demand in individual countries, particularly in Europe, and advances in the refinery design, led to the movement away from the oil industry's pre-war pattern of large refineries close to the oil fields exporting oil products to the various consuming countries. Instead refineries were constructed on an increasing scale in the consuming countries themselves. This development has continued throughout the post war areas; for example, whereas in the United Kingdom crude oil refining capacity in 1947 was 1,000,000 tons a year, this had risen by the end of 1967 to over 83,000,000 tons a year. Shell Haven played a notable part in this expansion and in the late 1940's work was started on the erection of a brand new crude oil refinery at what is now known as the West Site.

By the end of 1950 other major units were operating on the West Site, making Shell Haven one of the country's leading producers of motor gasoline and other petroleum fuel for transport and industry.

The first of the units was a crude oil distillation unit which has been developed to process 15,000 tons per day. From this unit developed other major plants to deal with fractions produced. These include a high vacuum distillation unit, two platformer units and a hydrodesulphuriser unit. At the beginning of 1959 a major increase in the distillation capacity of the refinery resulted from the starting up of a second crude oil distilling unit, designed to meet the increasing demand for oil products.

In addition to the major process a unit, operating on specially imported feed stocks providing the basic materials for the manufacture of household and commercial detergents, was added to the complex.

It is obvious that a complex such as the Shell Haven Refinery must be supported by a number of ancillary services which are major items in themselves. The steam raising plant has a total capacity of nearly a million pounds of steam per hour. This steam is produced at pressures from 1,500 p.s.i. down to 250 p.s.i. generating 20 megawatts of electricity in the process.

Cooling water is used on a very large scale-about two and a half million gallons per hour, are pumped in from the River Thames through a 9' diameter tunnel.

The refinery never stops. Throughout the twenty-four hours for three hundred and sixty five days a year, its life blood-crude oil-is kept flowing through its many processes by a team of highly trained people, numbering more than 1,800.

With such a large amount of complex and explosive equipment to operate, training in safety and in the large number of operating and maintenance skills is a vital feature.

There are extensive medical and canteen facilities on site and there is a well equipped sports and social club near the refinery.

To give an idea of the main processes carried out at the refinery to turn crude oil-useless for any practical purpose in its natural state-into numerous petroleum products, such as liquefied gases, petrol, paraffin, aircraft turbine fuel diesel oils, gas oil, fuel oil for industry and bitumen for road making, there follows a short description of the functions of these units at Shell Haven.

Distilling Units

Distillation is the basic process in refining and all crude oil must pass through a distillation unit before undergoing any further treatment.

Incoming crude is passed through a furnace where it is heated to about 300 0 centigrade in tubes exposed to the furnace heat before it is fed into the fractionating column. In this column the temperature decreases from the bottom to the top; the heaviest fraction falls to the bottom of the column and is taken away for use as feedstock for the high vacuum distilling units (where it is further distilled under the vacuum to produce different grades of bitumen) and as a blending component for fuel oil. The remaining hot oil

vapours rise up the column and the various fractions condense at different levels depending on the relationship of the boiling point to the temperature in the column at each level. The lightest gases which do not condense are taken off from the top of the column while the gasoline, naptha, kerosine, gas oil fractions, in descending order, are taken off at lower levels.

Conversion Units

Two catalyctic reformers (platformers) serve to upgrade the gasoline and naptha fractions obtained from the crude oil distilling units. These fractions, which are unsuitable for use in modern high compression ratio car engines are converted to high octane blending components which are then suitable for use in the highest grade petroleums.

The feed stock to the units is vapourised and mixed with hydrogen gas. The combined vapours, at a high temperature and pressure, are passed through fixed beds of catalyst containing metallic platinum.

Chemical reactions take place including the formation of aromatic hydro carbons, which can be concentrated by distillation in the splitter and are then used to blend various grades of petrol.

Treating Units

Certain products require additional treatment to enable them to meet particular requirements in use. An example is the petrol fraction which can contain small quantities of undesirable elements. The chief kinds are certain compounds of sulphur that may be deleterious to the quality of the petrol.

These harmful elements are removed by the Doctor treating plant which also gets rid of the unpleasant odour and prodUces what is called a "sweet gasoline" suitable for final processing before despatch to the consumer.

Lubricating Oil Plants

The waxy feedstock for the lubricating oil plants contain certain unwanted constituents which would make the finished lubricating oils unstable and liable to form sludge in service. These constituents are removed by passing the feedstock through a solvent extraction unit, using furfural as a solvent. The lubricating oil is now passed to the dewaxing plant where again solvents are used. The oil/solvent mixture is refrigerated to allow the wax to crystalise out. This in turn is filtered off leaving a wax free oil. On a few occasions it is necessary to treat a batch of lubricating oil in a clay treating unit in order to improve the colour.

The oils are now ready for blending with additives to produce high quality motor, aviation and turbine oils.

The waxes removed in the manufacture of lubricating oils are themselves refined by a sweating process and treated with sulphuric acid and an absorbing earth to produce a colourless, odourless wax suitable for wax paper wrappings and waterproofing of containers for foodstuffs.

LIMITED

STATION ROAD

CHER TSEY, SURREY ENGLAND

Telephone: Chertsey 4391

Rapid Flashpoints

with the

PRECISE determinations in a fraction of the time taken using conventional methods.

Produces a GO/NOT GO confirmation of critical flash point in ONE MINUTE. Correlates with ASTM-IP methods. Requires only 2 ml. Sample. ACCURA TE-RELlABLE-PORTABLE

Telephone: EASt 0428

DR. H. K. BLACK

(B.Sc., Ph.D., D.I.C., F.R.I.C.)

Consulting Scientist

(Formerly H.M. Chief Inspector of Explosives, Home Office)

79 POPE'S AVENUE, TWICKENHAM, MIDDX. TELEPHONE: 01-894 5069

This is to announce that following my decision to retire from the post of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Explosives at the Home Office, London, I have entered into practice as a Consulting Scientist in the following fields of expertise:

EXPLOSIVES: Manufacture, storage and conveyance.

PE"IROLEUM:

CONVEYANCE OF DANGEROUS CHEMICALS: GAS CYLINDERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS: INDUSTRIAL SAFETY : ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS.

POLLUTION: EXPERT WITNESS:

Storage; site design and lay-out; dispensing systems; licensing problems; conveyance.

By road and other forms of transport; modern handling methods· port facilities and lay-out; bye-laws. '

For conveyance of dangerous substances by road.

Explosion and fire hazards; general safety.

Assessment of hazards; precautionary measures.

I am available for consultation at the above address.