PEI Vocab

Enhanced Vapor Recovery

A general term used to describe vapor-recovery requirements developed by the "California Air Resources Board" for implementation in California. See also "PEI/RP300".

Ball Valve

A valve in a piping system which consists, essentially, of a ball with a hole drilled through the center, positioned within a chamber. Through operation of the valve stem, this ball can be turned. When the ball is turned so that it blocks the port through which liquid enters the valve, the ball shuts off the flow. When it is turned to the opposite position, liquid flows through the opening in the ball.

Branded Gasoline

Gasoline which bears the trade name of the refiner from which the gasoline was purchased. A branded station is a gasoline station which displays the logo of the major oil company that supplies the station with gasoline.

High Hose Dispenser

A "dispenser" where the hose/dispenser connection is located at or near the top of the dispenser. See also "Dispenser", "Blending dispenser", "Low hose dispenser", "Single hose dispenser", "Multihose dispenser", "Satellite dispenser", "Multiproduct dispenser" and "PEI/RP500".

Tight Head Container

A "drum", "keg" or pail of product where the top of the container is left in place while product is dispensed. Product is accessed through a "bunghole" in the lid of the container. See also "PEI/RP700".

Open Head Container

A "drum", "keg", or pail where the top of the container is completely removed in order to access the product. See also "PEI/RP700".

Emergency Stop Switch

A clearly identified switch that disconnects all power to "dispensers", pumps and electrical equipment in the area surrounding fuel dispensers. The switch may be inside or outside a building. See also "PEI/RP500".

Hold Open Latch

A clip device on an "automatic nozzle", which, once set in place by the operator holds the nozzle open and permits motor fuel to flow, even if the operator does not keep his or her hand on the nozzle. When the liquid level in the motorist's tank reaches the point where it enters a hole in the side of the nozzle spout, the nozzle cuts off the flow of liquid and the hold-open latch is disengaged.

Low Hose Dispenser

A dispenser where the hose/dispenser connection is located in the lower portion of the dispenser. See also "Dispenser", "Blending dispenser", "High hose dispenser", "Single hose dispenser", "Multihose dispenser", "Satellite dispenser", "Multiproduct dispenser" and "PEI/RP500".

Single Hose Dispenser

A dispenser with only one hose on each side. However, each hose can dispense more than one grade of fuel, depending on the grade selected by the customer. See also "Dispenser", "Blending dispenser", "High hose dispenser", "Low hose dispenser", "Multihose dispenser", "Satellite dispenser", "Multiproduct dispenser" and "PEI/RP500".

Balance Stage II Vapor Recovery Nozzle

A fuel dispensing nozzle equipped with a flexible "bellows" and faceplate that makes a vapor tight connection with the vehicle fill pipe when the "nozzle spout" is inserted into the fill pipe of the vehicle. See also "Nozzle", "Leaded gasoline nozzle", "Diesel nozzle", "Pre pay nozzle", "Vacuum assist Stage II recovery nozzle" and "PEI/RP500".

Rigid Pipe

A hollow cylinder used to convey motor fuel that is not designed to be bent. Rigid pipe typically has a bend radius of 50 feet or more and is not intended to bend to any significant degree after installation. See also "Flexible pipe" and "Semi rigid pipe".

Swivel

A liquid tight device installed between the "nozzle" and "dispenser" hose to enhance handling ease for the user. The swivel permits the nozzle to be rotated without rotating the hose at the same time. This means that when a motorist fuels a tank, he or she can twist the position of the nozzle without putting stress on the hose. In the absence of a swivel, a dispenser hose tends to become twisted and difficult to handle.

Siphon

A siphon is a continuous tube that allows liquid to drain from a reservoir through an intermediate point that is higher, or lower, than the reservoir, the flow being driven only by the difference in hydrostatic pressure without any need for pumping. It is necessary that the final end of the tube be lower than the liquid surface in the reservoir.

Fire Resistant Tank

A storage "tank" designed and constructed to provide fire resistive protection, in accordance with criteria in a recognized "fire code". Generally, codes require that when exposed to fire, during a period of not less than 2 hours such a tank must prevent the release of liquid, failure of the tank itself, failure of the tank's supporting structure, and impairment of the venting system. See also "Fire valve".

Atmospheric Tank

A storage "tank" in which product is stored at ambient pressure-that is, at the pressure of the atmosphere at the location of the tank. Atmospheric tanks are designed to operate at pressures ranging from the pressure of the atmosphere, itself, through 0.5 psig. The pressure measurement is made at the top of the liquid. Typically, atmospheric tanks are vented directly to the surrounding atmosphere. All "underground storage tank" s at gasoline stations are atmospheric tanks.

Compartmental tank

A storage "tank", or truck tank, that is divided by one or more walls, or bulkheads, to create individual compartments within the tank. A typical storage tank is designed to contain a single liquid. A compartmental tank, on the other hand, may be used for the storage of two or more different grades of "gasoline" and "diesel " fuel-with each product contained within its own compartment.

Marina Fueling Facility

A storage system consisting of "tanks", associated piping, pumps, "hoses", and "nozzles" that is constructed for the purpose of fueling recreational and commercial vessels. The fuel is dispensed into a tank that is a fixed component of the vessel, or in some instances into an approved portable fuel container. The marina fueling facility may be located on a river, reservoir, lake, bay, gulf, or ocean.

Normal Vent

A storage take device that automatically relieves internal pressure or vacuum during normal storage (atmospheric pressure equalization) and during normal operations (fills or withdraws). See also "PEI/RP800".

Single Point Connection

A term used in "Stage I vapor recovery" operations to identify a system in which both the product "hose", which delivers "gasoline" to the storage tank, and the vapor return hose are connected to the same fitting. In some Stage I vapor recovery set-ups, product from the delivery truck flows into the storage tank through one opening in the tank, and displaced vapors from the tank flow through another opening into the hose that carries them back to a compartment on the delivery truck. But in a single-point connection, a special fitting is placed in one opening on the tank. Both the product hose and the vapor return hose are connected to this fitting. The fittings used for single-point connections are usually referred to as " "coaxial" " fittings. The system uses a reduced-diameter "drop tube" that allows vapors to flow up between the drop tube and the fill pipe, while liquid flows down the drop tube into the tank. See also "Two stage compressor".

Bobtail

A term applied to certain tank vehicles used in the delivery of petroleum products. A bobtail truck is one in which the vehicle's tail has been figuratively cut off. That is, the faucets and other connectors normally present have been housed inside a compartment, created by an angle in the lower portion of the tank, thus giving the vehicle a shortened effect.

Price Inversion

A term sometimes used by independent petroleum marketers to describe a situation in which wholesale prices are higher than competitive retail prices available in the same market. A hypothetical example would include a scenerio where an independent oil marketer seeks to buy a tanker-truck load of gasoline at the loading rack of a terminal, owned by an integrated oil company, but discovers that the per-gallon wholesale price, at which he can purchase the gasoline, is actually higher than the retail price posted in the same territory at branded stations supplied or operated by the oil company. This differential would be referred to by the marketer as a price inversion.

Sources of Ignition

A term used in fire codes to describe circumstances that may cause flammable vapors to ignite. Sources of ignition listed include open flames, lightning, smoking, cutting and welding, hot surfaces, frictional heat, sparks and spontaneous ignition. Fire codes require elimination of sources of ignition in areas where flammable vapors may be present.

Control Technique Guideline (CTG)

A term used in the federal "Clean Air Act" to describe directives issued by the "Environmental Protection Agency", outlining specific pollution-abating steps required in a particular facility or industry. The act provides that major polluters must install reasonably available control technology to alleviate sources of air pollution. The EPA issues guidelines which describe the type of equipment or methods a particular plant or industry must install. These documents are referred to in the act as control technique guidelines.

Reasonably Available Control Technology

A term that first appeared in the federal "Clean Air Act", and refers to existing, available methods for reduction of major sources of air pollution. The RACT concept requires that an organization producing extensive air pollution must take steps to alleviate the pollution, through reliance on technology currently available in the marketplace

Light Ends

A term used in the petroleum industry to identify products that condense at the top of the distillation tower during the refining process. In a "refinery", "crude oil" is heated causing vapors to rise up through a tower, where they condense at various levels. Those that condense at the highest point are sometimes referred to by oil people as light ends. "Propane" distilled from crude oil is a light end. See also "Refining process".

Downstream Operations

A term used in the petroleum industry to refer to the sequence of operations that occur after "crude oil" has been found and produced. A "refinery" is said to be downstream from the oil field; a "terminal" is downstream from the refinery; a "bulk plant" is downstream from a terminal; and a "gasoline" station is downstream from a bulk plant or terminal.

Poppet

A thin disk inside a valve that is pushed up into an "open" position when liquid is flowing through the valve in one direction, but which drops down into a "closed" position if flow in the opposite direction seeks to occur. See also "Double poppet".

Turnbuckle

A threaded device used to connect an "underground storage tank" hold-down strap to an anchor pad.

Bulkhead Fitting

A threaded fitting installed in a side wall of a container or " tank". Bulkhead fittings are typically installed near the bottom of a tank and are often used to manifold tanks together or to provide a water drainage point. See also "PEI/RP700".

Drop

A trade term used to describe the delivery of motor fuel to an "underground storage tank". The movement of the product, by gravity, from the tank vehicle into the storage tank is referred to as a drop.

Faucet

A water faucet is simply a valve operated by a handle. Turn the handle one way and liquid flows; turn it the other way and the liquid stops. Faucets are also used on tank delivery vehicles. The operator connects a hose to a faucet located under the tank. When the operator turns the faucet handle, liquid flows, by gravity, through the faucet and into the hose.

Unitized Tank

An aboveground storage "tank" assembly which is built to include a containment reservoir around the bottom of the tank - a reservoir of adequate capacity to contain the entire contents of the tank should a tank failure occur. Commonly referred to as a prefabricated steel "dike".

UL 2085 Tank

An aboveground, shop fabricated, secondarily contained vessel designed to store flammable and combustible liquids constructed according to "Underwriters Laboratories" Standard 2085 entitled Protected Aboveground Tanks for Flammable and Combustible Liquids. A UL 2085 tank is intended to limit the heat transferred to the primary tank during a fire and to protect the tank from physical damage. See also "PEI/RP600", "UL 80 tank" and "UL 142 tank".

Manway

An access entry to a storage "tank", provided for the purpose of allowing internal inspection of the tank or inspection of fittings connected to the tank. A manway is large enough to accommodate complete or partial bodily entry by a person.

Diaphragm pump

An air-operated device that uses a flexible membrane to move liquids. Air pressure on one side of the membrane forces the fluid trapped in a chamber on the other side of the membrane through an outlet in the fluid chamber. A pair of check valves at the inlet and outlet of the fluid chamber control the direction of fluid flow. See also "PEI/RP700".

Union Check Valve

An alternative check valve which can be installed in the piping of a suction pumping system, the purpose of which is to provide a method for stopping the loss of prime caused by a damaged " foot valve", "angle check valve", or "vertical check valve" elsewhere in the system. A union check valve can be easily inserted in the system and used until the damaged valve is repaired or replaced. It is installed in a union just beneath the "dispenser."

Tank Saddles

Foundation supports, usually constructed of reinforced concrete, for horizontal "aboveground tanks", with upper portion of the saddle curved to conform to the configuration of the tank which it supports. Saddles elevate horizontal tanks above the surface of the ground and thus facilitate inspection for the presence of leaks.

CMMS

CMMS stands for Computerized Maintenance Management System (or Service).

Bifueled Vehicles

Cars, buses, or trucks equipped to operate on either of two different fuels: "compressed natural gas" or "gasoline". A bi-fueled vehicle has two tanks (or two sets of tanks). For example, one would typically contain CNG, the other gasoline. The driver of the vehicle can switch from one tank to the other simply by flipping a switch on the dashboard.

Unleaded Gasoline Nozzle

A "nozzle" intended for dispensing unleaded "gasoline". These nozzles are designed for appropriate flow rates and have smaller diameter spouts than diesel or leaded gasoline spouts. See also "PEI/RP500", "Leaded gasoline nozzle", "Diesel nozzle", "Pre pay nozzle", "balance Stage II vapor recovery nozzle", "Vacuum assist Vapor recovery nozzle" and "vacuum assist Stage II recovery nozzle".

Pre Pay Nozzle

A "nozzle" that ensures that the fuel-flow valve is closed before the nozzle is returned to the dispenser. A pre pay nozzle may meet this requirement by using at least one of the following: See also "Nozzle", "Leaded gasoline nozzle", "Diesel nozzle", "balance Stage II vapor recovery nozzle", "Vacuum assist Stage II recovery nozzle" and "PEI/RP500".

Stall

A condition in an air-operated fluid pump where the fluid "backpressure" downstream of the pump equals the pressure of the fluid at the output of the pump. Because there is no pressure difference, the pump stops and there is no movement of fluid into or out of the pump. See also "PEI/RP700".

Knock

A condition that occurs in an automotive engine when, instead of smooth burning, there is early ignition of fuel gasses before the piston reaches the top of its stroke.

Pump Runaway

A condition where a fluid pump operates with no fluid entering the fluid inlet or very little "backpressure" at the fluid outlet. The lack of fluid or backpressure causes the pump to cycle very rapidly and can damage the fluid pump or air motor. Pump runaway typically occurs because the fluid container that supplies the pump has emptied or because some component in the fluid distribution system has ruptured. See also "PEI/RP700".

Air Eliminator

A device used in fuel handling systems to purge the air from fueling lines. As the fueling process begins, hoses and other lines are often filled with air, not with liquid. When liquid starts to flow, air present in the line collects in pockets. This can create a jarring, erratic effect that will continue until the flow of liquid has finally purged all the air pockets in the line. Because liquid fuel meters will measure the movement of air and vapor, as well as the movement of liquid fuel, air and vapor must be vented from the piping before the liquid enters the meter. This is the primary function of the air eliminator. Air elimination devices are designed to quickly bleed air and vapors from the fuel lines and to thus allow liquid product to flow freely.

Test Boot

A donut or tube shaped device made of flexible material that can be used to seal off the interstitial space of double walled piping. With the test boot in place, the interstitial space of the piping can be isolated for integrity testing purposes. See also "PEI/RP900".

Remote Fill

A filling point for an "underground storage tank" which, instead of being positioned directly above the "tank", is located some distance away and connected to the tank by a pipeline. Remote fills are principally installed at sites where the physical layout would make it difficult to maneuver a tank vehicle into place to make a fuel drop into a fill opening directly above the tank. See also "PEI/RP700".

Obround Tank

A flat sided take with a rounded top and bottom designed to be able to fit through a standard doorway. Obround tanks typically conform to UL 80 and are commonly used as heating-oil supply tanks in residential and small commercial building applications. See also "PEI/RP800".

Attended Facility

A fuel dispensing facility where employees are present to assist with and monitor the fueling delivery process. See also "Unattended self service" facility.

Satellite Dispenser

A fuel dispensing system that allows fuel tanks on both sides of a vehicle to be filled during a single sales transaction. During the fueling operation, fuel is metered in the master dispenser and then supplied to two nozzles. One nozzle is attached to the master dispenser and the other is typically mounted on a small dispenser cabinet positioned so it will be on the opposite side of the vehicle from the master dispenser. The satellite dispenser is supplied with fuel from the master dispenser via underground piping. See also "Dispenser", "Blending dispenser", "High hose dispenser", "Low hose dispenser", "Single hose dispenser", "Multihose dispenser", "Multiproduct dispenser" and "PEI/RP500".

Reference Guage

A gauge of known accuracy used as a standard against which other gauges may be calibrated. See also "PEI/RP300".

Digital Manometer

A hand-held pressure measuring device that uses a transducer to covert pressure to a corresponding voltage. A digital manometer typically indicates pressure measurements using a digital display. See also "Manometer", "PEI/RP300".

Classified Liquid

A liquid included in a system of labeling liquids that pose fire hazards according to their flash point and in some cases, boiling point. See also "PEI/RP700".

Diesel

A liquid motor fuel, heavier and less volatile than "gasoline". Diesel fuel is classified as a combustible liquid, and not as a flammable liquid. It is widely used as a fuel in locomotives, large trucks, emergency generators, and other industrial applications. In a gasoline engine, fuel entering the carburetor is ignited by a spark from the engine's spark plugs. A diesel engine operates on a different principle: a spray of fuel is introduced into a chamber in which air has been compressed, raising the air to a temperature of 1,000ºF. This heat ignites the fuel. The most common is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, but alternatives that are not derived from petroleum, such as biodiesel, biomass to liquid (BTL) or gas to liquid (GTL) diesel, are increasingly being developed and adopted. To distinguish these types, petroleum-derived diesel is increasingly called petrodiesel. Ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) is a standard for defining diesel fuel with substantially lowered sulfur contents.

Piping Sump

A liquid-tight compartment in the piping stream of an underground storage tank system. It is typically used in "double wall piping" construction. It permits the collection of any product leaking from the primary piping to be electronically or visually monitored.

Manometer

A manometer is a pressure measuring device consisting of a clear tube connected to a liquid reservoir. When pressure is applied to the reservoir, the liquid rises in the tube to a height that is proportional to the pressure applied. The sensitivity of a manometer can be increased by placing the tube in a nearly horizontal position so that a small change in pressure produces a large, mostly horizontal movement of the liquid inside the tube. The more sensitive type of manometer is called an incline manometer. See also "Digital manometer", "PEI/RP300".

Cetane Number

A number assigned to motor fuel to represent its properties of ignition. Pure cetane has been given a rating of 100. " Diesel " fuel is routinely tested for its cetane rating. If it has a low rating, additional cetane, along with other chemicals, can be blended into the fuel to bring it up to the desired rating.

Tank Holddown Pad

A pad made of reinforced concrete, used to provide additional weight to an underground storage "tank" and thus prevent it from floating in event of a high water level in the excavation. Such pads are typically constructed in the bottom of tank excavations in high "groundwater" areas. The tanks, in turn, are fastened to the pads through use of connecting straps. The weight of the pad plus the weight of the backfill above the pad will help hold the tank in place.

Water Finding Paste

A paste that reacts with water and which can be applied to the lower end of a tank gauge stick, before the stick is inserted into a liquid fuel storage "tank". If water is present on the bottom of the tank, the paste changes color to the depth of the water. The operator is thus able to detect not only the presence of water in the tank, but the depth of the water layer as well. See also "Gauge stick".

Fill Adapter

A permanent fitting at the top of the "fill pipe " of an "underground storage tank" that allows for a delivery "hose" to be quickly connected to the fill pipe in a liquid tight manner. See also "Swivel adapter", "Fill cap", "PEI/RP900".

Double Wall Piping

A pipe within a pipe. If the inner pipe, carrying product, should happen to leak, the outer pipe provides "secondary containment" and prevents the released product from entering the ground. It is also possible, in a number of ways, to monitor the space between the inner and outer pipes. Through monitoring, the presence of a leak can be identified.

Filter Fabric

A porous synthetic fabric, used in "underground storage tank" excavations, to provide a barrier between different types of soil, or between backfill and adjacent soil. "Groundwater" can move through filter fabrics; sand and gravel cannot.

Proving Can

A portable 5-gallon can used to calibrate retail motor fuel "dispensers". See also "Meter prover".

Island Form

A prefabricated steel or plastic form, designed to be used when concrete is poured for creation of a raised "pump island" at a gasoline station. Island forms are designed in various configurations. Some include built-in electrical conduits and tubes through which driveway alarm signal hose may be passed.

Generator Base Tank

A rectangular "tank" that stores fuel and provides a platform for supporting an electrical generator. The tank and generator typically form an integral unit. See also "PEI/RP600".

Spark Test

A technique used for confirming the integrity of the protective coating on a steel underground composite tank, prior to the tank's installation. See also "Composite tank" and "Holiday".

