Example 3: Design of a Piping System - Incorporation of Codes and Standards
A plant manager has hired a recent graduate of a mechanical engineering program to consider the
design of a piping system to supply kerosene to 3 burners that will be located outdoors. Burner
‘A’ will require 10 gpm of fuel, burner ‘B’, 20 gpm, and burner ‘C’, 25 gpm. For convenience,
the manager will purchase a vented outdoor fuel oil storage tank to supply enough kerosene for 8
hours of operation. They wish to install the discharge pipe connection at the base of the tank to
take advantage of the fuel static pressure head and to facilitate pipe installation. It is understood
that codes will need to be verified. The fuel oil storage tank and piping should be supplied with
sufficient heat tracing to maintain the kerosene temperature at about 68oF. Given that the fuel
will be atomized and combusted completely in the burner, there will be no need for return piping
from the burners to the storage tank. Design the burner kerosene supply piping system that will
meet the requirements of the manager.
Further Information: Consultation with NFPA 31 may provide guidance to justify some design
decisions.