Albarrie GeoComposites manufactures, supplies and installs the revolutionary and highly successful SorbWeb™ Plus multi-layer secondary oil containment system. The CBR Puncture Strength is 371.5 ± 41.0 kgf / 819.0 ± 90.4 lbf – based on ASTM D6241. The distance to navigable waters, volume of material stored, worse case weather conditions, drainage patterns, land contours, soil conditions, etc., must also be taken into account. Gallons per minute (GPM) make sense in a reference to a plug-like device; how many gallons of water it allows to pass through in a minute. ICAF Transformers Test Compressed air foam is generated by the combination of compressed air, water and foam concentrate in the right proportions, to create a foam solution similar to shaving cream. If it were not then the containment wouldn’t be a containment. Area of transformer pad = 8 x 10 = 80 square feet. a fire containment barrier between one oil-filled transformer and other neighboring transformers, building structures, and site equipment. Any business that has bulk oil with an aggregate aboveground storage capacity of 1,320 gallons of oil or more per location. Oil-filled electrical equipment is specifically excluded from the definition of “bulk storage container.” Thus, the secondary containment requirements of 40 CFR 112.8(c)(2) are not applicable to oilfilled electrical equipment, such as transformers. Any kind of oil in any form such as crude oil, vegetable oil (oils from seeds, nuts, fruits, or kernels); and other oils and greases, including synthetic oils and mineral oils. Q. While transformers are not classified as oil storage containers, whilst in operation leaking Q. Amendment No 3. Oil containment Even where the more traditional system of chippings and sump is used as a base for the transformer compound, consideration will need to be given to the possibility of loss of all the oil from the transformer tank and its cooler. He has a BSCE and MSCE with an emphasis in structural engineering from Washington State University. The SorbWeb™Plus Containment System is designed to perform under North American Winter Conditions and is designed to withstand some settlement and frost heaving. Specific provisions. In North America the standard for petroleum hydrocarbons in soil and water is less than 15 ppm. Avista selected the Petro-Pipe® filter from Solidification Products International. One of Henson’s first tasks was to research ideas for an above-ground, oil containment system that would not require an oil-water separator tank and pump system. Oil Blocker will congeal and seal on contact with mineral oil. Avista’s first installation was more than four years ago, and no filter cartridges have been replaced to date. What is a “harmful quantity” of discharged oil? How do I determine if my facility could reasonably discharge oil into or upon navigable waters or adjoining shorelines? Initial Cost: The cost difference between Avista’s two transformer oil containment systems is essentially the difference in the cost of concrete between the two systems since both systems require about the same amount of labor. Eden Transformer Oil Ltd was formed by Alan Denbow and Eddie Gregory in August 1985. Can we jack and roll the transformer if the SorbWeb Plus system is installed? Research led him to SPI’s patented technology. Inside the moat at each filter drain, a pre-filter, basket-type cover is installed to keep larger debris from entering and plugging the filters. Ground conductors are run along the outside and over the top of the moat from the ground grid in at least two separate locations. To use this moat-style foundation, modifications were needed for connections on both the high and low voltage sides of the transformer. If these transformers are filled with mineral oil they will each require individual containment & drainage, along with 3-hour fire rated walls, partitions and exposed structural steelwork. Next, the foundation was designed to include filter drains near the four corners of the moat. Barrie, ON L4N 3V7 Absolutely! The lining was then filled with 1.5- inches of rounded, washed gravel. Although at first blush these products appear to be similar, in reality they couldn’t be more different. Over the years, the monitoring wells have become full of water and fine sandy debris, which does not filter through the fabric. Avista Utilities in Spokane, Washington, has developed a new standard for transformer oil containment with the introduction of a new, minimum-maintenance, oil-containment design that incorporates the transformer foundation. SPCC-regulated facilities are subject to EPA inspections. Depending on the leak rate these temporary catch devices must be replaced on regular basis. If during a Jack and Roll process, then metal sheets or equivalent should be placed over the berms, under the directions of the civil engineering consultant. In response to the Customer’s written proposal, the Company will make the final determination as to the size, type, and location of the transformer used to provide service under this bulletin. Compliance with SPCC regulations is more than environmental protection. The secondary containment system must hold the contents of the largest container plus freeboard for precipitation if outdoors. Our educated guess is based on the assessment of all available data as well as samples of the oil mat used to make the transformer containment for the Bruce Power Nuclear Station 10 years ago. A harmful quantity is any quantity of discharged oil that violates state water quality standards, causes a film or sheen on the water’s surface, or leaves sludge or emulsion beneath the surface. The SorbWeb™Plus System comes with a standard one year Manufacturer Warranty however, the client my purchase an extended warranty period of up to 40 years. Henson immediately gravitated toward a moat-style design; a simple transformer foundation with a concrete moat around it. Utilities have environmental standards dictating what levels of oil containment are required at their stations for various types of oil-filled equipment. Aaron is a registered professional engineer in Washington, Idaho and Montana. Andax Transformer Containment Bag. If the transformer containment is damaged during the work being performed the warranty would be voided. If I have secondary containment in place, do I still need an SPCC Plan? Secondary oil containment should be provided for containers with more than 201 litres of oil stored that pose “significant risk” to the environment. No, as long as the SorbWeb™Plus System is not impacted by the work that is being performed. Installing transformer containment floor. Additionally, typical oil-water separator systems are expensive and involve long-term maintenance. The waterstop is made by Synko-Flex and it is designed specifically for exposure to hydrocarbon liquids. Refined petroleum products (gasoline & diesel fuel), Fats, oils or greases from animal, fish, or marine mammal origin. Any container with a capacity of 55 gallons or more. The plan must include information on storage containers, maps and diagrams of the facility, secondary containment structures, flow patterns of site drainage, preventative measures, containment procedures, cleanup equipment and material, employee training, routine inspections and recordkeeping. Q. The 10 to 15 percent extra cost of ester-filled transformers is more than compensated for by the benefits it brings. Transformer oil containment practices vary throughout the industry, and different jurisdictions may require oil containment for station permitting. 