Thread Protector

A temporary plug fitted into a "tank" opening at the time of shipment to protect the internal threads in the opening from damage during shipment and storage. The thread protector is removed prior to final testing and operation. Thread protectors are also installed on the ends of steel pipe for the same purpose.

Listed

A term applied to equipment or materials which appear in an authoritative list published by an organization, such as a recognized testing laboratory. Frequently, a regulatory "authority having jurisdiction" will require that only listed equipment be used in a particular location. For instance, a fire marshal may require that motor fuel "dispensers" installed in his territory be listed by "Underwriters Laboratories", or a similar testing organization. This means that the manufacturer of such dispensers has built the equipment in conformity with standards promulgated by the testing organization, and that the equipment has been tested by the organization.

Pumper Station

A term used by oil marketers to describe a large retail outlet with a high-volume throughput of motor fuel. A pumper station will usually be one with a throughput of more than 300,000 gallons a month.

Confined Space

A term used in "Occupational Safety and Health Administration" (OSHA) safety regulations to define an area which workers may be required to enter but which, because of its size, shape, or location, can present safety hazards. The inside of a "gasoline" storage tank, for example, is designated as a "confined space." Certain containment sumps may also meet the definition of a confined space. Safety regulations may require that workers who enter such a space be equipped with safety lines, breathing devices, etc.

Flow Through

A term used in some governmental regulations to describe the amount of product that moves through a liquid-fuel handling facility in a given period of time. The equivalent term used in the petroleum marketing industry is " throughput".

Direct Op

Actually, "direct operation." A service station that is owned and operated by an oil marketer or major oil company. Paid employees run the station for the company owner.

Alternative Fuels

Alternative fuels, also known as non-conventional fuels, are any materials or substances that can be used as a fuel, other than conventional fuels. Conventional fuels include petroleum, propane and natural gas. Some well known alternative fuels include biodiesel, bioalcohol, chemically stored electricity, hydrogen, non fossil methane, non fossil natural gas, vegetable oil and other biomass sources. The main purpose of fuel is to store energy in a form that is stable and can be easily transported from the place of production to the end user. Almost all fuels are chemical fuels, which store chemical potential energy. The end user may consume the fuel at will and release energy, usually in the form of heat, for a variety of applications, such as powering an engine or heating a building. In 2007, there were 1.8 million alternative fuel vehicles sold in the United States, indicating an increasing popularity of alternative fuels. There is growing perceived economic and political need for the development of alternative fuel sources. This is due to general environmental, economic, and geopolitical concerns of sustainability. The major environmental concern, according to an IPCC report, is that "Most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations." Since burning fossil fuels are known to increase greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, they are a likely contributor to global warming. Other concerns which have fueled demand revolve around the concept of Peak oil, which predicts rising fuel costs as production rates of petroleum enters a terminal decline. According to the Hubbert peak theory, when the production levels peak, demand for oil will exceed supply and without proper mitigation this gap will continue to grow as production drops, which could cause a major energy crisis. Lastly, the majority of the known petroleum reserves are located in the middle east. There is general concern that worldwide fuel shortages could intensify the unrest that exists in the region, leading to further conflict and war. In an attempt to increase demand for alternative fuels in the US, the IRS began allowing taxpayers to claim a special tax credit for using alternative fuels, known as the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit. The definition used for alternative fuel under this credit is: Any fuel containing at least 85 percent of one or more of ethanol, natural gas, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, or hydrogen; or any mixture which consists of two or more of biodiesel, diesel fuel, or kerosene, and at least 20% of which consists of biodiesel. The production of alternative fuels can have widespread effects. For example, the production of corn-based ethanol has created an increased demand for the feed stock, causing rising prices in almost everything made from corn. However, in a competitive free market, an increased supply of ethanol reduces the demand for conventional fuels, and thus lowers fuel prices. The ethanol industry enables agricultural surpluses to be used to mitigate fuel shortages.

Impact Valve

An "emergency shutoff valve", located beneath a "dispenser", to shut off the flow of "gasoline" in the event of an accident or fire. An impact valve is also called a fire valve, shear valve and crash valve.

DEF

An acronym for "Diesel Exhaust Fluid".

Top Off

An attempt to dispense "gasoline" to a motor vehicle fuel tank after the dispensing "nozzle" 's primary automatic shutoff mechanism has engaged. See also "PEI/RP300".

Static Electricity

An electrical charge created by motion or flow of liquid. A spark created by static discharge can ignite fuel vapors during refueling. Proper "grounding" can disipate static electrical buildup.

Sensor

An electronic device that can detect the presence of water, liquid product, product vapors or a loss of pressure or vacuum in the "interstice" of a "tank", a "tank top sump", fuel "dispenser" sump, or observation well. Sensors are available that can only detect water, only petroleum products or can detect both water and petroleum products and differentiate between the two. See also "PEI/RP900".

Automatic Tank Gauge (ATG)

An electronic device that measures liquid level and calculates liquid volume in an underground storage tank.

Meter Jump

An event where the "dispenser" meter display indicates a sudden increase immediately after the pump is turned on but before any fuel is dispensed. See also "Meter creep", "PEI/RP500"

Image Program

An incentive program used by oil companies to prompt branded marketers and dealers to upgrade the physical appearance and equipment of retail outlets. The incentives offered vary from company to company. Typically, the programs involve discounts and credits on the purchase of refined products. In some instances, the programs make available to marketers equipment that has been purchased directly by their supplying oil company.

Combustible Gas Indicator (Detector)

An instrument used to detect the presence of combustible hydrocarbon vapors. The instrument is hand-held and battery-powered, and provides a reading indicating the presence of explosive gas and air mixtures.

Vent

An opening designed to allow the escape of vapor or the introduction of air from a "tank". See also "Vapor vent".

Refinery

An oil refinery is an industrial process plant where "crude oil" is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as "gasoline", "diesel" fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, "kerosene", and liquefied petroleum gas. Oil refineries are typically large industrial complexes with extensive piping running throughout, carrying streams of fluids between large chemical processing units. Raw or unprocessed crude oil is not generally useful in its raw or unprocessed form, as it comes out of the ground. Although "light, sweet" (low viscosity, low sulfur) crude oil has been used directly as a burner fuel for steam vessel propulsion, the lighter elements form explosive vapors in the fuel tanks and so it was quite dangerous, especially in warships. Instead, the hundreds of different hydrocarbon molecules in crude oil are separated in a refinery into components that can be used as fuels, lubricants, and as feedstock in petrochemical processes that manufacture such products as plastics, detergents, solvents, elastomers and fibers such as nylon and polyesters. Petroleum fossil fuels are burned in internal combustion engines in order to provide power to operate ships, automobiles, aircraft engines, lawn-mowers, chainsaws, and other pieces of power equipment. These different hydrocarbons have different boiling points, which means they can be separated by distillation. Since the lighter liquid products are in great demand for use in internal combustion engines, a modern refinery will convert heavy hydrocarbons and lighter gaseous elements into these higher value products. Oil can be used in so many ways because it contains hydrocarbons of varying molecular masses, forms and lengths such as paraffins, aromatics, naphthenes, alkenes, dienes, and alkynes. While the molecules in crude oil include many different atoms such as sulfer and nitrogen, the most plentiful molecules are the hydrocarbons, which are molecules of varying length and complexity made of hydrogen and carbon atoms, and a small number of oxygen atoms. The differences in the structure of these molecules is what confers upon them their varying physical and chemical properties, and it is this variety that makes crude oil so useful in such a broad range of applications. Once separated and purified of any contaminants and impurities, the fuel or lubricant can be sold without any further processing. Smaller molecules such as isobutane and propylene or butylenes can be recombined to meet specific octane requirements of fuels by processes such as alkylation or less commonly, dimerization. Octane grade of gasoline can also be improved by catalytic reforming, which strips hydrogen out of hydrocarbons to produce aromatics, which have much higher octane ratings. Intermediate products such as gasoils can even be reprocessed to break a heavy, long-chained oil into a lighter short-chained one, by various forms of cracking such as fluid catalytic cracking, thermal cracking, and hydrocracking. The final step in gasoline production is the blending of fuels with different octane ratings, vapor pressures, and other properties to meet product specifications. Oil refineries are large scale plants, processing from about a hundred thousand to several hundred thousand barrels of crude oil per day. Because of the high capacity, many of the units are operated continuously (as opposed to processing in batches) at steady state or approximately steady state for long periods of time (months to years). This high capacity also makes process optimization and advanced process control very desirable. The world's first oil refineries were set up by Ignacy Łukasiewicz near Jasło, Austrian Empire (now in Poland) in the years 1854-56 but they were initially small as there was no real demand for refined fuel. As Łukasiewicz's kerosene lamp gained popularity the refining industry grew in the area. The first large oil refinery opened at Ploieşti, Romania in 1856. Several other refineries were built at that location with investment from United States companies before being taken over by Nazi Germany during World War II. Most of these refineries were heavily bombarded by US Army Air Forces in Operation Tidal Wave, August 1, 1943. Since then they have been rebuilt, and currently pose somewhat of an environmental concern. Another early example is Oljeön, Sweden, now preserved as a museum at the UNESCO world heritage site Engelsberg. It started operation in 1875 and is part of the Ecomuseum Bergslagen. At one time, the world's largest oil refinery was claimed to be Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia, owned by Saudi Aramco. For most of the 20th century, the largest refinery of the world was the Abadan refinery in Iran. This refinery suffered extensive damage during the Iran-Iraq war. The world's largest refinery complex is the "Centro de Refinación de Paraguaná" (CRP) operated by PDVSA in Venezuela with a production capacity of 956,000 barrels per day (152,000 m³/d) (Amuay 635,000 bbl/d (101,000 m³/d), Cardón 305,000 bbl/d (48,500 m³/d) and Bajo Grande 16,000 bpd). SK Energy's Ulsan refinery in South Korea with a capacity of 840,000 bbl/d (134,000 m³/d) and Reliance Petroleum's refinery in Jamnagar, India with 660,000 bbl/d (105,000 m³/d) are the second and third largest, respectively. Early US refineries processed crude oil to recover the kerosene. Other products were considered wastes and were often dumped directly into the nearest river. The invention of the automobile shifted the demand to gasoline and diesel, which remain the primary refined products today. Refineries pre-dating the US "Environmental Protection Agency" were not subject to any environmental protection regulations. Today, national and state legislation requires refineries to meet stringent air and water cleanliness standards. In fact, obtaining a permit to build a modern refinery is perceived by many American oil companies to be so difficult and costly that no new refineries have been built (though many have been expanded) in the United States since 1976. As a result, some believe that this may be the reason that the US is becoming more and more dependent on the imports of finished gasoline, as opposed to incremental crude oil. On the other hand, studies have revealed that accelerating merger activity in the refining and production sector has reduced capacity further, resulting in tighter markets in the United States in particular.

Kiosk

As the term is used in petroleum marketing, it is the name given to a small, stand-alone building at a self-service station in which the station cashier sits. Pronounce "key-osk."

Compatibility

As used in petroleum marketing operations, the term compatibility refers to the ability of a material to be subjected to chemicals or compounds without the physical properties of the material being adversely affected.

Barrel

As used in the measurement of petroleum products, a standard barrel contains 42 U.S. gallons, or approximately 35 imperial gallons.

B100

B100 is another name for pure "biodiesel".

BTL

BTL, or biomass-to-liquid,is a multi-step process which converts "biomass" into liquid "biofuels". BTL is also referred to as second generation "biodiesel" production. There are many different methods of BTL, but many processes include Fischer-Tropsch, hydrogenation or pyrolysis.

CARB Cerified

CARB is the acronym for the "California Air Resources Board". For over three decades, CARB has played a leading role in testing and approving "gasoline" vapor recovery equipment. Vapor recovery enforcement agencies in other states, to avoid duplicating work already done in California, often rely on CARB-approved equipment or procedures. If CARB has tested and approved certain types of nozzles and hoses, for example, this equipment may be referred to as having been "CARB certified." Other states or municipalities, in turn, may specify that only "CARB-certified equipment" may be used in vapor recovery installations within their jurisdictions.

NFPA 30

Codes adopted by the "National Fire Protection Association" that specifically cover operations connected with the storage, transfer, and dispensing of flammable and combustible liquids. The provisions of these codes have been adopted as enforceable regulations by local fire-safety agencies in many American cities and are updated every three years. See also "Codes 30 and 30A".

Fuel Oil

Fuel oil is a fraction obtained from petroleum distillation, either as a distillate or a residue. Broadly speaking, fuel oil is any liquid petroleum product that is burned in a furnace or boiler for the generation of heat or used in an engine for the generation of power, except oils having a flash point of approximately 40 °C (104 °F) and oils burned in cotton or wool-wick burners. In this sense, "diesel" is a type of fuel oil. Fuel oil is made of long hydrocarbon chains, particularly alkanes, cycloalkanes and aromatics. The term fuel oil is also used in a stricter sense to refer only to the heaviest commercial fuel that can be obtained from "crude oil", heavier than "gasoline" and naphtha. Fuel oil is classified into six classes, numbered 1 through 6, according to its boiling point, composition and purpose. The boiling point, ranging from 175 to 600 °C, and carbon chain length, 20 to 70 atoms, of the fuel increases with fuel oil number. Viscosity also increases with number, and the heaviest oil has to be heated to get it to flow. Price usually decreases as the fuel number increases. No. 1 fuel oil, No. 2 fuel oil and No. 3 fuel oil are variously referred to as distillate fuel oils, diesel fuel oils, light fuel oils, gasoil or just distillate. For example, No. 2 fuel oil, No. 2 distillate and No. 2 diesel fuel oil are almost the same thing (diesel is different in that it also has a cetane number limit which describes the ignition quality of the fuel). Distillate fuel oils are distilled from crude oil. Gas oil refers to the process of distillation. The oil is heated, becomes a gas and then condenses. It differentiates distillates from residual oil. No. 1 is similar to kerosene and is the fraction that boils off right after gasoline. No. 2 is the diesel that trucks and some cars run on, leading to the name "road diesel". It is the same thing as heating oil.[citation needed] No. 3 is a distillate fuel oil and is rarely used. No. 4 fuel oil is usually a blend of distillate and residual fuel oils, such as No. 2 and 6; however, sometimes it is just a heavy distillate. No. 4 may be classified as diesel, distillate or residual fuel oil. No. 5 fuel oil and No. 6 fuel oil are called residual fuel oils or heavy fuel oils. As far more No. 6 than No. 5 is produced, the terms heavy fuel oil and residual fuel oil are sometimes used as synonyms for No. 6. They are what remains of the crude oil after gasoline and the distillate fuel oils are extracted through distillation. No. 5 fuel oil is a mixture of No. 6 (about 75-80%) with No. 2. No. 6 may also contain a small amount of No. 2 to get it to meet specifications. Residual fuel oils are sometimes called light when they have been mixed with distillate fuel oil, while distillate fuel oils are called heavy when they have been mixed with residual fuel oil. Heavy gas oil, for example, is a distillate that contains residual fuel oil. The ready availability of very heavy grades of fuel oil is often due to the success of catalytic cracking of fuel to release more valuable fractions and leave heavy residue. Oil has many uses; it heats homes and businesses and fuels trucks, ships and some cars. A small amount of electricity is produced by diesel, but it is more polluting and more expensive than natural gas. It is often used as a backup fuel for peaking power plants in case the supply of natural gas is interrupted or as the main fuel for small electrical generators. In Europe the use of diesel is generally restricted to cars (about 40%), SUVs (about 90%), and trucks. The market for home heating using fuel oil, called heating oil, has decreased due to the widespread penetration of natural gas. However, it is very common in some areas, such as the Northeastern United States.

Glycerine

Glycerine is a liquid by-product of "biodiesel" production. Glycerine is used in the manufacture of dynamite, cosmetics, liquid soaps, inks, and lubricants.

Boom

In the context of petroleum operations, boom is used to describe a chain of floating objects positioned around an oil spill in a lake, bay, or river to contain the spilled product and prevent it from spreading. Booms are also sometimes placed around unloading vessels, as a precautionary measure. A horizontal pipe, used to extend the range of a loading arm, may also be referred to as a boom.

Material Safety Data Sheet

Information supplied by the manufacturer and provided to individuals who use or come into contact with chemical substances that includes how to use, transport and store the chemical safely, as well as what to do in case of emergency. See also "PEI/RP500".

Trench Liner

Just as a "tank" excavation can be lined with an impervious synthetic membrane , so can a pipe trench that connects tanks to dispensers. The trench lining provides secondary containment in event a leak occurs in the piping system.

Kerosene

Kerosene is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The word Kerosene was registered as a trademark by Abraham Gesner in 1854 and for several years only the North American Gas Light Company and the Downer Company were allowed to call their lamp oil kerosene. It eventually became genericized. It is usually called paraffin in the UK, South Africa and France (not to be confused with the waxy solid also called paraffin wax or just paraffin); the term kerosene is usual in much of Canada, the United States, Australia (where it is usually referred to as kero) and New Zealand. Kerosene is widely used to power jet-engined aircraft (Jet fuel) and some rockets, but is also commonly used as a heating fuel and for fire toys such as poi. The heat of combustion of Kerosene is similar to that of "diesel".

Marathon Oil

Marathon Oil Corporation, based in Houston, Texas, is a worldwide oil and natural gas exploration and production company. Principal exploration activities are in the United States, Norway, Equatorial Guinea, Angola and Canada. Principal development activities are in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. In addition, Marathon operates other businesses that market and transport its own and third-party natural gas, crude oil and products manufactured from natural gas, such as liquefied natural gas and methanol, primarily in the United States, Europe and West Africa. Marathon began as The Ohio Oil Company in 1887. In 1889, it was purchased by John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil trust. It remained a part of Standard Oil until the trust was broken in 1911. In 1930, The Ohio bought the Transcontinental Oil Company, giving it the Marathon brand name. In 1962, the company changed its name to "Marathon Oil Company" after its main brand name. Mobil wanted to buy the company in 1981. The residents of Findlay, Ohio, the corporation's home town, worried that the Findlay jobs would be lost so Marathon looked for a white knight. They found one in 1982 when United States Steel bought the company. The headquarters moved to Houston in 1990 but the company maintains downstream operations in Findlay. In 2001, USX, the holding company that owned United States Steel and Marathon, spun off the steel business and in 2002 USX renamed itself Marathon Oil Corporation. In 1998, Marathon and Ashland, Inc., formed Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC to refine, market and transport crude oil and petroleum products, primarily in the Midwest, the upper Great Plains and southeastern United States. Marathon now owns 100% of the venture with its purchase of Ashland's share on June 30, 2005. In 2003, Marathon sold off its Canadian operations to Calgary-based Husky Energy, which is owned in part by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka Shing. In late 2003, Marathon Oil and partners (Noble Energy, AMPCO) started the Bioko Island Malaria Control Project (BIMCP) in Equatorial Guinea. Malaria control activities included indoor residual spraying, improved diagnosis and case management, and capacity building to contain future outbreaks. As of late 2005, BIMCP had proven being successful in reducing malaria transmission, reducing the proportion of children with malaria parasites, and improving iron status. BIMCP is perceived as a model of hands-on corporate involvement in a humanitarian effort with government, non-profits and academic organizations to reduce the burden of malaria in countries located in Equatorial Africa. Equatorial Guinea's President Obiang Nguema is one of the world's worst dictators (Parade Magazine). Marathon's humitarian efforts have mitigated much criticism casued through their dealings from with the corrupt and brutal regime. In 2006, Marathon began using STP-branded additives in its gasoline, likely to compete with Chevron's popular Techron additive. Marathon maintains refineries in Robinson, Illinois; Canton, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Garyville, Louisiana; Catlettsburg, Kentucky; Texas City, Texas and St. Paul Park, Minnesota. External link "www.marathon.com"

Backfill

Material used to fill the excavation around the tanks and piping at an underground storage system site. Native soil removed from the excavation is rarely suitable as backfill material. Backfill material is generally specified to be pea gravel, crushed stone, or sand. See also "Pea gravel".

Shoring

Material, such as sheet steel, positioned along the side walls of an excavation to prevent cave-ins during construction.

Mesa Petroleum

Mesa Petroleum, also known as Mesa Limited Partnership, the nation's largest independent producer of domestic oil and gas and one of its largest gas producers, is a publicly held corporation with headquarters in Dallas and offices in Amarillo, Fort Worth, and Las Colinas. The company was founded by Thomas Boone Pickens. Pickens was born on May 22, 1928, in Holdenville, Oklahoma, moved to Amarillo while in high school, attended Texas A&M for a year, and received his geology degree from Oklahoma A&M in 1951. After working as a roughneck and in a refinery, he became a geologist for Phillips Petroleum, but difficulties in dealing with company bureaucracy forced him to resign in 1954 and start out on his own. For two years Pickens was self-employed in well-site and consulting work. He founded the company that became Mesa Petroleum in 1956, when he entered into a partnership known as Petroleum Exploration, Incorporated, with Eugene McCartt and John O'Brien, his wife's uncle. McCartt and O'Brien owned quarter interests and supplied a line of credit that enabled work on bigger ventures, while Pickens owned the remaining half and served as president. In its early deals, PEI made money by selling prospects it had discovered and retaining a "back-in interest" or percentage of the profits made by the well in its first few years. Eventually, the firm attracted a group of Amarillo investors who allowed it to drill its own wells, and in 1958 PEI discovered eight gas and one oil well in sixteen tries. In 1959, with the help of PEI investors, Pickens formed Altair Oil and Gas Company to explore for oil in Canada, once again serving as president and major stockholder. In 1960 the company acquired a Utah mining company, Standard Gilsonite, and in 1962 PEI drilled ninety-eight successful wells and made more than $750,000 in profits. Company employees increased from two to twenty-three, and investors to nearly 300. In 1963, when McCartt wished to sell his share in the company, Pickens and PEI lacked sufficient money to buy him out. PEI signed a three year note with McCartt to pay him for his interest in the company. McCartt threatened to take over the company when it almost defaulted on its payments, a situation avoided in 1964 when Pickens led the company in an initial public offering to raise capital. At the same time, Pickens renamed the company Mesa Petroleum for "the picturesque, table-topped lands that rise out of the Texas Panhandle." In this process, Mesa combined the properties of Altair and PEI, and acquired 239 stockholders from the two original firms. In its first year, Mesa produced revenues of $1.5 million and a net income of $435,310. The company grew steadily, and by 1968 had revenues of $6.2 million, profits of $1.4 million, and stock traded on the American Stock Exchange. Mesa's fame initially developed from its acquisitions. In early 1968, Pickens targeted the Hugoton Production Company of Garden City, Kansas, for a possible merger. Hugoton owned a substantial portion of the Hugoton gas field in southwestern Kansas, then the nation's largest gas field. When the Hugoton management rebuffed Pickens's offer, Mesa introduced a hostile tender offer that would give Hugoton shareholders 1.8 shares of Mesa's common stock for every share of Hugoton's. Because Pickens was not yet forty years old and his company was the smaller of the two, Hugoton's management and board of directors failed to take him seriously. In 1969, however, Mesa acquired nearly one-third of Hugoton's shares, and in April stockholders of both companies approved the merger. Hugoton assets gave Mesa the leverage it needed to expand its business and complete bigger deals. Shortly after completing the Hugoton deal, Pickens diversified with the purchase of the Swisher County Cattle Company and the Harmon and Toles Grain Company, a cattle-feeding operation in Hutchinson County, Texas. He also acquired Randall County Feed Yard, and began to increase the capacity in its yards. Within three years, Mesa was the second largest cattle feeder in the country, with the capacity to feed more than 160,000 cattle. By 1973 the firm also owned more than 150,000 head of cattle. Cash flow from cattle operations enabled Mesa get into offshore exploration, but the cattle industry experienced a downturn in 1973. Despite Pickens's efforts to hedge his cattle, the diversification effort ultimately failed and Mesa sold its cattle operations at a substantial loss. Mesa's next attempt at diversification linked it with a company closer to its line of business and with sizable oilfield reserves. Its offer to Southland Royalty Company of Fort Worth was terminated after the Southland management waged a successful legal battle against Mesa. In 1970, Mesa acquired Pubco Petroleum, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as well as undeveloped acreage and personnel that produced an aggressive rate of growth. In 1972 Mesa reported $92 million in revenues, $15 million in profits, and $189 million in assets. In 1976 the company discovered the largest field in its history in the North Sea. The Beatrice Field, named for Pickens's wife, netted the company a $31.2 million profit before Mesa sold it to the British National Oil Company, established by the British Labor Party. Faced with government requirements that BNOC participate in local finds made by non-British exploration companies, Mesa decided it was easier to sell than have BNOC as an unwelcome partner. Between 1973 and 1981, Mesa grew into one of the largest independent oil companies in the world, with assets of more than $2 billion. In 1980 reserves totaled more than twenty-five million barrels of oil and natural gas liquids and, by the end of the decade, almost 2.5 trillion cubic feet of gas. In 1979, facing a new Canadian tax policy, Pickens sold Altair Oil and Gas and founded the Mesa Royalty Trust to restructure the firm by spinning off a large portion of its reserves to shareholders. Mesa distributed trust units on the New York Stock Exchange equal to the number of shares each stockholder had in Mesa common stock. Stockholders received 90 percent of the profits from assets directly, while Mesa retained a working interest to manage the properties. In 1984 the Tax Reform Act dissolved such trusts. Pickens also succeeded in oil futures, but it was his repeated attempts to take over companies much larger than his own that led to his and the company's greatest fame. By the 1980s he came to believe that acquiring other companies had become more profitable than oil exploration and production. His skill lay in an ability to identify undervalued companies and make a profit when outside parties and the markets recognized their value. In the spring of 1982, Mesa made an offer for Cities Service Company of Tulsa, Oklahoma, a company more than twenty times the size of Mesa. Cities Service responded to Mesa's tender offer with a tender offer of its own for Mesa. Cities Service enlisted Gulf Oil as a "white knight," a company agreeable to management that could defend the targeted company, to help in their defense. Mesa eventually lost the battle, but sold the stock it owned in Cities Service back to the company for a $30 million profit. In the 1980s, Mesa attempted several other takeovers. It was outbid by Phillips Petroleum in a 1983 offer for General American Oil, a Dallas independent, but succeeded in acquiring a 5 percent portion of shares outstanding in Gulf Oil, the sixth largest oil company in the United States. Later that summer Pickens and a group of investors acquired additional stock to bring Mesa's total interest to 11 percent. Pickens then launched a proxy fight with Gulf for control of a company he viewed as poorly managed. Gulf's management offered Pickens a "greenmail" premium, an amount paid by a target company to repurchase its stock from a corporate raider, but he refused. Eventually, Socal Oil merged with Gulf in the largest merger in corporate history to date, and Pickens and his investors profited $760 million before taxes by tendering their shares to Socal. Mesa also attempted to buy Phillips Petroleum and Unocal, but did not acquire either. In late 1985, after a merger with Pioneer, a large Amarillo independent oil and gas company, Pickens reorganized his company as the Mesa Limited Partnership, then the largest independent oil company in the world. The same year, he founded the Boone Company, a joint venture between Drew Craig, Sidney Tassin, David Batchelder, and Pickens, to deal separately from the Mesa Limited Partnership. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Pickens attempted takeovers of Newmont Mining, a New York-based firm, Diamond Shamrock, and Koito Mfg., Ltd., a Japanese auto-parts manufacturer, making substantial gains in the process. After a dispute with the Amarillo City Council, Mesa moved its headquarters from Amarillo to Dallas in 1989, and in 1991 restructured itself from a limited partnership to a corporation. In that year the company also sold significant assets to Seagull Energy of Houston. Mesa employed approximately 300 people in 1993.

Class I, Class II, Class III Liquid

National fire codes classify liquids, such as gasoline, heating oil, and diesel fuel, as being either flammable liquids or combustible liquids. The major determining factor in the classification of a particular liquid is its flash point-the temperature at which the liquid produces ignitible vapors. See also "Flammable liquid" and "Combustible liquid."

Asphaltic Coating

Prior to the adoption of "Environmental Protection Agency" regulations, a thick, protective coating was often applied to the exterior surface of steel underground storage tanks to help protect from corrosion. The principal element in the coating was asphalt. Asphaltic coatings are no longer applied.

Fuel Polishing

Process which filters old fuel so that it can be reused. The fuel is then cleaned so that it may be put back into the "petroleum tank".

Pyrolysis

Pyrolysis is one method of converting "biomass" into "biodiesel", using heat.

Hoist

See "Automotive lift".

Fusible Link

See "Fire valve", "Emergency shutoff valve".

Hydrant Cart

See "Hydrant refueler".

API Separator

See "Oil/water separator".

Primary Containment

The ability of an enclosed design or construction to directly contain a liquid while in normal use. See also "PEI/RP800".

Fuel Outlet Fitting

The component of a "dispenser" from which fuel exits the dispenser cabinet. The outlet fitting typically includes a threaded portion that provides the connection point for the "hanging hardware" to the dispenser. See also "PEI/RP300", "PEI/RP400".

Tank Pad

The concrete area that is commonly found at grade level over the top of an "underground storage tank". See also "PEI/RP900".

Lower End

The fluid pumping portion of a "stick pump". See also "PEI/RP700".

Pressure Drop

The loss of pressure that occurs when a fluid moves through a fluid-distribution system. This pressure loss is the result of friction against the walls of the pipe or tube, friction within the fluid itself, and friction produced by fluid flow through various system components such as "elbows", "hose reels" and "control handles". See also "PEI/RP700".

Octane Number

The octane rating is a measure of the resistance of "gasoline" and other fuels to detonation (engine knocking) in spark-ignition "internal combustion engines". High-performance engines typically have higher compression ratios and are therefore more prone to detonation, so they require higher octane fuel. A lower-performance engine will not generally perform better with high-octane fuel, since the compression ratio is fixed by the engine design. The octane number of a fuel is measured in a test engine, and is defined by comparison with the mixture of iso-octane and normal heptane which would have the same anti-knocking capacity as the fuel under test: the percentage, by volume, of iso-octane in that mixture is the octane number of the fuel. For example, gasoline with the same knocking characteristics as a mixture of 90% iso-octane and 10% heptane would have an octane rating of 90. Because some fuels are more knock-resistant than iso-octane, the definition has been extended to allow for octane numbers higher than 100. The octane rating of a spark ignition engine fuel is the detonation resistance (anti-knock rating) compared to a mixture of iso-octane (2,2,4-trimethylpentane, an isomer of octane) and n-heptane. By definition, iso-octane is assigned an octane rating of 100 and heptane is assigned an octane rating of zero. An 87-octane gasoline, for example, possesses the same anti-knock rating of a mixture of 87% (by volume) iso-octane and 13% (by volume) n-heptane. This does not mean, however, that the gasoline actually contains these hydrocarbons in these proportions. It simply means that it has the same detonation resistance as the described mixture. Octane rating does not relate to the energy content of the fuel. It is only a measure of the fuel's tendency to burn rather than explode. Measurement methods The most common type of octane rating worldwide is the Research Octane Number. RON is determined by running the fuel in a test engine with a variable compression ratio under controlled conditions, and comparing the results with those for mixtures of iso-octane and n-heptane. There is another type of octane rating, called Motor Octane Number or the aviation lean octane rating, which is a better measure of how the fuel behaves when under load. MON testing uses a similar test engine to that used in RON testing, but with a preheated fuel mixture, a higher engine speed, and variable ignition timing to further stress the fuel's knock resistance. Depending on the composition of the fuel, the MON of a modern gasoline will be about 8 to 10 points lower than the RON. Normally fuel specifications require both a minimum RON and a minimum MON. In most countries (including all of Europe and Australia) the "headline" octane rating, shown on the pump, is the RON, but in the United States, Canada and some other countries the headline number is the average of the RON and the MON, sometimes called the Anti-Knock Index (AKI), Road Octane Number (RdON), Pump Octane Number (PON), or (R+M)/2. Because of the 8 to 10 point difference noted above, the octane shown in the United States is 4 to 5 points lower than the same fuel elsewhere: 87 octane fuel, the "regular" gasoline in the US and Canada, is 91-92 in Europe. However most European pumps deliver 95 (RON) as "regular", equivalent to 90-91 US (R+M)/2, and some even deliver 98 (RON) or 100 (RON). It is possible for a fuel to have a RON greater than 100, because iso-octane is not the most knock-resistant substance available. Racing fuels, AvGas, LPG, and alcohol fuels such as methanol or ethanol can have octane ratings of 110 or significantly higher - ethanol's RON is 129 (MON 102, AKI 116). Typical "octane booster" gasoline additives include tetra-ethyl lead, MTBE and toluene. Tetra-ethyl lead (the additive used in leaded gasoline) is easily decomposed to its component radicals, which react with the radicals from the fuel and oxygen that start the combustion, thereby delaying ignition and leading to an increased octane number. However, tetra-ethyl lead and its byproducts are posionous and tetra-ethyl lead's use creates an environmental hazards. Beginning in the 1970s, its use in the United States and most of the industrialized world has been restricted. Its use is currently limited to being an addative to aviation gasoline.

Driveway

The paved portion of a service station. In the United Kingdom, this area is referred to as the forecourt.

Continuity

The presence of an electrical bond sufficient to equalize the potential between the "nozzle" and "dispenser".

Pump Output Volume

The volume of fluid flowing through the outlet of a pump during the completion of one "pump cycle". See also "PEI/RP700".

Rack Price

The wholesale price an independent marketer pays for petroleum products purchased at a "terminal " or "refinery loading rack".

Algae Oilfield Services

This term describes the business category of providing various different services to algae oilfield projects.

Flexible Tubing

Tubing that can be bent into smooth curves without collapsing or kinking. See also "PEI/RP700".

Cubic Feet Per Minute/Hour

Units of measurement typically applied to the flow of liquids or gases or gases in a pipe or tube. A cubic foot is the volume contained in a cube that measures 1 foot on each of its sides. A flow rate of 2 cubic feet per minute means that a volume of 2 cubic feet is passing by a given point in a pipe or tube each minute. A flow rate of 2 cubic feet per hour means that a volume of 2 cubic feet is passing by a given point in a pipe or tube each hour. See "PEI/RP300".

Bell and spigot joint

Where fiberglass reinforced plastic pipe is used in connection with storage "tank" installations, crews must connect sections of the pipe to create a complete piping run. Into the flared end of one section of pipe (the bell) the installer inserts the smaller tapered end of an adjoining section (the spigot). The union of these pipe ends is referred to as a bell-and-spigot joint.

Noviolation.com

www.NoViolation.com is a compliance portal for petroleum storage tank owners, contractors, testers, and regulators. The web site offers standardized testing and compliance forms powered by an interactive data base and scheduling system.

Crushed Rock

A backfill material for underground tanks and piping. As the name implies, the material is rock that has been crushed to particle size ranging from 1/8 inch to 1/2 inch.

Open Top Dike

A diked aboveground "tank" in which the dike is open to the elements at the top. See also "PEI/RP800".

Bung Adapter

A fitting that can be screwed into a "bunghole". The bung adaptor allows a "stick pump" or "suction tube" to be installed directly into a container of fluid. See also "PEI/RP700".

Dock

A generic term for a platform where vessels can temporarily tie up to provide convenient loading and unloading of goods, passengers, and fuel. See also "Floating dock", "Pier", "Wharf" and "Quay".

Soap Test

A method of testing the integrity of a storage tank prior to its installation. The procedure is also sometimes used for testing the integrity of tank piping, prior to backfilling. See also "Air/soap test".

Wear Plate

A protective plate installed in the bottom of a storage "tank", just below the "drop tube". See also "Striker plate".

Foot Valve

A type of check valve, located at the "foot" of a piping system at the lower end of the suction pipe, inside the storage tank. See also "Check valve", "Suction stub".

Splash Fill

Any tank filling method that allows product simply to splash into the tank, thus creating turbulence and generating excess vapors. For volatile liquids, such as "gasoline", splash fill techniques are undesirable.

Royal Dutch Shell

Royal Dutch Shell plc, commonly known simply as Shell, is a multinational oil company of Dutch and British origins. It is the second largest private sector energy corporation in the world, and one of the six "supermajors" (vertically integrated private sector oil exploration, natural gas, and petroleum product marketing companies). The company's headquarters are in The Hague, Netherlands, with its registered office in London (Shell Centre). The company's main business is the exploration for and the production, processing, transportation, and marketing of hydrocarbons (oil and gas). Shell also has a significant petrochemicals business (Shell Chemicals), and an embryonic renewable energy sector developing wind, hydrogen and solar power opportunities. Shell is incorporated in the UK with its corporate headquarters in The Hague, its tax residence is in Netherlands, and its primary listings on the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Amsterdam. Forbes Global 2000 in 2009 ranked Shell the second largest company in the world, behind General Electric. In 2007, Fortune magazine ranked Shell as the third-largest corporation in the world, behind Wal-Mart and ExxonMobil. Shell operates in over 140 countries. In the United States, its Shell Oil Company subsidiary, headquartered in Houston, Texas, United States, is one of Shell's largest businesses. The Royal Dutch Shell Group was created in February 1907 when the Royal Dutch Petroleum Company and the "Shell" Transport and Trading Company Ltd of the United Kingdom merged their operations - a move largely driven by the need to compete globally with the then predominant American oil company, John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil. The terms of the merger gave 60% of the new Group to the Dutch arm and 40% to the British and is now mostly seen as a Dutch company in line with the original ownership. To celebrate its centenary in 2007 Shell launched a scholarship fund. Royal Dutch Petroleum Company was a Dutch company founded in 1890 by Jean Baptiste August Kessler, along with Henri Deterding and Texaco, when a Royal charter was granted by King William III of the Netherlands to a small oil exploration and production company known as "Royal Dutch Company for the Working of Petroleum Wells in the Dutch Indies." The "Shell" Transport and Trading Company (the quotation marks were part of the legal name) was a British company, founded in 1897 by Marcus Samuel and his brother Samuel. Initially the Company commissioned eight oil tankers for the purposes of transporting oil. In 1919, Shell took control of the Mexican Eagle Petroleum Company and in 1921 formed Shell-Mex Limited which marketed products under the "Shell" and "Eagle" brands in the United Kingdom. In 1932, partly in response to the difficult economic conditions of the times, Shell-Mex merged its UK marketing operations with those of British Petroleum to create Shell-Mex and BP Ltd., a company that traded until the brands separated in 1975. In November 2004, following a period of turmoil caused by the revelation that Shell had been overstating its oil reserves, it was announced that the Shell Group would move to a single capital structure, creating a new parent company to be named Royal Dutch Shell plc, with its principal listing on the London Stock Exchange and the Amsterdam Stock Exchange and its headquarters and tax residency in The Hague in the Netherlands. The unification was completed on 20 July 2005. Shares were issued at a 60/40 advantage for the shareholders of Royal Dutch in line with the original ownership of the Shell Group. Shell has five core businesses: Exploration and Production (the "upstream"), Gas and Power, Refining and Marketing, Chemicals (the "downstream"), and Trading/Shipping, and operates in more than 140 countries. Shell's primary business is the management of a vertically integrated oil company. The development of technical and commercial expertise in all the stages of this vertical integration from the initial search for oil (exploration) through its harvesting (production), transportation, refining and finally trading and marketing established the core competencies on which the Group was founded. Similar competencies were required for natural gas, which has become one of the most important businesses in which Shell is involved, and which contributes a significant proportion of the company's profits. While in the past the vertically integrated business model gave significant economies of scale and provided Shell with the opportunity to establish barriers to entry both geographically and on a more global scale, this has been less a possibility in more recent times. As a result although the vertical integration remains there is much less interdependence between the businesses and each is now charged with being a self-supporting independent business without cross subsidies from other parts of the business chain. Shell's oil and gas business is increasingly an assembly of independent and globally managed business segments each of which must be profitable in its own right. This can be a source of criticism, as some consumers see huge profits accruing from upstream income whilst price rises instituted by the independent downstream business anger motorists and other consumers. The downstream, which now also includes the Chemicals business, generates a third of Shell's profits worldwide and is most recognised by its global networks of more than 40,000 petrol stations and its 47 oil refineries. Over the years Shell has occasionally sought to diversify away from its core oil, gas and chemicals businesses. These diversifications have included nuclear power; metals and electricity generation. None of these ventures were seen as successful and all have now been divested. In the early 2000s Shell moved into alternative energy and there is now an embryonic "Renewables" business that has made investments in solar power, wind power, hydrogen, and forestry. The forestry business went the way of nuclear, coal, metals and electricity generation, and was disposed of in 2003. In 2006 Shell sold its entire solar business and in 2008, the company withdrew from the London Array which is expected to become the world's largest offshore wind farm. External link "www.shell.com"

Ullage

Ullage refers to the unfilled space in a container of liquid.