85 Morrow Rd The inspector may be with federal EPA, a state agency or even the local government. If an inspection finds water in the moat then the filter cartridges need to be replaced. needed basis. NS189 Oil Containment for Major Substations. Q. This technology consists of filters with three different layers of filtration, which essentially form a plug in the filter once the oil is “soaked” up into the filtration media. Q. Oil containment measures are required to prevent pollution of the ground, land drains and watercourses in the substation area and beyond caused by oil leaking from transformers etc. Sometimes if the transformer containment is installed during the initial construction phase, many different types of vehicles and activities can take place afterwards until the substation comes online. Can the warranty be extended? The Polyethylene and Polypropylene polymers used to manufacture these products have enhanced content of antioxidants and stabilizers to ensure oxidative and UV stability of these products for at least 50 years. The additional time includes a yearly inspection by an Albarrie technician, recommendations and a report. In fact, you would have to pass the same oil water mixture through their fabric three times before you could remove a visual oil sheen never mind meet the 15 ppm requirements. In those applications life expectancy is in the decades. Q. None of these products can undergo biodegradation under normal operating conditions. It’s kind of like saying “This car has great breaks when it stops its speed is 0 km/hr”… of course it is, and of course a flow of hydrocarbons through a containment is zero gallons per minute. Based on all current available information we are confident that Albarrie’s “oil mat” would last 50 years. For a 230-115 kV autotransformer, that timeframe increases to about 10 days. Consider: You can’t risk any confusion about what the regulations require. Both the EPA and CEPA regulate PCB concentration which must be below 50 ppm. Can the containment be designed to accommodate frost heave or site settlement? The choice is clear, stick with the company that provides you with responsible facts. YES. Hydrocarbon flow rate, in fact, has nothing to do with how well an oil solidifying geotextile barrier performs and should not be confused with non- detectable oil level quantities in the soil or water which the barrier is designed to protect. Q. This appendix provides supplementary information for inspectors. Sample Calculations to Determine Secondary Containment Volume of a Single Vertical Cylindrical Tank Inside a Rectangular or Square Dike or Berm. onstruction pictures and plans for the drip containment system are attached to this plan. Having a complete and implemented SPCC Plan at a facility is essential to a successful inspection. Double-walled storage tanks do not need additional containment. Q. There are different approaches to the design concepts of secondary containment systems, such as an individual pit around the transformer foundation sized to hold all or a portion of the transformer oil volume, a limited volume containment area around the transformer, or a lined area around the transformer, with piped drainage to an underground storage tank. Topics include (1) applicability of Oil Pollution Prevention Regulations (40 CFR, Part 112) published by the Environmental These should be sealed as soon as they are found to prevent migration of oil along crack-lines. The Petro-Pipe® filter cartridge inserts into the sleeve and is replaceable as needed. The SorbWeb™ Plus Secondary containment system includes five layers or let’s call them filters, this patented design gives the system outstanding performance, exceptional protection from silt and excellent fire quenching abilities. To protect the lining from damage, the entire containment area was enclosed within a plastic barrier chain and warning signs to keep equipment out. This is to ensure we deliver the finest compensator and transformer oil bladders available on the market. Transformer oil leaks and spills have been an ongoing issue and concern in the utility industry for decades. Many of those must have a written SPCC plan. TRANSFORMER OIL CONTAINMENT BASIC INFORMATION How To Contain Transformer Oils? The first is a “slab on grade” pour on which the transformer pedestal (foundation) will be poured. Q. If the transformer is leaking, the SorbWeb™Plus containment system should be checked to ensure water is not accumulating in the containment pit. Other systems tha… In a spill containment area surrounding an oil storage vessel or oil-filled electrical transformer, everything on the ground is designed and created to be impervious to oil and water. Transformer Bunds The foundations for the transformer and its cooler are to be contained within a common bund which shall allow reasonable access to the plant. Designed to be installed vertically, around a substation fence, or individual oil filled equipment in impervious subsoil conditions, any area of Oil Blocker  geotextile fabric that comes in contact with mineral oil will solidify, expand and turn the oil exposed section of the fabric into a rubberized mass forming an impermeable barrier approximately ½-inch thick, keeping oil from leaving the facility until the incident can be responded to. Total area = 220 + 80 = 300 square feet. Obviously, if the basin is full of water when an oil leak occurs, there is no longer a contained, controlled system in the event of an oil spill. Design and Construction - General ... 9.4 Transformer Oil Level Indicator..... 20 9.5 Transformer Oil Draining ... 10.2 Improved Internal Arc Containment (IAC) Rating..... 21 11. Ongoing Costs: With everything above ground, no oil-water separator tanks or pumps to inspect or maintain, and all guesswork about the status of a below-ground system removed, this design is practically maintenance free. EPA has increased its enforcement efforts, and SPCC plan compliance has become a top priority since the passage of the 2010 amended regulations. Q.