Underwriters Laboratories

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) is a non-profit, privately owned and operated product safety testing and certification organization. Based in Northbrook, Illinois, UL develops standards and test procedures for products, materials, components, assemblies, tools and equipment, chiefly dealing with product safety. UL also evaluates and certifies the efficiency of a company's business processes through its management system registration programs. UL analyzes also drinking and other clean water samples through its drinking water laboratory in South Bend, Indiana. UL does not "approve" products. Rather it evaluates products, components, materials and systems for compliance to specific requirements, and permits acceptable products to carry a UL certification mark, as long as they remain compliant with the standards. UL offers several categories of certification. Products under its listing service are said to be "UL Listed," identified by the distinctive UL mark. In some cases, a component may be "UL Recognized," meaning UL has found it acceptable for use in a complete UL Listed product. Other products may be "UL Classified" for specific hazards or properties. UL maintains a directory of more than three million products through a publicly available, online database. A manufacturer of a UL certified product must demonstrate compliance with the appropriate safety requirements, many of which are developed by UL. A manufacturer must also demonstrate that it has a program in place to ensure that each copy of the product complies with the appropriate requirements. UL conducts periodic, unannounced follow-up inspections at manufacturers' locations to check ongoing compliance. If a product design is modified, a representative example may need to be retested before a UL mark can be attached to the new product or its packaging. UL has developed more than 1,000 Standards for Safety, many of which are American National (ANSI) Standards, and evaluates nearly 20,000 types of products. A typical standard for electronic products includes not only requirements for electrical safety, but also spread of fire and mechanical hazards. UL evaluates products for compliance with specific safety requirements. UL certification does not guarantee the product will perform acceptably or that it is safe under all conditions (such as product misuse). UL develops its Standards to correlate with the requirements of model installation codes, such as the National Electrical Code. The UL Mark does not carry any legal weight beyond that of any other trademark. In this sense, it is different from the CE Marking or the FCC Part 15 requirements for electronic devices, which are required by law. In practice, however, it may be extremely difficult to sell certain types of products without a UL Mark. Large distributors may be unwilling to carry a product without UL certification, and the use of noncertified equipment may invalidate insurance coverage. It is common practice in many fields to specify UL Listed equipment or UL Recognized materials. Local jurisdictional authorities, such as building, electrical and fire inspectors, may be reluctant to accept a product for installation in a building unless it carries a recognized third-party compliance mark such as the UL Mark. In the past 20 years, great strides have been made in harmonizing international safety standards. For example, manufacturers can obtain certification to both U.S. and Canadian national standards through a single UL certification process. The label for products certified for both Canada and the United States includes "C" and "US" outside of the UL logo. The European analog of the UL Mark is the CE Marking. The CE Marking indicates that a product complies with the essential requirements of the applicable European laws or directives regarding safety, health, environment and consumer protection. Manufacturers generally self-declare compliance with these requirements, whereas the UL Mark requires independent certification from UL. A product that bears a CE Marking may also bear a certification mark such as the UL Mark. UL is one of several companies approved for such testing by the U.S. federal agency OSHA. OSHA maintains a list of approved testing laboratories, known as Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories. External link "www.ul.com"

Air Side

The portion of a centralized vehicle-fluid distribution system that handles compressed air. This typically includes an air compressor, an air-powered motor, and the piping and ancillary equipment used to connect the compressor to the air motor.

Vapor Vent

A pipe, usually 2 inches in diameter, that extends from a "gasoline" storage "tank" at a service station to a point 12 feet or more above grade level. The vent allows vapors that build up in the tank to escape and outside air to enter, thus keeping the tank at atmospheric pressure when liquids are added or removed.

Valve Stem

A rod in a "nozzle" that connects the operating lever to the valve mechanism that controls fuel flow. See also "PEI/RP500".

Vacuum Assist Stage II Recovery Nozzle

A fuel dispensing "nozzle" designed for use with vacuum assist Stage II vapor recovery systems that creates an airtight seal when the nozzle is inserted in the vehicle fill pipe. Vapors are drawn through the vapor inlet port of the nozzle body or spout. See also "PEI/RP500", "Nozzle", "Leaded gasoline nozzle", "Diesel nozzle", "Pre pay nozzle", "balance Stage II vapor recovery nozzle".

Canopy

A roof structure, usually free-standing and without walls, erected over the "dispenser" area of a "gasoline" station to provide protection from the weather for persons using the dispensers.

Dispenser Pans

A containment devices positioned directly beneath a "dispenser" at fueling facility sites. Containment pans are designed to catch and retain motor fuel that may leak from the piping and valves that connect dispensers to the piping system. Fuel so retained flows to a low point in the pan (a "sump" ), or back through secondary piping to a piping sump, where it may be disposed of. The presence of fuel in the sump may trigger a sensor that sounds an alarm. Dispenser pans are also referred to as dispenser "troughs," "trays," or "sumps." The term dispenser 'pan' refers specifically to a shallow UDC or "shallow pan". These dispenser pans typically had their fuel and conduit lines entering through the bottom floor of the pan. The first design is still made and supported by the manufacturer who invented the under dispenser pan: S. Bravo Systems, Inc. The "shallow" dispenser pan has been replaced by the more popular "deep" versions, which are typically referred to as "dispenser sumps" or "UDC" s.

Pier

A fixed structure extending out from land into a body of water that is generally supported by pilings or other permanent supports. See also "Floating dock", "Dock", "Wharf" and "Quay".

Composite Tank

A steel "underground storage tank" to which a laminate of fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) has been applied to the exterior. This FRP coating provides a significant corrosion-resistant barrier between the "tank" and surrounding soil and "backfill".

Under Pump Check Valve

A vertical check valve positioned directly beneath a suction pump. See also "Check valve".

Approved

Acceptable to the organization, office, or individual responsible for approving equipment, materials or a procedure.

Pressure Relief Valve

As the name implies, a pressure relief valve is a device designed to relieve the pressure on a system when it reaches a prescribed level. An example of the use of a pressure relief valve is provided by procedures recommended for pressure testing of tanks at the installation site, prior to their introduction into the excavation. For a steel tank, the recommended air test pressure is 5 psig. A tank can tolerate pressure of this magnitude. However, if a greater amount of pressure were introduced into the tank, say, 15 or 20 pounds, the effect could be disastrous. The tank ends could be blown off. To guard against this possibility when conducting such tests, installation contractors include a pressure relief valve in the test apparatus. The valve can be set to release when the pressure reaches a predetermined level. If pressure should reach that level, the valve will open, relieving the pressure.

Fugitive Emissions

As used in environmental regulations, "fugitive emissions" refers to hazardous air pollutants that escape into the atmosphere from a source that is not supposed to emit pollutants. Not all air pollutants are considered to be "fugitive." "Gasoline" storage "tanks", for example, are equipped with vent pipes designed to allow vapors, that build up within the tanks, to be discharged. The vapors which emerge through these pipes are not fugitive vapors; they are expected to come out through the end of a vent pipe. But when gasoline vapors escape into the atmosphere through pumps, valves, and other components that are supposed to be vapor tight, they are said to be fugitive emissions.

Autogas

Autogas is the common name for liquified petroleum gas when it is used as a fuel in "internal combustion engines" in vehicles. The same equipment is also used for similar engines in stationary applications such as generators. Autogas is widely used as a "green" fuel as it decreases exhaust emissions. In particular, it reduces CO2 emissions by around 20 percent compared to "gasoline". It has an octane rating that is between 90 and 110 and an energy content that is between 25.5 megajoules per litre and 28.7 megajoules per litre depending upon the actual fuel composition. In countries where gasoline is called "petrol" rather than gasoline, it is common for autogas to be simply referred to as gas. In the UK it is invariably referred to simply as LPG; the term "autogas" is never used, and "gas" in the context of automotive fuels is understood to be an Americanised usage for "petrol", not a reference to LPG. In Asian countries, particularly those with historical American influences such as the Philippines, the term autogas is not commonly recognized as a generic term and the use of the term "LPG" or "autoLPG" is more widely used by consumers, especially by taxi drivers many of whom use converted vehicles. The converted vehicles are commonly called LGP vehicles or LPG cars. Another source of confusion is that the term autogas is used in the United States to refer to automobile fuel, when used in piston-powered small aircraft. Aircraft owners using this fuel in place of the more common aviation fuel or avgas, require a Supplemental Type Certificate issued by the United States Federal Aviation Agency. Toyota made a number of LPG-only engines in their 1970s M, R, and Y engine families. Currently, a number of automobile manufacturers—Citroën, Fiat, Ford, Hyundai, General Motors, Maruti Suzuki, Peugeot, Renault, Toyota and Volvo—have OEM bi-fuel models that will run equally well on both LPG and gasoline. Vialli manufacture OEM LPG powered scooters and LPG powered mopeds that run equally well on LPG. Ford Australia has offered an LPG-only variant of their Falcon model since 2000.

Belanger

Based in Northville, Michigran, Belanger, Inc. is a manufacturer of vehicle wash systems. Pioneering the first equipment designed specifically for cloth car washes, today Belanger offers a line of vehicle wash systems, products and components. Belanger products include drive through and conveyor tunnel car wash products and systems, along with friction rollovers & touch free automatic car, truck, and bus washes. External Link "www.belangerinc.com"

Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Coating

Because fiberglass reinforced plastic is a corrosion-resistant, plastic resin material. Some manufacturers of steel "underground storage tanks" have adopted the practice of coating the exterior of their tanks with a thick FRP coating. Tanks so coated are referred to as composite tanks or clad tanks. There is also a process for lining the interior of underground tanks, and the bottoms and lower interior walls of aboveground tanks, with a protective mixture of resin or epoxy/fiberglass. See also "Tank" and "Tank lining".

Crude Oil

Crude oil, or petroleum, is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid found in rock formations in the Earth consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights, plus other organic compounds. Crude oil varies greatly in appearance depending on its composition. It is usually black or dark brown. In the reservoir it is usually found in association with natural gas, which being lighter forms a gas cap over the petroleum, and saline water which being heavier generally floats underneath it. Crude oil may also be found in semi-solid form mixed with sand as in the Athabasca oil sands in Canada, where is usually referred to as crude bitumen. Due to its high energy density, easy transportability and relative abundance, oil has become the world's most important source of energy since the mid-1950s. Petroleum is also the raw material for many chemical products, including pharmaceuticals, solvents, fertilizers, pesticides, and plastics; the 16 percent not used for energy production is converted into these other materials. Petroleum is found in porous rock formations in the upper strata of some areas of the Earth's crust. There is also petroleum in oil sands. Known reserves of petroleum are typically estimated at around 1.2 trillion barrels without oil sands or 3.74 trillion barrels with oil sands. Consumption is currently around 84 million barrels per day. Because the energy return over energy invested ratio of oil is constantly falling, recoverable oil reserves are significantly less than total oil in place. At current consumption levels, and assuming that oil will be consumed only from reservoirs, known recoverable reserves would be gone around 2039, potentially leading to a global energy crisis. However, there are factors which may extend or reduce this estimate, including the rapidly increasing demand for petroleum in China, India, and other developing nations; new discoveries; energy conservation and use of alternative energy sources; and new economically viable exploitation of non-conventional oil sources. Petroleum is used mostly, by volume, for producing fuel oil and "gasoline", both important "primary'' energy sources. Eighty four percent of the hydrocarbons present in petroleum is converted into petroleum-based fuels, including gasoline, "diesel", jet, heating, and other fuel oils, and liquefied petroleum gas. The lighter grades of crude oil produce the best yields of these products, but as the world's reserves of light and medium oil are depleted, oil refineries are increasingly having to process heavy oil and bitumen, and use more complex and expensive methods to produce the products required. Because heavier crude oils have too much carbon and not enough hydrogen, these processes generally involve removing carbon from or adding hydrogen to the molecules, and using fluid catalytic cracking to convert the longer, more complex molecules in the oil to the shorter, simpler ones in the fuels.

American Equipment Finance

Operating in multiple locations throughout the U.S., American Equipment Finance provides instant access to capital for companies operating within the petroleum industry. American Equipment Financeís product offerings include the development, implementation and management of Customer Finance Programs (CFPs) for manufacturers, dealers and distributors who wish to offer their customers instant access to funds for the purchase of their products and services.

pH

pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution. It was first introduced by Danish chemist Soren Peder Lauritz Sorensen at the Carlsberg Laboratory in 1909. Sorensen suggested the notation "PH" for convenience, standing for "power of hydrogen", using the cologarithm of the concentration of hydrogen ions in solution, pH. Although this definition has been superseded pH can be measured if an electrode is calibrated with solution of known hydrogen ion concentration. Pure water is said to be neutral. The pH for pure water at 25 °C is close to 7.0. Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are said to be basic or alkaline.

Blending Pump

A "gasoline" station "dispenser" that is capable of blending different grades of motor fuel, just before the fuel enters a vehicle fuel tank. If a conventional gasoline station sells three grades of gasoline, typically it must have at least one storage tank for each grade. Moreover, each dispenser hose is usually limited to the dispensing of a single grade of gasoline. The objective of the blending pump is to introduce greater flexibility into this situation: to give the motorist a wider choice as to the grade of motor fuel he will buy, and to give the station owner an option of using fewer storage tanks. Blending pumps have been available for nearly half a century. They look much like conventional "pump island" dispensers. However, instead of being piped from a single storage "tank", a blending pump is piped into two tanks-one containing low-octane gasoline, the other high-octane. When the motorist pulls up to the dispenser, usually by pushing a button-the octane rating of the fuel he or she desires to buy. This action, in turn, programs the dispenser. Fuel from two tanks is drawn into the dispenser, in proper proportions, and mixed in the meter compartment before flowing into the vehicle fuel tank. See also "Blending dispenser".

Cam and Groove Coupling

A "hose" coupling method widely used in petroleum marketing operations. The traditional method of connecting a hose to a "faucet", or to another hose, has been through use of screw type couplings. This is a common way of connecting lengths of garden hose, for example. With larger hoses, such as 4-inch delivery hose used to transfer petroleum products from a tank vehicle to storage tanks, screw type connections would be excessively slow and cumbersome. To make it possible for fuel delivery truck drivers to make quick connections between faucets on their tank vehicles and the hose that carries product into storage tanks, and between the hose and "tank", cam and groove couplings have been developed. The coupling is a two-piece assembly. In a typical application, one section of the coupling is fitted directly onto a tank delivery vehicle beneath the product compartment. This section has a shallow groove running all the way around its outer perimeter. The other section of the coupling is attached directly to one end of a delivery hose that is to be connected to the tank delivery vehicle. This section is a round piece of machined metal, usually brass or aluminum, with two ear-like cam arms projecting from opposite sides. Inside the section is a gasket made of "Buna-N", Neoprene, or similar material. To make a connection between the two sections of the coupling, the operator inserts the hose end of the coupling into the opposing section mounted on the tank vehicle. He then pulls down on the two ear-like cam arms. This pulling motion causes the arms to rotate. Curved sections on the inside ends of the cam arms seat themselves in the groove on the tank truck portion of the coupling. When the cam ends fully engage themselves in the groove, they pull the inner gasket into firm contact with a lip on the opposing section of the coupling. This creates a liquid-tight seal. The hose can later be uncoupled from its connection to the tank vehicle by reversing the process-pulling up on the cam arms.

Leaded Gasoline Nozzle

A "nozzle" intended for dispensing leaded "gasoline". These nozzles have larger diameter spouts than unleaded gasoline "nozzle spouts". See also "Nozzle", "Diesel nozzle", "Pre pay nozzle", "balance Stage II vapor recovery nozzle", "Vacuum assist Stage II recovery nozzle" and "PEI/RP500".

Automatic Nozzle

A "nozzle" used in vehicle fueling which automatically clicks itself off, and stops the flow of fuel when the liquid level in the vehicle tank rises to a point higher than the end of the "nozzle spout". The mechanism inside the nozzle that controls the shutoff feature is a "check valve", positioned at the point where the "nozzle spout" is attached to the nozzle body. A small hole in the seat of the check valve is connected to a tee leading into two passageways. One passage goes to a diaphragm which, when closed, will trip the mechanism that shuts off the nozzle. The other passage leads to a hole at the tip of the nozzle. When the fueling process begins, the nozzle spout is well above the liquid level in the vehicle tank. Air enters the hole at the end of the nozzle spout and moves back into the check valve. As long as air continues to enter the hole, the check valve is incapable of generating a vacuum strong enough to trip the control diaphragm. Eventually, however, the liquid level in the vehicle tank will rise to a point where the liquid covers the hole in the end of the nozzle spout. When this occurs, a strong vacuum is created in the check valve passageways. This vacuum causes the diaphragm to move and trip the mechanism that closes the nozzle. The principle involved in an automatic nozzle is the Venturi principle. See also "Venturi tube".

Stick Pump

A "positive displacement pump", usually powered by an air motor, consisting of a hollow tube with a moveable piston inside. A "check valve" controls the flow of fluid as the piston moves up and down inside the tube to pump the fluid. See also "Pump cycle" and "PEI/RP700".

Lockout Shutoff Valve

A "shutoff valve" designed so that it can be secured in the closed position. See also "PEI/RP700".

Quarter Turn Ball Valve

A "shutoff valve" operated by a handle that rotates 90 degrees to move the valve between the open and the closed position. See also "PEI/RP700".

Bleed Type Shutoff Valve

A "shutoff valve" that includes a mechanism to relieve the pressure downstream of the valve to atmospheric pressure when the valve handle is in the closed position so that equipment can be safely serviced. Also known as a safety bleed shutoff valve. See also "PEI/RP700".

Non-pourable Fluid

A "viscous" substance that cannot be efficiently transferred from one container to another by gravity alone. See also "PEI/RP700".

National Pipe Thread

A United States standard for screw threads cut in a piping and fittings for general use. The National pipe thread (NPT) standard calls for the diameter of the threads to taper, so that the piping is screwed into a mating fitting, the fit of the mal and female threads becoming increasingly tight. A sealant must be used with NPT joints to make them liquid or air tight. See also "PEI/RP300".

Additive

A chemical mixture blended into motor fuels or motor oils to improve the performance of internal combustion engines. For many years, tetraethyl lead was the primary gasoline additive. The introduction of this chemical into gasoline enhanced the octane rating and improved engine performance. When, for environmental reasons, the use of lead in gasoline began to be phased out, other chemicals were substituted. Current additives include antioxidants, antistall agents, metal deactivators, corrosion inhibitors, deicing agents, and upper cylinder lubricants. These additives are usually blended into gasoline or motor oils, either at a refinery or terminal. They are derived from various exotic chemicals: amines, phenols, carboxylic acid, phosphates, etc.

Benzene

A chemical, derived principally from coal tar and occurring naturally in "crude oil." Benzene is a colorless toxic liquid used in a variety of manufacturing processes and as a hydrocarbon component of "gasoline". Benzene has been identified as a carcinogen.

Blender Pump

A blender pump draws two fuels from separate storage tanks and mixes them together in various percentages to form a variety of fuel choices for the station's customers. Any combination of fuels is possible, and most blending systems allow changes in the percentages for the seasonal blends of "E85". In theory, a marketer could have straight unleaded and straight "ethanol" in the two tanks, offering nothing but a variety of ethanol blends in varying strengths. Used for years to blend and dispense unleaded and premium to give customers several octane choices, blender pumps are now finding a home in the retailing of ethanol fuels, providing stations the unique opportunity to offer mid-level blends between E10 and E85 or to simply blend their own ethanol to create E10 and/or E85. The stations benefit from the blending economics of higher-volume ethanol sales, and their customers enjoy this new array of fuel choices at the pump. In this new application, blender pumps typically utilize two underground tanks, one containing unleaded gasoline and the other containing E85. In addition to offering more traditional fuels such as unleaded, E10, and E85, the fuel pump can also dispense a variety of mid-level ethanol blends - often E20, E30, and E40 - which are created by mixing the appropriate percentages of fuel from each underground tank. In this new application, blender pumps typically utilize two underground tanks, one containing unleaded gasoline and the other containing E85. In addition to offering more traditional fuels such as unleaded, E10, and E85, the fuel pump can also dispense a variety of mid-level ethanol blends - often E20, E30, and E40 - which are created by mixing the appropriate percentages of fuel from each underground tank.

Spreader Bar

A brace used in the installation of storage tanks that separate the two sides of a lifting cable. The spreader bar helps ensure an adequate cable angle during a lifting operation so as not to cause damage. The use of lifting cables and spreader bars are discussed thoroughly in Recommended Practices for Installation of Underground Liquid Storage Systems, "PEI/RP100".

Air Drop

A branch of a compressed air distribution system that connects an air-operated piece of equipment to an air header. A typical air drop consists of a length of tubing leading from an air header, a water drip leg, and a short length of tubing that includes a shutoff valve, a filter, a regulator and a lubricator.

Gangway

A bridge-like structure that allows access between a "floating dock" and a fixed structure or between two floating docks. The gangway may also provide support for fuel piping and other utilities that service the floating dock.

Spill Containment Manhole

A bucket-shaped fitting placed around the product-delivery opening of an underground tank, and designed to capture incidental spills that might occur when the delivery hose is disconnected. A few such manholes are capable of holding up to 25 gallons of liquid, although the five gallon capacity is most common. If product remains in the hose after delivery is completed, the product might be spilled onto the ground, causing contamination. But with the manhole in place, the product, instead of being spilled, can be contained. Typically, spill containment manholes are equipped with a drainage port that leads into the storage tank below. If spilled product collects in the manhole, the port can be opened to allow the product to drain into the tank.

Hose Retriever

A cable device, fixed to a "gasoline" station "hose" and "dispenser", to pull the hose back to its storage position after it has been used. A station hose can be up to 18 feet in length. Sometimes, to reach the fill opening of their vehicle tanks, motorists stretch the dispenser hose out to its full length. One end of the retractor cable is connected to a reel. The other end is connected by a clamp to the hose. When the motorist finishes filling his tank and returns the nozzle to the dispenser boot, the spring-loaded retractor reel winds in the slack portion of the hose. There are two types of hose retrievers in common use today: Spring operated and Counterweight operated. See also "Counterweight operated hose retriever" and "Spring operated hose retriever".

Oil Bar

A centrally located "dispense point" for one or more vehicle maintenance fluids. See also "PEI/RP700".

Centrifugal Pump

A centrifugal pump is a rotodynamic pump that uses a rotating impeller to increase the velocity of a fluid. Centrifugal pumps are commonly used to move liquids through a piping system. The fluid enters the pump impeller along or near to the rotating axis and is accelerated by the impeller, flowing radially outward into a diffuser or volute chamber, from where it exits into the downstream piping system. Centrifugal pumps are used for large discharge through smaller heads. A centrifugal pump works by the conversion of the rotational kinetic energy, typically from an electric motor or turbine, to an increased static fluid pressure. This action is described by Bernoulli's principle. The rotation of the pump impeller imparts kinetic energy to the fluid as it is drawn in from the impeller eye (center) and is forced outward through the impeller vanes to the periphery. As the fluid exits the impeller, the fluid kinetic energy (velocity) is then converted to (static) pressure due to the change in area the fluid experiences in the volute section. Typically the volute shape of the pump casing (increasing in volume), or the diffuser vanes (which serve to slow the fluid, converting to kinetic energy in to flow work) are responsible for the energy conversion. The energy conversion results in an increased pressure on the downstream side of the pump, causing flow. Origins of the centrifugal pump A water or mud-lifting machine that, according to the Brazilian historian of science Reti, "must be characterized as the prototype of the centrifugal pump" appeared as early as 1475 in a treatise by the Italian Renaissance engineer Francesco di Giorgio Martini. True centrifugal pumps were not developed until the late 1600's, when Denis Papin made one with straight vanes. The curved vane was introduced by British inventor John Appold in 1851.

Onboard Canister

A charcoal-filled container installed inside the engine compartment of a gasoline-powered vehicle. When the vehicle is refueled, gasoline vapors displaced from the vehicle's tank are directed through the canister. The charcoal removes most of the hydrocarbon contaminants from the vapors before the vapors are released to the atmosphere. Because these charcoal-filled canisters are designed for installation on the vehicle itself-onboard, so to speak, they have come to be referred to as onboard canisters. Federal regulations require that automobiles and light-duty trucks be equipped with onboard canisters.

Tetraethyl Lead

A chemical derived from lead compounds, once widely used as an antiknock, octane-enhancing additive in "gasoline". Environmental regulations now largely prohibit the use of tetraethyl lead in motor fuels.

NFPA 30A

A code developed by the "National Fire Protection Association" and applied at facilities where flammable and combustible liquids are stored and dispensed. NFPA 30A is entitled Automotive and Marine Service Station Code. "NFPA 30" is entitled Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code. These two codes have become very important to designers, installers, and operators of petroleum marketing facilities. The codes prescribe details, such as the required distance between "tanks". Many city, county, and state governmental agencies adopt the codes and thus give them the status of enforceable law.

Major Oil Company

A company engaged in the full range of "petroleum" activity, from exploration to marketing. Major oil companies are directly involved in exploration, production, refining, transportation and marketing.

Reciprocating Compressor

A compressor is a device that mechanically forces a volume of air at ambient atmospheric pressure into a smaller volume, thus increasing its pressure. A reciprocating compressor uses a piston moving inside a closely fitting cylinder, with appropriate inlet and outlet valves at the top of the cylinder, as the mechanism for compressing the air. See also "PEI/RP700".

Single Stage Compressor

A compressor that achieves the design output pressure using a single compression step. Output pressures for single stage compressors are typically in the range of 25 to 135 psig. Compare to a "two stage compressor". See also "PEI/RP700".

Two Stage Compressor

A compressor that achieves the design output pressure using two compression steps. The compressed-air output from the first stage of the compressor is directed to the intake of the second stage of the compressor, where the air is further compressed. Output pressures for two-stage compressors are typically in the range of 125 to 175 psig. Compare to a "single stage compressor". See also "PEI/RP700".

Vapor Lock

A condition that sometimes occurs during hot-weather months in suction pumping systems, and which interferes with the flow of "gasoline" through the system. In a "suction system", the action of the "dispenser" pump creates a vacuum that "pulls" gasoline from an "underground storage tank" and through the piping to the dispenser. Between transactions, the system remains "primed" with gasoline in the piping between tank and dispenser. If the driveway above the piping heats up to 100ºF or more, heat radiating into the ground will affect the piping and may cause the gasoline in the piping to vaporize. Vaporization leads to expansion, and the expanding vapor can create a bubble of vapor in the pipe line. The vapor bubble, called vapor lock, may make it impossible to move gasoline through the system. When the pump is turned on, it reduces the pressure in the line. This, in turn, lowers the boiling point of vapor in the line and causes the vapor lock problem to worsen. Suction systems are especially vulnerable to vapor lock if the piping runs are excessively long. Vapor lock can be avoided by burying the piping at a proper depth or by cooling the piping so that the gasoline that has vaporized will revert to liquid form. While vapor lock is more prevalent in the summer months due to the increase in temperature it can also occur at any time and with any liquid. since you are pulling more vacuum than what the liquid can handle to stay in a liquid form without boiling. A general rule of thumb was to keep the calculated vertical lift below 15 ft., however with some of the newer fuels this has been reduced and will be on a case by case basis with the determining factors being type of fuel, temperature, and elevation above sea level. A "pressurized system" is not subject to vapor lock.

Meter Prover

A container used to determine the accuracy of a "meter". To check a pump meter, an inspector would dispense product from the pump into the proving can. When the pump meter shows that the amount dispensed is 5 gallons, the operator then checks the liquid level in the container to verify that the amount there is, indeed, 5 gallons. Minor variances are permitted and the normal allowed variance is plus or minus 6 cubic inches per 5 gallons of product. This is a variance of 0.5 percent. If the pump meter records a significant inaccuracy, the pump can be officially removed from service until it is adjusted to accurate condition. Calibration of larger meters, such as those used at "loading racks", is obtained through use of prover tanks. See also "Prover tank".

Console

A control unit, containing switches, keys, or similar elements, used to control the operation of a "dispenser" or other device at a "gasoline" dispensing facility. In a self-service gasoline station, the console is located inside the station where it is operated by an attendant. By punching a key on the console, for example, the attendant may "enable" the pumping unit that serves the dispenser from which a motorist is preparing to fuel a vehicle.

Cstore

A convenience store. Normally a small store or shop often located alongside busy roads, or at "gasoline" stations. This can take the form of gas stations supplementing their income with retail outlets, or convenience stores adding gas to the list of goods that they offer. They are frequently located in densely-populated neighborhoods.

Drum

A cylindrical container for transporting and storing lubrication oils and greases. A typical drum can contain 55 gallons of lubrication oil or about 400 pounds of grease. See also "PEI/RP700".

Supply Tank

A cylindrical or rectangular structure used to contain fuel at the location where the fuel is consumed. For example, a supply tank provides fuel to an emergency generator, boiler or other stationary equipment. See also "PEI/RP600".

Vent Cap

A device installed at the top of a storage tank vent pipe to prevent precipitation from entering the vent pipe, while allowing air to freely enter and vapors to freely exit the vent pipe. Vent caps intended for use with flammable liquids must direct vapors exiting the vent pipe horizontally or vertically to promote the dispersion of flammable vapors so they do not accumulate at the base of the vent pipe. See also "PEI/RP300".

Hose Reel

A device that winds a "hose" around a spool. Various methods can be used to wind the hose on the spool, including a spring, a hand crank, or a motor. In fluid-distribution systems, hose reels are used to provide the end user with a convenient means of accessing and storing a lengthy hose that connects the control handle to the rigid piping that dispenses a specific fluid. See also "PEI/RP700".

Combustible Liquid

A definition applied to liquid fuels such as home heating oil and "diesel" fuel, to distinguish them from more volatile fuels defined as flammable. The characteristics which identify flammable and combustible liquids are spelled out in national "fire codes". The difference between flammable and combustible liquids is largely established by flash point - the propensity of the liquids to give off ignitible vapors at varying temperatures. Combustible liquids have higher flash points than flammable liquids and, thus, are not as likely to emit ignitible vapors. Code requirements for handling combustible liquids are less stringent than those for flammable liquids. National fire codes classify combustible liquids as Class II, Class IIIA, or Class IIIB liquids. By code definition, Class II liquids are those liquids that have a flash point at, or above, 100ºF and below 140ºF. Diesel fuel and kerosene are included in this group. Class IIIA liquids are those liquids that have a flash point at, or above, 140ºF and below 200ºF. Class IIIB liquids, such as waste oils, have flash points at, or above, 200ºF. See also "Flammable liquid".

Classified Area

A designated area in a motor fuel dispensing facility where the use of specially prescribed ignition resistant equipment is required. "NFPA 30A," the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), and the International Fire Code all identify certain zones adjacent to gasoline dispensers, vent pipes, tank fill openings, etc., as being classified as "Class I, Division 1" or "Class I, Division 2". The classification assigned to the zone is a reflection of the potential for fire or explosion in that particular zone. In a Class I, Division 1 area, for example, the only motors permitted are those designed to be explosion proof.

Non Attainment Area

A designation for an area, a metropolitan region, for example, that fails to meet prescribed air quality standards. The United States "Environmental Protection Agency" has designated various degrees of air pollution: extreme, severe, serious, moderate, and marginal. The determination of air quality in a particular location is established by taking air samples and subjecting them to evaluation through use of laboratory instruments. If an area fails to measure up to a prescribed standard, it is said to be a nonattainment area. That is, it is said not to have attained the air quality standard prescribed by the EPA. When a region is designated a nonattainment area, there are regulatory restrictions placed on activities within the area. For a given location, one of these may be a requirement that motor fuel dispensing facilities within the area install Stage I and Stage II gasoline vapor recovery systems. See also "State Implementation Plan".

Pulser

A device connected to the "dispenser" meter and that converts the mechanical movement of the meter mechanism to electrical pulses that control the dispenser's electronic display of the volume and cost of the fuel dispensed. See also "PEI/RP500".

Nozzle

A device consisting of a "spout", handle and operating lever, attached to the end of a hose and used for controlling the flow of a liquid motor fuel. A nozzle may or may not be equipped with a "hold open latch". There are many types of nozzles, each designed for a specific purpose. Common nozzle types include: unleaded gasoline, leaded gasoline, diesel, pre-pay, balance Stage II vapor recovery and vacuum assist Stage II recovery. See also "Nozzle", "Leaded gasoline nozzle", "Diesel nozzle", "Pre pay nozzle", "balance Stage II vapor recovery nozzle" and "Vacuum assist Stage II recovery nozzle".

Rectifier

A device for converting alternating current to direct current. Rectifiers are required at sites where impressed current systems are used for "cathodic protection " of underground steel tanks and for protection of the bottoms and related piping of large aboveground steel storage tanks. See also "Impressed current".

Shutoff Valve

A device for interrupting the flow or air or fluid in a piping or tubing network. Shutoff valves allow portions of an air or fluid distribution network to be isolated from the rest of the system for maintenance, repair, or other purposes. Also known as an "Isolation Valve." See also "PEI/RP700".

Meter

A device for measuring liquid throughput in a dispensing pump, tank truck delivery system, or "terminal" "loading rack". Traditionally, meters used in petroleum marketing operations have been analog devices. Liquid flows into one port of the mechanical meter and out another. The movement of the liquid, through the meter, causes pistons to rotate a connected shaft. The rotation of the shaft, in turn, creates movement of wheels on which numbers are embossed. By observing the numbers displayed on these wheels, the system operator can determine how many gallons of product have flowed through the system. In the petroleum marketing equipment industry, the measuring device through which liquid flows in a fuel dispenser is referred to as the meter. The connected but separate device, which houses the gallonage wheels, is referred to as the register. If this separate device also includes wheels that display price figures, it is referred to as a computer. Today, electronic meters predominate in petroleum marketing. These meters are digital. Rotation of pistons in the meter produces an electronic pulsing. The pulses are calibrated to reflect gallonage figures, which are displayed in discrete digital numbers.

Venturi Tube

A device for measuring the flow rate of a fluid, consisting of a tube with a short, narrow center section and widened, flared ends. Fluid, when flowing through the center section, is compelled to move at a higher velocity than when moving through end sections. This creates a pressure differential that is a measure of the flow of the fluid. The Venturi principle is used in automatic shut-off "nozzles" and other petroleum marketing applications. The Venturi effect is the fluid pressure that results when an incompressible fluid flows through a constricted section of pipe. The Venturi effect may be derived from a combination of Bernoulli's principle and the equation of continuity. The fluid velocity must increase through the constriction to satisfy the equation of continuity, while its pressure must decrease due to conservation of energy: the gain in kinetic energy is supplied by a drop in pressure or a pressure gradient force. The limiting case of the Venturi effect is choked flow, in which a constriction in a pipe or channel limits the total flow rate through the channel, because the local pressure in the constriction cannot drop below the vapor pressure in a liquid or exceed the speed of sound in a gas. The Venturi effect is named after Giovanni Battista Venturi, (1746-1822), an Italian physicist.

Control Handle

A device installed at the dispense point of a fluid-distribution system that regulates the flow of fluid from the system. A control handle typically includes a valve that can be fully or partially opened in order to control the flow rate of the fluid being dispensed. A control handle may also incorporate a metering device to measure the amount of fluid dispensed. See also "PEI/RP700".

High Level Alarm

A device installed in a fuel storage "tank " that is capable of sounding an alarm, during a filling operation, when the liquid level nears the top of the tank. A high-level alarm is acceptable as an overfill prevention device in an "underground storage tank" according to federal rules, but is used primarily in aboveground tanks. "Fire codes" require that alarm systems used in aboveground tanks be independent of gauging equipment used in the tanks. The systems must be designed to sound an alarm when the liquid in the tank reaches a prescribed level. See also "High-level valve".

Flow Restrictor

A device installed in a fuel-dispenser system to limit the fuel flow rate. This device is sometimes called a flow limiter. See also "PEI/RP500".

Liquid Collection Point

A device installed in the vapor return piping of a "Stage II vapor recovery" system that is designed to permit the collection and removal of any liquid that may accumulate in the line from vapors that condense. The device is especially useful in installations where the tanks are too shallow to allow for proper slope of the vapor return line. The collection device, typically, is a short length of vertical pipe positioned beneath the vapor return line. If liquid forms in the vapor line, it will drop out into the container located at the liquid collection point. This liquid can then be pumped out and returned to the storage tank. For details on liquid collection points, see PEI's Recommended Practices for Installation and Testing of Vapor Recovery Systems at Vehicle Fueling Sites, "PEI/RP300".

Ball Float Valve

A device installed inside an "underground storage tank" which, when activated, will slow the flow rate of product being delivered into the "tank", and thus reduce the possibility of a spill resulting from an overfill. When a product, such as "gasoline", flows into a storage tank, the rising level of liquid gradually displaces the air/vapor mixture present in the tank. As the liquid level rises, the displaced air/vapor is forced out of the tank through a "vent" or Stage I vapor recovery riser. The vent, which is attached to an opening in the top of the tank, extends via pipe at least 12 feet above the ground level. The ball float valve is connected to the bottom of the vent pipe or vapor recovery riser, inside the tank at the point where the pipe enters the storage tank. The valve is a short length of pipe with a little wire cage suspended from its bottom. A small hole is drilled into the pipe, near the top. Inside the cage is a hollow metal ball, about two inches in diameter. Most of the time, this ball simply rests in the bottom end of its little cage, doing nothing. But when the tank is filled, the liquid level of the incoming gasoline, or other product, will eventually reach the ball. As the liquid level continues to rise, it will float the ball upward. Soon, the ball will reach the uppermost portion of its cage, seating itself against the bottom portion of the pipe. When this happens, the ball essentially seals off the bottom of the pipe opening. After this opening closes, the only escape route for the air/vapor mixture remaining in the tank is the small hole drilled in the ball float valve. The mixture can't easily get out. Something has to give. What happens is that the rate of flow of the product being delivered into the tank slows down as the air/vapor mixture in the tank is compressed. This serves as a signal to the transport driver, engaged in filling the tank, that the liquid level is near the top. To prevent overfilling the tank, he closes a valve on the truck and shuts off the product flow. Ball float valves are typically used in conjunction with "Stage I vapor recovery" systems. A ball float valve is also called a float vent valve or a ball check valve.

Pump Overrun Control

A device that automatically shuts off the air supply to a pump if excess air consumption is detected. Also known as an "air fuse" or "runaway valve." See also "PEI/RP700".

Positive Displacement Pump

A device that causes a fluid to move by trapping a fixed amount of fluid in a chamber and then applying pressure to force the fluid out of the chamber through a discharge outlet. "Check valves" at the inlet and outlet of the fluid chamber control the direction of fluid flow. A "diaphragm pump" and a "stick pump" are positive displacement pumps. See also "PEI/RP700", "PEI/RP800".

Dispenser

A device that dispenses liquid fuel or gaseous fuel, such as "gasoline" or "compressed natural gas", while simultaneously measuring the amount dispensed. In common usage, a motor fuel dispenser is referred to merely as a "pump" or as a "gas pump." If the system in use at the location is a suction pumping system, the dispenser will house the actual pumping unit. With respect to remote (submersible) pumping systems, however, the actual pumping unit is not located in the dispenser. Rather, it is positioned in the storage tank. In any event, the dispenser also contains the metering mechanism, either mechanical or electronic, that monitors and displays the amount of liquid being dispensed. The typical dispenser is mounted on an elevated platform referred to as a "pump island". See also "Blending dispenser", "High hose dispenser", "Low hose dispenser", "Single hose dispenser", "Multihose dispenser", "Satellite dispenser", "Multiproduct dispenser" and "Marina dispenser".

Marina Dispenser

A device that generally provides the transition point between the marina fuel piping and the hose to which the nozzle is attached. A dispenser usually includes a metering device to measure the quantity of fuel dispensed, a control switch that supplies power to the pump, and a receptacle to hold a fuel nozzle when it is not in use. A dispenser may consist of a cabinet similar to that used for automobile fueling, with or without a hose reel, a meter mounted on a stand with a control switch and receptacle to hold a fuel nozzle or mobile-cart-mounted meter and hose that can be connected to a hydrant-type fuel outlet on the dock. See also "Dispenser", "Blending dispenser", "High hose dispenser", "Low hose dispenser", "Single hose dispenser", "Multihose dispenser", "Satellite dispenser" and "Multiproduct dispenser".

Drybreak

A device that prevents product from being spilled when loading arms or hoses are disconnected following a filling operation-as when filling a transport vehicle or large airplane, for example. The device consists of two parts, a coupler and an adapter. The coupler is typically connected to the end of a hose or loading arm assembly. The mated adapter is permanently attached to a tank vehicle loading or delivery port. After the coupler is connected to the adapter, the operator moves a handle on the outside of the coupler to allow product to flow. Operation of the handle opens a valve inside the coupler. When the filling procedure has ended, the operator again moves the coupler handle, closing the internal valve before disconnecting the coupler. Drybreak devices are designed with features that prevent the operator from disconnecting the assembly before he has closed the internal valve.

Fuel / Vapor Splitter

A device that separates "coaxial" fuel and vapor pathways into separate connections for fuel and vapor piping. In a typical application, a coaxial hose is screwed into one side of a fuel/vapor splitter, and a separate fuel and vapor piping is installed on the other side. See also "PEI/RP300".

Card Acceptor

A device that will receive a credit or debit card. To obtain fuel through the dispenser, the user inserts his or her card into the "dispenser" 's card-acceptor opening. Through reliance on a computer network tie-in, the acceptor device verifies the validity of the card, authorizes the dispenser to release fuel, and records the details of the transaction for later billing or recordkeeping purposes. When motorists use gasoline station dispensers equipped with card acceptors, they can purchase motor fuel on a direct basis, without contact with cashiers or other station personnel.

Eductor

A device used for removing vapor or similar material, "gasoline" vapors, for instance, from a place where the material is not wanted. One technique for ridding an empty gasoline storage tank of unwanted flammable vapors is the eductor method. Generally, the physical set-up for use of the method begins with the operator connecting a long, vertical, external tube to the drop tube located inside the tank. Compressed air is introduced into a fitting on this external tube. The movement of this air creates a slight vacuum in the tube and this, in turn, has the effect of drawing vapors from inside the tank up through the drop tube and into the vertical tube. The vapors travel on through the vertical tube and are dissipated into the atmosphere, at least 12 feet above grade level. Meanwhile, outside air is being pulled into the tank, as a result of operation of the eductor device, through the tank's vent piping. Fresh air enters the tank through the vent. Vapor-laden air inside the tank simultaneously moves up through the drop tube, then through the external eductor tube, and finally out into the atmosphere. The Venturi principle is at work in the operation of an eductor system. See also "Venturi tube".

Line Leak Detector

A device used to detect the presence of a leak in the piping of a remote pumping system. More than half the leaks that occur in underground fuel storage systems originate, not in the tanks, but in the piping. A leaking pipe can be particularly serious if the system is pressurized. A pressurized pumping system is one where the pump is located at the tank end of the piping rather than at the "dispenser" end. In a pressurized system, when even one dispenser is in operation, all the lines served by that dispenser's pump are filled with product under pressure. If a leak should occur in any one of these lines, the pressure created by the operation of the pump could cause a large amount of fuel to be quickly released into the ground. To guard against this, the federal underground tank regulations require that pressurized systems be equipped with automatic line-leak detectors. An automatic line-leak detector is defined in the rules as any device capable of detecting a leak of 3 gallons per hour when the line pressure is 10 psi, within 1 hour. Detectors are usually installed at the pump end of the piping, although some models are installed under the dispenser. The most commonly used detectors operate on a pressure principle. As long as piping remains pressurized, the line-leak detector remains inactive. But if pressure is lost in the pipe, the detector goes to work. Inside the detector is a spring-loaded control that requires a predetermined level of pressure to open. When the submerged pump is turned on, if the line is unable to build to the predetermined pressure level as a result of a leak in the pipe, the leak detector will not open. The flow of product that normally moves from the storage tank to the dispenser is blocked. Only approximately 1-1/2 to 3 gallons of product a minute comes out of the dispenser "nozzle". This signals the station operator when something is wrong. Other line-leak detectors include electronic circuits that enable the detectors themselves to turn off the remote pumping units the moment a significant pressure drop or volume loss is detected.

Elevator

A device used to remove a "stick pump" from a "drum" and transfer the pump to another drum. The elevator typically consists of a stand, a support post, a method of attachment to the air motor of the pump, and a manual or air operated lift mechanism to raise the stick pump out of the drum. See also "PEI/RP700".

Pressure Vacuum Vent

A device, usually referred to as a "P/V vent," installed at the discharge end of a vent pipe connected to a "gasoline" storage tank, to regulate the pressure at which vapor is allowed to escape from the "tank", and the vacuum at which outside air is allowed to enter the tank. A gasoline storage tank needs to "breathe." If vapor that builds up inside the tank couldn't get out, it would create pressures that could cause the tank or piping to rupture. Similarly, should liquid be withdrawn from the tank without being replaced by outside air, a vacuum could be created within the tank that would cause it to implode. To prevent these problems, gasoline storage tanks are equipped with vent pipes that rise 12 feet or more above the surface level. These vent pipes serve as the tanks' breathing apparatus. The inflow/outflow of air, through the vent pipe, is controlled at a specified pressure. This is accomplished by installing a pressure/vacuum vent at the discharge end of the vent pipe. Pressure/vacuum vents are typically used to ensure the proper operation of vapor recovery systems-especially "Stage II vapor recovery" systems. Stage II balance systems depend on negative pressure in the tank to draw vapors through piping into the tank. Such systems will work only if a pressure/vacuum vent is used.

Digital

A digital system uses discrete values, usually but not always symbolized numerically to represent information for input, processing, transmission, storage, etc. By contrast, in a non-digital, or "analog device", the systems use a continuous range of values to represent information. Although digital representations are discrete, the information represented can be either discrete, such as numbers, letters or icons, or continuous, such as sounds, images, and other measurements of continuous systems. The word digital is most commonly used in computing and electronics, especially where real-world information is converted to binary numeric form as in digital audio and digital photography. Such data-carrying signals carry electronic or optical pulses, the amplitude of each of which represents a logical 1 (pulse present and/or high) or a logical 0 (pulse absent and/or low).

Flapper Valve

A disk inside a pipe or tube that is capable, when in the "closed" position, of restricting the flow of liquid. An example of a flapper-valve application in petroleum marketing operations is offered by certain types of mechanical over fill prevention devices used in an "underground storage tank". These devices are installed in the "drop tube", near the top of the "tank". They are held in place by a hinge on one side of the disk. Outside the tube there is a float mechanism, which is attached to the flat disk, the flapper valve, located inside the tube. Normally, the float mechanism is in a relaxed position, resting vertically along the side of the drop tube. When the float is in this position, the flapper disk inside is also held in a vertical position against the side of the tube. Liquid entering the tank, through the drop tube, falls, unimpeded, past the flapper valve. During a filling operation, however, the liquid level in the tank rises. When the level nears the top of the tank, it causes the float mechanism to begin moving upward. This movement causes the flapper to move into the stream of liquid flowing past. The pressure of the liquid snaps the flapper shut, shutting off the flow of liquid through the drop tube.

Multiproduct Dispenser

A dispenser that can deliver two or more products or product grades from the same side. An multi-product dispenser may be single hose (uni-hose) or multi-hose. See also "Dispenser", "Blending dispenser", "High hose dispenser", "Low hose dispenser", "Single hose dispenser", "Multihose dispenser", " Satellite dispenser", and "PEI/RP500."

Multihose Dispenser

A dispenser that has multiple fueling hoses on each side of the dispenser. See also "Dispenser", "Blending dispenser", "High hose dispenser", "Low hose dispenser", "Single hose dispenser", "Satellite dispenser", "Multiproduct dispenser" and "PEI/RP500".

Blending Dispenser

A dispenser that includes a mechanism so that two grades of "gasoline" can be blended to form three or more grades. See also "Dispenser", "High hose dispenser", "Low hose dispenser", "Single hose dispenser", "Multihose dispenser", "Satellite dispenser", "Multiproduct dispenser" and "PEI/RP500".

Commercial Pump

A dispensing pump designed for use at a commercial location such as a taxi company or car rental agency. Conventional dispensing pumps, used in "gasoline" stations and "Cstores", are designed for the resale of motor fuel. Their features include displays of figures that indicate the number of gallons dispensed and the total price of the transaction. At a fleet fueling facility, where all vehicles fueled may be owned by the same company, somewhat different features are required for "dispensers". It is not necessary, for example, to show a per-gallon price or the total dollar amount of the transaction. It may be highly desirable, on the other hand, for the dispensing mechanism to be able to confirm that the person attempting to use the pump is authorized to do so. It may also be desirable to equip the device with computerized memory that retains the code number of each vehicle fueled, the number of gallons dispensed, the date and time of each transaction. To accommodate these varying needs, a variety of commercial dispensing pumps have been developed. Some are relatively simple and would require the operator to simply turn on the pump and dispense product. while the dispenser indicates nothing more than the number of gallons being dispensed. Other commercial pumps, however, have more complex features. Some are operated through insertion of a card or key and "recognize" the card or key, and open the dispensing controls allowing the driver to proceed in dispensing of the product. Physically, a commercial pump may look much like a single-unit retail dispensing pump. The capabilities of the two pumps, however, can be quite different.

Coaxial Drop Tube

A drop tube designed to allow the flow of both product and vapor through a single fill-pipe riser. The diameter of a standard drop tube is just slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the fill-pipe riser. The diameter of a coaxial drop tube is about an inch smaller than the diameter of the fill-pipe riser. Small tabs on the outside of the coaxial drop tube keep the tube centered in the fill pipe, allowing vapors to flow upward between the drop tube and the fill pipe while product flows downward through the drop tube. See also "Drop tube " and "Poppeted coaxial drop tube".

Unattended Self Service

A facility at which motor fuel is dispensed without an attendant, employed by the facility's owner, being present. Unattended self-service is commonplace at commercial fueling facilities. In the past, fire-safety codes prohibited unattended self-service at fueling facilities open to the public. At a conventional "gasoline" station or "Cstore", for example, regulations generally prohibited the dispensing of motor fuel unless an employee was present somewhere on the premises. Today, fire-safety codes have been relaxed to permit unattended self-service. "NFPA 30A", for example, provides that "unattended self-service shall be permitted, subject to the approval of the authority having jurisdiction." The International Fire Code makes similar allowances. Various safeguards are also stipulated in these codes: including emergency controls, posting of instructions, and a method for notifying the fire department of an emergency.

Bulk Plant

A facility used for temporary bulk storage of "gasoline", "diesel" fuel and similar liquid products, prior to the distribution of these products to retail, commercial or consumer outlets. A bulk plant normally consists of a number of aboveground tanks, either vertical or horizontal. Some bulk plants are located alongside railroad sidings. They sometimes receive product from railroad tank cars, shunted onto the sidings. More often, however, bulk plants are located at the edge of small towns or in the industrial areas of cities. Liquid fuels, such as gasoline, are delivered to the bulk plants by large tanker trucks, and pumped into the storage tanks. Later, these products are loaded into smaller tank trucks for delivery to service stations and commercial fueling facilities. At some bulk plants, the tanks are located underground. In addition to tanks, bulk plants often include a warehouse building where motor oils and other "petroleum" products are stored, as well as a loading rack where fuel is transferred to and from vehicles. See also "Terminal".

Commercial Facility

A facility where motor fuel is dispensed, but which is not open to the general public for retail sales. Individual companies - taxicab companies, car rental agencies or truck lines- frequently maintain their own storage "tanks" and "dispensers". Because these facilities are not open to the public, the equipment installed in them is often somewhat different from the equipment installed in conventional service stations. Some commercial pumps are dispensers specifically designed for use at commercial locations. Instead of displaying a dollar-amount total for a fueling transaction, the pumps may display only the number of gallons dispensed. Such pumps are also sometimes designed to be operated by a key or card.

Feedstock

A feedstock is any "biomass" resource destined for conversion to energy or "biofuel". For example, corn is a feedstock for "ethanol " production, soybean oil may be a feedstock for "biodiesel " and cellulosic biomass has the potential to be a significant feedstock source for biofuels.

Pump Filter

A filtering element located inside a gasoline station "dispenser" which removes impurities that might be present in the motor fuel, just before the fuel enters the dispenser "hose" on its way to the customer's vehicle tank.

Vapor Shear Valve

A fitting installed in the vapor piping at the base of a "dispenser" that is designed to "shear" or break off if the dispenser cabinet is dislodged from its base. The vapor shear valve may incorporate a test port that can be used to introduce nitrogen or a product into the vapor piping. The vapor shear valve may also include "poppets" that cap off the vapor piping to the "tank" and the vapor piping in the dispenser when the shear section separates. See also "PEI/RP300".

Hose Swivel

A fitting positioned between a dispensing "nozzle" and the dispenser "hose". The swivel is capable of rotating in two planes. As a consequence, when a motorist fills an automobile tank he or she can twist the nozzle around to the desired position, without kinking or coiling the hose.

Penetration Fitting

A fitting that provides a liquid and vapor-tight seal around both the piping or conduit and the wall of a containment sump. A requirement for environmental protection. Without this component functioning as it should, the entire secondary containment system is to be considered compromised. To function as intended a penetration fitting must feature long-term compatibility with continuous exposure all common and alternative fuels including their vapors and various additives. These are commonly considered to prevent water from entering containment sumps in areas where high water tables are present or prevalent. More importantly, they ensure that any fuel or contaminants that may mix with water or accumulate within the sump cannot escape into the ground. Typically manufactured of a type of flexible material, fiberglass, metal or other blend of proprietary materials. See also "PEI/RP900".

Double Tapped Bushing

A fitting widely used in petroleum marketing operations. To understand what a double-tapped bushing is, and how it works, begin with an understanding that the standard openings in an American "underground storage tank" is 4 inches in diameter. Typically the piping that carries product from a "tank" to a "dispenser" is 2 inches in diameter, as is the "suction stub" inside the tank. Two 2-inch pipes, then, must meet in a 4-inch opening. A double tapped bushing provides the method for accomplishing this. The bushing is a flat, round fitting, about 2 inches thick and 4 inches in diameter. It is threaded on its outside circumference. In the center of the fitting is a threaded hole, 2 inches in diameter. This center hole is threaded in both directions, from the top and from the bottom of the bushing. The "bushing" is installed in a tank opening, with a suction stub screwed into the center hole from the bottom. The connecting dispenser piping is screwed into the center hole from the top. Because the center hole is threaded (tapped) both from the top and the bottom, the fitting is referred to as a double-tapped bushing.

Extractor Fitting

A fitting, designed for use in an underground storage system, that allows a valve or other component to be removed or repaired without the necessity of breaking concrete, digging down to the component, or cutting a hole in the "tank". Consider, for example, a float vent valve positioned at the top of an underground storage tank. The valve would probably be located 3 feet or so below grade level. If something went wrong with its operation-if, say, the ball inside the valve was sticking-getting to the valve to make repairs could be a difficult and expensive proposition. The presence of the valve in an extractor fitting, however, allows a technician to insert a special long-handled wrench, unscrew the fitting, and bring it to surface level for replacement or repair. The extractor fitting itself is a type of "bushing" that screws into an opening at the top of a tank. A float vent valve or other device can be screwed into the center hole of the fitting. A bar extends across the top of the fitting, and this bar mates with the special long-handled wrench used by the tank technician. When the wrench is engaged with the extractor fitting, the extractor can be screwed out of the tank, bringing the connected float valve out with it. An extractor fitting is generally supplied with a 4-inch diameter riser. This riser extends from the top of the tank to grade level, and thus allows convenient access to the extractor fitting below.

Quay

A fixed structure generally parallel to a shoreline that is typically constructed of stone or earthen fill. See also "Floating dock", "Pier", "Wharf" and "Dock".

Wharf

A fixed structure generally parallel to a shoreline that is typically of open, timber construction. See also "Floating dock", "Pier", "Dock" and "Quay".

Splash Guard

A flexible disk that fits over the spout of a dispensing "nozzle" to minimize customer exposure to fuel that may splash out of the vehicle fill pipe. See also "PEI/RP500".

Bladder Tank

A flexible inner "tank", positioned inside a conventional steel or FRP outer tank. The inside containment is provided by a flexible impervious bladder, built in the shape of the tank. The bladder is folded and inserted through a manway into the outer tank (steel or FRP). Compressed air is then introduced into the bladder, forcing it to unfold and fit against the walls of the rigid outer tank. The outer surface of the bladder unit is crisscrossed by a network of tiny channels. A vacuum is drawn on the space, created by these channels, between the flexible inner tank and the outer tank. The force of the vacuum pulls the flexible inner tank snugly against the walls of the outer tank. The inner bladder tank serves as the primary containment unit for the gasoline, diesel fuel, or other product being stored. If the bladder should leak, the stored product would be contained by the rigid outer tank. Moreover, a leak in either the inner bladder or the outer tank would cause a disruption of the vacuum, continuously maintained on the space between the inner and outer vessels. The disruption of this vacuum would signal the presence of a problem. A different type of bladder tank is used in military operations. These bladder tanks are large "pouches," made of a rubberized material. Each is capable of containing several hundred to several thousand gallons of motor fuel. The bladder tanks are transported-usually by helicopter-to invasion sites, such as beachheads. There, they serve as refueling points for military tanks and other vehicles.

Scuff Guard

A flexible plastic cover that fits over the body of a fuel-dispensing "nozzle". This is sometimes called a body cover, hand warmer or nozzle guard. See also "PEI/RP500".

Impervious Liner

A flexible, liquid-proof, plastic or synthetic material used to line the walls and bottom of an "underground storage tank" excavation or the "diked" area of an aboveground storage tank installation, to provide a means of "secondary containment" in event of a release or spill. Because water and other liquids cannot move through the material, it is referred to as impervious.

Magnetostrictive Probe

A form of measurement technology used in in-tank electronic monitoring systems. A magnetostrictive probe, installed in an "underground tank", works on the principle that sound, moving down a nichrome wire, maintains a constant velocity despite temperature differences that may occur along its route of travel. When this principle is employed in an electronic tank gauging system, a vertical pipe is installed in the tank. A tightly stretched nichrome wire runs down the center of the full length of the pipe. Around the outside of the pipe is a doughnut-shaped float. Inside the float is a strong magnet. Magnetic flux from this floating magnet impinges on the nichrome wire at the liquid level in the tank. For measurement of this level, a sound wave is injected into the top end of the nichrome wire. When the sound wave reaches the level of the magnetic doughnut-shaped float, the vibration of the wire-in the presence of the magnetic flux at that point-causes electricity to be generated in the nichrome wire. Through repeated calculation of the time between the start of the sound pulse and the start of the subsequent electrical pulse, the precise level of the float can be determined. Tank-gauging systems using the principle of the magnetostrictive probe have been determined to be extremely accurate. See also "Capacitance".

Site Assessment

A formal evaluation of the extent of contamination at a location such as a "gasoline" station, where contamination resulting from leaks or spills is suspected. Federal underground storage tank regulations require that site assessments be made in certain circumstances. Site assessment is required when "groundwater" monitoring or soil monitoring is to be used as a method of release detection. The site assessment studies are normally conducted by hydrogeologists and involve measurement of contaminants present in the soil and groundwater, soil permeability and groundwater movement.

Gasket

A gasket is a mechanical seal that fills the space between two objects, generally to prevent leakage between the two objects while under compression. Gaskets save money by allowing less precise mating surfaces on machine parts which can use a gasket to fill irregularities. Gaskets are commonly produced by cutting from sheet materials, such as gasket paper, rubber, silicone, metal, cork, felt, neoprene, nitrile rubber, fiberglass, or a plastic polymer (such as polychlorotrifluoroethylene). Gaskets for specific applications may contain asbestos. It is usually desirable that the gasket be made from a material that is to some degree yielding such that it is able to deform and tightly fills the space it is designed for, including any slight irregularities. Many gaskets require an application of sealant directly to the gasket surface to function properly. One of the more desirable properties of an effective gasket in industrial applications for compressed fiber gasket material is the ability to withstand high compressive loads. Most industrial gasket applications involve bolts exerting compression well into the 14 MPa (2000 psi) range or higher. Generally speaking, there are several truisms that allow for best gasket performance. One of the more tried and tested is: "The more compressive load exerted on the gasket, the longer it will last". There are several ways to measure a gasket material's ability to withstand compressive loading. The "hot compression test" is probably the most accepted of these. Most manufacturers of gasket materials will provide or publish these results.

Liquid Level Gauge

A gauge located inside a storage "tank" that is capable of constantly monitoring the level of liquid inside the tank. Two basic types of guages are available, mechanical and electronic. Mechanical gauges consist of a float connected to a metal tape, similar to a carpenter's measuring tape. This tape is threaded through a little window at the top of the tank and the operator, by observing the figure visible on the tape in the window, can determine the depth of liquid in the tank. A variation of the mechanical liquid-level gauge is an "alarm clock" gauge. The up-and-down movement of a float, connected to the "clock," causes hands on the clock face to move, thus providing a reading of the liquid level in the tank. Another variation of the mechanical level gauges are the swing arm style. Inside the tank, the gauge consists of a floating arm that swings from empty to full in an arcing motion. This arm operates an indicator located on top of the tank. This indicator shows the level of the tank in eighths of a tank increments. Electronic guages involve the use of probes installed inside the tanks. The probes operate on either a capacitance, sonic, or magnetostrictive principle. See also "Automatic tank gauge" and "Magnetostrictive probe".

Vacuum Gauge

A gauge used for monitoring the integrity of a vacuum drawn on a chamber or "interstice". In a "bladder tank", a slight vacuum is drawn between the rigid outer tank and the flexible inner tank. The constancy of this vacuum can be observed through use of a gauge, attached to the tank. If the gauge reveals that the vacuum has dropped, this is an indication of a problem, either in the outer or inner tank. Similarly, many "double wall tanks" and some double wall sumps are shipped from the manufacturer with a vacuum on the interstice to verify the integrity of the tank during shipping and installation.

Spill Containment

A general term describing equipment and procedures designed to contain spills resulting from tank overfills, failure at a pipe joint or fitting or "dispenser" mishaps. Spill containment techniques include trays or troughs installed beneath dispensers, piping sumps, and "spill containment manholes".

Dispense Point

A general term for any location where product is delivered from a fluid-distribution system. A dispense point can be an "oil bar", a "hose reel", or a hose with a "control handle". See also "PEI/RP700".

Transfer Pump

A general term used to identify pumps, other than dispensing pumps, which transfer product in bulk quantities from one tank to another. Pumps installed on fuel oil delivery trucks, for example, are referred to as transfer pumps.

Tank Top Sump

A generic term for a liquid-tight container installed on top of an "underground storage tank" designed to house various storage components. Tank top sumps serve a variety of functions including the containing of leaks from submersible turbine pumps and piping components within the sump; collecting and containing leakage from double walled piping that encounters the "sump" ; containing spills that may occur during maintenance activities associated with components within the sump; keeping "groundwater" away from the components within the sump in areas of high "water table" ; and isolating components from the corrosive effects of subsurface moisture and soil. The two more common types of tank-top sumps are: piping systems that house the top part of the submersible pump, known as "turbine" or "STP sumps."; and fill sumps that house the fill pipe and "Stage I vapor recovery" riser. Other "riser" pipes, such as the probe risers and water gauging and removal ports, may also be housed in piping or fill sumps. See also "PEI/RP900" and " Sump".

Hanging Hardware

A generic term for all the fuel and/or vapor-containing components from the fuel-outlet fitting of the "dispenser" cabinet up to and including the "nozzle". Typical hanging hardware components include "whip hoses", breakaways, dispensing hoses, swivels and nozzles. See also "PEI/RP50005", "PEI/RP300", "PEI/RP400".

Fueling System

A generic term that includes all components of a fuel storage and distribution systems from the fill riser through the tank, piping, fittings, "dispenser", "hose", and "nozzle".

Aquifer

A geological formation that contains water, especially water that supplies springs and wells. Aquifers have become important in petroleum marketing operations because "gasoline" and other products from leaking underground "tanks" and piping can find their way into an aquifer that serves as the drinking water source for a community. A sole-source aquifer is an aquifer that has been designated by the "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency " as one that constitutes the only, or principal, water supply source for a city or other community.

Stroke Type Pump

A hand-operated pump, mounted atop an oil drum or similar-sized container, which dispenses product in an assigned amount with each stroke of the pumping mechanism. Stroke-type pumps are widely used for dispensing "kerosene" into small containers. Some are set to dispense a quart of liquid with each stroke of the pump. Stops can be set on a quart-stroke pump that will allow the mechanism to dispense a smaller amount with each stroke of the pump.

Semi-Rigid Pipe

A hollow cylinder used to convey motor fuel that can be bent into gentle curves without damaging the walls of the cylinder.. Semi-rigid pipe typically has a bend radius in the range of 3 to 10 feet and can be subjected to significant movement after installation.

Hose

A hose is a hollow tube designed to carry fluids from one location to another. Hoses are also sometimes called tube or pipes (the word pipe usually refers to a rigid tube, whereas a hose is usually a flexible one), or more generally tubing. The shape of a hose is usually cylindrical (having a circular cross section). Hose design is based on a combination of application and performance. Common factors are size, pressure rating, weight, length, straight hose or coilhose and chemical compatabiltiy. Hoses are made from one or a combination of many different materials. Applications mostly use nylon, polyurethane, polyethylene, PVC, or synthetic or natural rubbers, based on the environment and pressure rating needed. In recent years, hoses can also be manufactured from special grades of polyethylene. Other hose materials include PTFE, stainless steel and other metals. Hoses can be used in water or other liquid environments or to convey air or other gases. Hoses are used to carry fluids through air or fluid environments, and they are typically used with clamps, spigots, flanges, and "nozzles" to control fluid flow.

Gasoline

A hydrocarbon motor fuel refined from "crude oil". Gasoline is classified as a Class I flammable liquid. It has a "flash point" of -45ºF. Gasoline is also commonly referred to as petrol. For most of this century, gasoline contained a chemical derived from lead called tetraethyl lead. The presence of lead in automobile fuel helped lubricate valves and helped keep motorists' engines from "knocking." In the 1970s, public health officials began to recognize that the presence of lead, in paint, in manufactured products, in gasoline, constituted a human health hazard. Regulations were adopted calling for the phase-out of lead. Many older vehicles, however, could operate properly only on leaded motor fuel. For a decade and a half, most gasoline stations offered both leaded and unleaded gasoline. Today, leaded gasoline has largely been phased out of the U.S. market. See also "Refining process".

Petrol

A hydrocarbon motor fuel refined from crude petroleum. Petrol, commonly referred to as "gasoline" in the United States, is classified as a Class I flammable liquid. It has a flash point of -45ºF. For most of this century, gasoline contained a chemical derived from lead called tetraethyl lead. The presence of lead in automobile fuel helped lubricate valves and helped keep motorists' engines from "knocking." In the 1970s, public health officials began to recognize that the presence of lead, in paint, in manufactured products, in gasoline-constituted a human health hazard. Regulations were adopted calling for the phase-out of lead. Many older vehicles, however, could operate properly only on leaded motor fuel. For a decade and a half, most gasoline stations offered both leaded and unleaded gasoline. Today, leaded gasoline has largely been phased out of the U.S. market. See also "Refining process".

Terminal

A large facility for storing and handling petroleum products. A terminal is usually located adjacent to a petroleum-product pipeline, a "refinery", a railroad, or a waterfront ship-berthing area. A terminal receives bulk deliveries of "gasoline" and other products from a pipeline, tankers or barges, or directly from a nearby refinery. The products are stored in large tanks at the terminal. Equipment at the facility is usually capable of further processing the product: injection of additives, for example, or conversion of "gasoline" vapors received from transports after making deliveries using "Stage I vapor recovery" back to liquid form. Tanker trucks come to terminal "loading racks" to take on their cargoes of motor fuel. These vehicles, in turn, transport the product either to a "bulk plant" or gasoline station. A terminal should not be confused with a "bulk plant". Although both are used for the temporary storage of petroleum products prior to delivery to gasoline stations, "C-stores", and commercial accounts, bulk plants are much smaller (50,000-500,000 gallons) than terminals and are not normally equipped with any processing equipment.

Archimedes Principle

A law of physics that says a body immersed in liquid is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the body. When underground tanks are installed in regions where the "groundwater" level is high, calculations have to be made to determine how much weight will be required to keep a tank from floating out of the ground. The calculation begins with a determination of the number of cubic feet displaced by a tank. This figure is then multiplied by the per-cubic-foot weight (density) of water (62.4 pounds). The result is a figure equal to the number of pounds of upward thrust that will be created by the empty tank when it is totally immersed in water. Downward force greater than this figure must be designed into the system to keep a "tank" from floating.

Suction Tube

A length of pipe that extends downward from the inlet of a pump or the top of a container of fluid to within a few inches of the bottom of the container. Fluid is drawn from the container through the suction tube by a pump. Also known as a " "suction stub"." See also "PEI/RP700".

Bushing

A lining installed in a fitting to provide protection or insulation. In an underground tank system, if for example, it is desirable to prevent electrical continuity between a cathodically protected steel tank and a steel pipe connected to the tank. (If there were electrical continuity, the sacrificial anodes attached to the tank, to protect it from corrosion, would have to be capable of protecting the pipe as well as the tank.) To insulate the tank from the pipe, the fitting which connects the two is lined with a "dielectric bushing," a plastic fitting that will not conduct electrical current. See also "Double tapped bushing".

Flammable Liquid

A liquid that has a flash point below 100ºF, and which has a vapor pressure not exceeding 40 psia. Flammable liquids are also designated as Class I liquids. Within this Class I category, there are sub-classifications. Class IA liquids are those that have flash points below 73ºF and boiling points below 100ºF. Class IB liquids have flash points below 73ºF and boiling points at or above 100ºF. Class IC liquids have flash points at or above 73ºF and below 100ºF. These classifications are important, among other reasons, because they control the type of equipment that the fire codes require be used when the classified liquids are stored and handled. If Class I liquids are present in certain locations, for example, electrical devices used at the same location must be explosion-proof. See also "Flash point".

Transition Sump

A liquid tight container typically installed at a point where product piping from an aboveground storage "tank" transitions to underground piping. Other forms of transition sumps may accomodate piping from an UST tank to AST generators, or for piping that resides only below grade. The transition sump exists to contain any contaminants that may leak from any piping or their connectors and to isolate and protect metallic components or equipment from the elements. See also "PEI/RP300" and "Tank top sump".

Release Prevention Barrier

A liquid-containment barrier installed underneath an aboveground storage "tank" that is sufficiently impervious to the liquid being stored. Its purpose is to divert a product release toward the perimeter of the aboveground storage tank where it can be easily detected and to prevent liquid from contaminating the environment. Release prevention barriers are composed of materials that are compatible with the liquid being stored in the aboveground storage tank and that meet proper engineering standards. Examples include steel, concrete, elastometric liners or other suitable materials that meet the criteria described above. See also "PEI/RP800".

Chock-open Device

A makeshift device placed in the handle of an "automatic nozzle" to hold the nozzle in the open position. When self-service marketing of "gasoline" was originally introduced, fire safety codes prohibited use of automatic nozzles equipped with a factory installed "hold open latch". The aim of this prohibition was to make sure that a motorist would keep his or her hand on the "nozzle" handle during the entire fueling operation. It soon became apparent, however, that motorists would improvise as they would wedge some objects, including cigarette lighters and pocket knives, between the nozzle handle and the handle guard. Thus keeping the nozzle flowing, even when the operator's hand was removed. The use of such objects constituted a safety hazard. Today, fire safety codes do not generally prohibit use of factory installed hold open latches on automatic nozzles used in self-service stations.

Pea Gravel

A material used in backfilling underground tank excavations. Pea gravel is a naturally rounded gravel, so named because each stone is about the size of a pea-1/4 inch or so in diameter. It is an excellent backfill material. However, pea gravel, which is formed in streams by the action of water on small stones, is not available in some areas of the country.

Impressed Current

A means of providing corrosion protection for metallic "underground storage tank" and piping systems. The typical cathodic protection system involves use of "sacrificial anodes" buried in the soil near the tanks or piping to be protected. At some installations, those where tanks and piping are poorly coated, a similar, but slightly different system is more desirable. An impressed current system, instead of relying on sacrificial anodes to provide the protective flow of electricity, relies on electricity provided by an outside power source. The electricity is brought to the site through utility transmission lines. There, through use of a rectifier, it is converted from alternating current to direct current. This direct current is channeled to anodes buried near the structure to be protected. The current flows from the anodes to the structure, protecting it from corrosion. See also "Cathodic protection".

Soil Resistivity

A measurement of a soil's ability to conduct electrical currents. Corrosion of unprotected steel underground tanks is caused by stray electrical currents coursing through the surrounding soil. Current flowing away from a tank carries with it tiny bits of metal. Over a period of time, in an area where there is a high level of electrical activity, this results in deterioration of the tank walls. But some soils are not conducive to electrical activity. Very dry, sandy soils, for instance, are less likely to cause corrosion than are soils composed principally of moist clay. Corrosion experts have developed a method for determining the likelihood of tank corrosion at a particular site by measurement of the resistivity of the soil at the location. Federal tank regulations require protective measures for steel underground tank systems. The regulations, however, exempt a steel tank installed at a site "determined by a corrosion expert not to be corrosive enough to cause it to have a release due to corrosion during its operating lifetime." The federal rules also require that the owner or operator of an exempted tank maintain certain records on the tank for its remaining lifetime.

Power Takeoff

A mechanical system used for transferring power from a truck engine to another component, such as a pump, located elsewhere on the vehicle. In some liquid-fuel delivery operations, it is common practice to pump fuel from the truck to storage tanks. If the pump used for this purpose is permanently mounted on the truck itself, there must be some system for delivering power to the pump. The power takeoff (PTO) serves this function. It consists of a series of gears and a shaft, connected to the truck engine on one end and the pump on the other. With the engine running, the truck operator engages the PTO. The shaft begins to rotate and its movement, in turn, operates the pump.

Bellows Interlock

A mechanism that does not allow a "nozzle " equipped with a "bellows" to deliver fuel unless the bellows has been compressed. The bellows interlock prevents the release of vapors by ensuring that the nozzle bellows seals tightly against the vehicle fill port before the fuel can flow through the nozzle.

Loading Arm

A mechanism used for filling tank vehicles at "terminals" or "bulk plants", or for filling barges and ships with liquid cargo. When a petroleum transport truck returns to a "terminal" for another load of "gasoline", the driver pulls up to a "loading rack". Depending upon the configuration of his tank vehicle, the vehicle's compartments can be filled either by "top loading" or "bottom loading". Top loading begins with the loading rack attendant or the driver opening hatch covers on the top of his vehicle's cargo compartments. To try to use a hose-and-nozzle arrangement to fill these compartments would be both awkward and dangerous. It would require that the driver or attendant crawl around on top of the vehicle tank. Instead of the use of a hose and nozzle, the filling operation is accomplished through use of rigid tubes, 6 feet or more in length. The tubes, called loading arms, are connected through a piping network to large storage tanks at the terminal. Although the loading arms are rigid, they are designed to swivel and to move up and down through use of counterweights. The arms also have a telescoping feature, which permits them to be shortened or lengthened. The loading rack attendant can quickly and easily swing a loading arm out over the top of the waiting transport vehicle, and position its discharge end above the open hatchway of the compartment to be filled. When the arm is in position, the attendant activates a pump and the loading process begins. For bottom loading, the hatch covers remain closed and the driver or loading rack attendant connects the loading arm to a drybreak connector at the bottom of the transport vehicle's tanks. The loading arm used in bottom loading is a flexible tube or hose with a special drybreak coupler on the connection end.

Analog Device

A mechanism which displays a continuing indication of the performance of the machine it serves. An old-fashioned alarm clock is an example. Movement of the gears inside the clock produces an observable, continuing forward movement of the clock's hands. In motor fuel marketing, one of the most common usages of the term analog has to do with service station dispensers. In a mechanical dispenser, the movement of gasoline or other liquid fuel through the meter causes pistons to rotate a meter output shaft. As the shaft rotates, it moves a series of wheels on which are embossed numbers, numbers representing gallons dispensed and price values. These numbers are displayed in little windows on the face of the dispenser. The "National Conference on Weights and Measures" refers to meters of this type, in mechanical dispensers, as analog devices. Electronic dispenser meters, in which the price and gallonage figures are displayed in the form of electronically controlled numbers, are referred to as "digital" devices. In digital devices, the changing display of numbers is not continuous. Instead the numbers change in what are referred to as "discrete" or separate steps. A number is displayed and then, instead of gradually changing, it is instantly replaced by a succeeding number. See also "Digital".

Heat Pack

A method for curing the adhesive used to connect sections of fiberglass/epoxy piping in an "underground tank system" piping. The sealant may not cure properly when the temperature is below 65ºF. When piping work is performed in cool weather, pipe joints must be kept warm while the adhesive is curing. This can be accomplished through use of a chemical pack that creates a source of heat, through a chemical reaction, without use of electricity. Other pipe adhesive curing methods include electric heating blankets, forced air heaters, and hot air guns.

Vitrification

A method for remediation of contaminated soil which does not require that the soil be removed from its site. Spills and leaks that have contaminated the soil beneath an abandoned "bulk plant", for example, could be treated through use of the vitrification process. The process would begin by inserting pole-like electrodes into the ground at the four corners of the contaminated area. Between the electrodes the operator lays down a "starter path" of flaked graphite. Electric connections are then made to a nearby power source. When the power is turned on, the electric currents coursing through the soil between the electrodes create heat of 3600ºF or more. This heat, which rids the soil of its contaminants, also renders the soil in into a glass-like solid and permanently encapsulates any residual contaminants.

Satellite Fueling

A method for simultaneously fueling tanks on both sides of a large truck. The typical over-the-road truck is equipped with two "diesel" fuel tanks. These tanks, called saddle tanks, are positioned on either side of the truck cab. When a driver fuels these tanks through use of a single "hose", the fueling operation becomes protracted because of the size of the truck. Satellite fueling is a solution in which fueling stops are equipped with satellite systems that include tandem dispensers on each side of the truck, allowing a driver to fuel both saddle tanks simultaneously. In a typical satellite fueling facility, the product "flow rate" is relatively high (35 to 40 gallons per minute) and a single "meter" measures and records the flow of product being simultaneously dispensed into the two truck fuel tanks.

Bioremediation

A method of cleaning up contaminated soil or "groundwater" by introducing or stimulating the growth of naturally occurring microbes in the contaminated area. Certain types of tiny microbes eat hydrocarbons. When microbes in a contaminated area are of the proper type, they will consume oily compounds in the soil and water. Cleaning up a contaminated site through use of bioremediation is a lengthy process. Moreover, it is a process that is not always successful. To work properly, bioremediation requires that the right kind of microbes be present or be introduced into the contaminated site, that the microbes be provided with adequate nutrients as they perform their clean-up work, and that the microbes reach the contaminated areas.

Direct Fill

A method of filling a tank where the delivery "hose" from the tanker vehicle is connected directly into the fill opening of an individual "tank". See also "Remote fill", "PEI/RP600".

Top Loading

A method of filling a tank where the product being delivered enters through an opening in the top of the tank. Top loading may be used with either a "direct fill" or "remote fill". See also "PEI/RP600" and "Bottom loading".

Certificationu

A method of identifying qualified contractors and technicians through testing and other requirements. Some state agencies, for example, now certify "underground storage tank" installers. To qualify for certification, an individual may be required to: 1) Take a written test and achieve a score of a minimum number of points; 2) show evidence of experience in tank installation work; and 3) pay a certification fee. IFCI offers a nationally recognized certification program adopted by some states. See also "Third-party certification."

Inventory Control

A method of monitoring underground petroleum product "tank" systems for releases. This involves "sticking" the tanks on a daily basis, recording measurements and reconciling the results with product delivery and sales records in a pre-determined time frame.

Cathodic Protection

A method of protecting metal structures, such as steel tanks and piping, from corrosion. In most locations, an unprotected buried steel tank will corrode. Tiny flakes of metal will pull away and, as the corrosion process worsens, holes will begin to appear in the tank walls. Product contained in the tank will leak out into the ground, or groundwater will enter. This corrosion process is a result of complex electrolytic action. In a moist-soil environment, the tank behaves somewhat like part of an electric battery. An area of the tank acts as an anode-a positive pole. Ions go out from this positive pole, seeking a nearby negative pole (a cathode). The cathode may be located on a separate structure or at another location on the tank itself. When the ions move away from the anode on the tank, they carry with them tiny bits of baggage-microscopic pieces of the tank itself. As the process continues and accelerates, more and more bits of the tank are carried away. The corrosion becomes increasingly severe. One way of combating this process is to cover the entire surface of the tank with a protective coating. Traditional coatings, however, do not provide sure-fire protection. If there is a pin-hole size opening somewhere in the coating, it is at this point that the ions, seeking to flee the positive pole, will concentrate their escape activities. It is here that corrosion will set in. Corrosion engineers discovered years ago that another way of combating this process was to convert the buried tank from an anode to a "cathode". That is, if the tank could be made to act as a negative pole (a cathode), ions in the soil would not seek to move away from the tank, carrying along tiny bits of material as they departed. Instead, the ions would seek to move toward the tank and no metal would be lost. To create this condition, corrosion engineers buried a bar, usually made of magnesium, in the soil near the tank and connected it by a wire to the tank. The idea was that in this closed environment the magnesium bar would act as the anode. The tank's role, in turn, would be reversed: It would become the cathode. Ions would flow from the magnesium to the tank. The magnesium bar, the " "sacrificial anode"," would sacrifice itself to protect the steel tank, now the cathode. From these concepts, cathodic protection has emerged. Today, buried steel tanks are routinely protected from corrosion through the use of sacrificial anodes, typically made of zinc although magnesium is also used. Many steel underground tanks, manufactured by members of the Steel Tank Institute, are shipped with anodes attached. Steel core bars running through the zinc anodes are welded to the tanks. See also "Impressed current".

Mid Anchoring

A method of providing extra weight to an underground steel "tank" to prevent it from floating during periods of high "groundwater". Other methods involve use of a "tank holddown pad" or "deadman anchors". The mid-anchoring method is usually confined to installations which contain a single tank. Layers of nonconductive material are placed over the top of the tank, after it has been set in the excavation. Reinforced concrete is then "wrapped" around the top 1/3 of the tank diameter giving extra weight to the tank. The nonconductive material isolates the concrete from the tank shell. Generally, the mid-anchoring method is not as effective as other anchoring methods and is not recommended.

Half Pricing

A method used for pricing motor fuel in retail "gasoline" stations. Half-pricing first appeared in the 1970s when many of the original mechanical computers installed in retail pumps were capable of displaying a maximum price of only 49.9 cents a gallon. Following market disruptions created by mideast oil embargoes in the 1970s, the price of gasoline began rapidly to climb in the U.S. The retail price soon reached a level above 50 cents a gallon. Since most existing mechanical computers, however, could not display a price at this level, it became necessary to adopt temporary emergency measures. The weights and measures agencies in the various states agreed to a half-pricing arrangement. It worked this way: If the posted market price at a particular station was, say, 60 cents a gallon (tax included), the pump computer was set to reflect a per-gallon price of 30 cents. Then, when a purchase transaction was completed, the motorist simply paid double the amount shown on the meter. Some oil marketers replaced 49.9-cent mechanical computers with computers that would display a maximum price of 99.9 cents. When the per-gallon price moves above the next dollar increment, half-pricing measures usually are temporarily reinstituted.

Air Stripper

A method used for removing contaminants from groundwater. The procedure begins with contaminated water being pumped out of the ground into spray nozzles at the top of an "air stripper" tower. This tower is a column packed with small, many-sided, oddly-shaped pieces of plastic or ceramic. As the water falls through the packing material, droplets of liquid, containing contaminants, collect on the multi-sided surfaces. Simultaneously, air or steam is forced upward through the tower. The air or steam removes the contaminants from the packing material, and is discharged through the top of the stripper tower as vapor. This contaminated vapor is then treated through use of carbon filters or catalytic combustion chambers. The resultant clean water collects in a sump at the base of the tower and is pumped to a discharge point; the contaminant-free air is discharged into the atmosphere.

Balance System

A method used in "gasoline" vapor recovery which permits vapors in the tank being filled to be transferred to another tank without intervention of any external power source. In "Stage II vapor recovery" systems, vapors present in the vehicle fuel tank must be removed from the tank without being allowed to escape into the atmosphere. When the balance refueling process begins, the vapor recovery "nozzle" is inserted into the fill pipe of the vehicle's tank. The nozzle bellows makes a tight connection with the fill pipe. As gasoline flows through the nozzle and into the tank, the rising level of liquid forces the vapors, present in the tank, into the bellows that surround a vapor port on the nozzle. The continuing pressure created by the rising liquid pushes the displaced vapors back through the bellows, through the vapor-return port of the nozzle, and then on through the vapor-return portion of the dispenser hose. The same pressure source continues to push the vapors on through the piping in the dispenser and then through the vapor-return pipe under the driveway, all the way back to the underground tank from which the liquid is flowing. This arrangement constitutes a closed system. Vapors displaced while filling one tank (the vehicle tank) will follow the path of least resistance and flow back through the system into an underground storage tank. Thus, vapors in the vehicle tank are transferred to the underground storage tank without the help of any type of secondary power source. The transfer is accomplished entirely as a result of the normal in-flow of liquid into the vehicle tank and the offsetting liquid out-flow from the storage tank. Because of this balance-liquid in, vapor out and liquid out, vapor in-the method is referred to as a balance system. Stage II balance systems, employed for most underground tank installations, are less efficient when used with aboveground tanks because of the thermal effects of the sun and the higher pressure required to force vapors upward into aboveground tanks.

Suction System

A motor fuel pumping system in which product from a storage "tank" is sucked into a "pump island" "dispenser" before flowing on into a vehicle tank. The suction is created by the operation of a pumping unit inside the dispenser. The pump creates a vacuum. The vacuum pulls product from the storage tank, through the piping. Early "gasoline" stations all operated through the use of suction systems and some such systems are still in use, particularly at private fueling facilities. In most modern retail stations, however, suction systems have been replaced by "remote pumping systems" in which the pumping unit is located inside the storage tank. In a remote system, the liquid product is "pushed" from the storage tank to the dispenser. See also "Check valve", "Pressurized system", and "Prime".

Cathode

A negative electrical pole. See also "Anode" and "Cathodic protection".

Diesel Nozzle

A nozzle intended for dispensing "diesel" fuel. A standard diesel nozzle is identical to a leaded gasoline nozzle. A heavy duty diesel nozzle is designed for higher flow rates and has a larger diameter spout than a standard diesel nozzle. See also "Nozzle", "Leaded gasoline nozzle", "Pre pay nozzle", "balance Stage II vapor recovery nozzle", "Vacuum assist Stage II recovery nozzle" and "PEI/RP500".

Wellpoint

A perforated tube driven into the ground to collect water from the surrounding area so it can be pumped away. Wellpoints can be used to collect and remove contaminated water near a leaking underground storage "tank". A pattern of wellpoints, placed around a planned excavation site for underground tanks, is referred to as a wellpoint system. Such a system can be effective in lowering the "water table" in the area, thus allowing for a dry excavation during the tank installation procedure.

Static Head

A physics term used in petroleum marketing operations to describe the pressure, in a hose, pipe, or "aboveground tank", created by the weight of the contained liquid. Static head is proportional to the height of the liquid. For example, in a gasoline storage tank every 3 feet of liquid added to the tank increases the static head by approximately 1 psi.

Thixotropic

A property of certain fluids where the "viscosity" decreases as shear stress is applied. Certain types of grease are thixotropic. These greases are very "viscous" when at rest, but they flow much more readily when they are pumped through a relatively small-diameter tube. See also "PEI/RP700".

Hold Harmless Clause

A provision in a sales or construction contract which, in effect, says that if something goes wrong, after the transaction has been completed, the seller or contractor will assume responsibility to pay for certain types of liability to which the customer might be subjected. A clause can also be written which provides that the customer will hold the contractor harmless.

Automotive Lift

A piece of equipment, also known as a hoist, installed in a service garage, auto dealership, or service station that is capable of elevating a car or truck to a height of 6 feet or above, allowing auto mechanics access to the underside of the vehicle. Traditionally, automotive lifts have been operated by hydraulic power. Compressed air forces oil from an underground tank into another chamber. The resultant hydraulic power is capable of driving the lift cylinder upward, carrying with it the vehicle and the superstructure on which the vehicle is positioned. This type of hydraulic lift requires an excavation to accommodate the lifting cylinder. Many automotive lifts are operated, not by compressed air, but by electric motors which drive hydraulic pumps or gear systems. These electrically operated automotive lifts are typically installed at surface level.

Union

A pipe fitting designed to permit convenient connection and disconnection of piping with other components in the system. In a "gasoline" station, unions are typically installed at the points where the submersible pump and the dispenser connect to the piping. Unions should not be buried, but should be installed in a position that will permit easy access.

Elbow

A pipe fitting that makes a right-angle turn. Also called an "ell."

Dresser Type Coupling

A pipe fitting used to connect two sections of pipe without use of threads. The dresser coupling is named for its inventor, "Solomon R. Dresser". The coupling was once widely used to make the connection between a service station suction pump and the end of the product line extending upward in the pump island. A dresser coupling is also known as a slip joint. A dresser-type coupling is an unthreaded fitting. Sleeves on the coupling slide over the pipe ends to which they are to be connected, rather than attaching by threads. In an earlier day, if a new "dispenser" was positioned on a "pump island", and the installer discovered the presence of a gap between the pipe on the bottom of the dispenser and the pipe to which it was to be connected, he simply used a dresser type coupling to make the connection. One sleeve on the coupling was pushed down over the lower pipe; the other sleeve was pushed up over the pipe in the bottom of the dispenser. This made it easier to connect the two pipe ends, even though a space separated them. Unfortunately, however, these couplings did not always hold. Leaks were not uncommon in installations where couplings had been used. Most industry fire codes and recommended practices now prohibit use of dresser type couplings beneath dispensers.

Double Wall Pipe

A pipe within a pipe. If the inner pipe, carrying product, should happen to leak, the outer pipe provides "secondary containment" and prevents the released product from entering the ground. It is also possible, in a number of ways, to monitor the space between the inner and outer pipes. Through monitoring, the presence of a leak can be identified.

Suction Stub

A pipe, usually 2 inches in diameter, that extends down into a storage tank, to a point about 4 inches from the bottom of the tank. Product pumped from the tank enters the pumping system through the lower end of the suction stub. See also "Double tapped bushing".

Flexible Pipe

A pipeline constructed of flexible material that can be installed in single long runs without requiring regular joints to either extend the length of the line or change directions. Flexible piping typically has a bend radius of less than 2 feet and can be subjected to significant movement after installation. See also "Rigid pipe" and "Semi rigid pipe".

Manifolded Piping

A piping arrangement in a motor fuel storage and dispensing facility that involves simultaneous connections between more than a single "tank" and a single product "dispenser". In the most basic piping layout, each dispenser hose would be connected through a single pipe to a single tank. But in a manifolded piping system, a variety of connections are possible. Examples of alternative piping connections include: a siphon piping connection between two tanks, so that if the product level in one tank falls below that in its companion tank, product withdrawals will automatically shift to the second tank; piping configuration in which a single fill connection provides access for the simultaneous filling of two tanks; A piping arrangement in which a main line is run from a tank to a point near a "pump island" and branches off to provide product to several individual dispenser "hoses" ; and A piping arrangement where a single vent riser is connected to several "underground tanks".

Sump

A pit or depression in which water or other liquid is collected. Sometimes the creation of a sump is desirable. For instance, if you installed an observation well alongside an underground tank surrounded by an impermeable liner as a means of checking for a release of "gasoline", you would want to create a liquid-tight sump directly below the lower end of the observation-well pipe. Released gasoline would collect in the sump, making it easier to observe. Some sumps, on the other hand, are undesirable. If there is a sag in the vapor recovery piping between an underground storage tank and the dispenser island, product may collect in this low point-the sump-and block the flow of vapors back into the storage tank after the pump is turned off. This can create operational problems in the vapor recovery piping. See also "Tank top sump".

Asphalt Batching Plant

A plant in which heat, in the range of 600ºF, is used to convert "asphalt" to a liquid form and coat heated gravel or crushed rock as a prelude to the use of these materials as a paving substance. In some communities, contaminated soil, removed from around leaking underground storage tanks, is transported to a local asphalt batching plant. There, the contaminated soil is loaded onto conveyers and subjected to the heat process used for manufacturing asphalt paving. In the case of contaminated soil, this heat treatment serves to burn the hydrocarbons present in the soil. The soil, having been freed of its contamination, may be returned to the site from which it was removed although it is not suitable as a backfill for new tanks that may be installed at the site.

Nozzle Guard

A plastic cover on a gasoline station "nozzle" that helps keep the nozzle from scuffing the finish on motorists' vehicles.

Net Positive Suction Head

A pump design valve represented by the total suction head (in feet) of liquid available (absolute value at pump's suction port) less the absolute vapor pressure (in feet) of liquid being pumped. NPSHr is the absolute pressure head a pump must have at its suction port. NPSHa (available) is the absolute pressure head that is available at the pump suction port, a system-design value. See also "PEI/RP800".

Striker Plate

A plate installed in a storage tank, at a point directly beneath the "drop tube" or gauging port. The purpose of the plate is to absorb the impact of repeated insertions of gauge sticks, and to help dissipate the impact of product being dropped into the tank. Before use of striker plates became common, it was discovered that the point directly beneath the drop tube was often the first point in the tank to yield to corrosion or structural failure. The reason was clear. When a gauge stick is dropped into a tank, day after day, its impact begins to induce a wearing action. Today, most striker plates are installed by the tank manufacturer. It is possible, however, to purchase a striker-plate assembly that can be installed in existing tanks. This assembly includes positioning arms that conform to the drop tube. Striker plates are sometimes referred to as wear plates.

Gauge Stick

A pole, usually made of varnished hardwood, that is inserted into a liquid fuel storage "tank" to measure the amount of product it contains. Numbers, calibrated to 1/8 inch, are embossed along the side of the gauge stick. After inserting the stick in the tank, the operator withdraws it and notes how far up on the numbers the "wetness" has extended. By referring to a tank conversion chart, he can convert the number of wetted inches indicated on the stick to the number of gallons remaining in the tank. A station operator, concerned about the possible presence of a layer of water on the bottom of a storage tank, can use his gauge stick to check for water. He does this by smearing a compound called water-finding paste on the lower end of the stick before he inserts it into the tank. If water is present, the paste will change color, revealing not only the presence of water on the tank bottom but its depth, as well. A special paste must be used for alcohol-blended gasolines. See also "Water finding paste".

Divorcement

A political movement that calls for laws, either state or federal, that would prohibit the ownership of retail marketing facilities by integrated oil companies-companies that are also engaged in the exploration, production, refining, and transportation of petroleum products. See also "Divestiture".

Double Poppet

A poppet is a metal disk with a seal positioned inside a "check valve". It moves upward when a suction pumping system is turned on, to allow liquid to move through the valve. It drops down into a closed position when the pump is turned off, and helps keep the system " "primed"." To install two poppets in a valve, instead of one, is to provide extra insurance. If, for some reason, one of the "poppets" sticks or otherwise fails to work when the system is turned off, the second one serves as a backup. An impact valve containing two poppets, or disks, is referred to as a "double-poppet shear valve" and functions differently than a "check valve". This type of shear valve is typically paired with a device that can trip the primary poppet. The unit contains two poppets. One is located in the top of the shear valve above the shear point and is spring-loaded but held in an open position at all times. If the top is sheared from the valve body, the mechanism holding the spring-loaded poppet open fails and a strong spring closes the poppet away from the dispenser (south), preventing fuel from within the dispenser to spill out. The second poppet is typically built into a gate or swing assembly. This gate is connected to a sealed shaft that is connected to an arm on the exterior of the valve body and closes itself aggressively via a strong spring. This poppet allows manual actuation of the gate by simply turning the arm connected to it. This gate should always swing down so that if the top were to be sheared, pressurized fuel from the system would only push against the gate and therefore keep it sealed against release. Setting up this valve involves turning the gate so it is in the open position and swinging an integrated retaining clip near the arm into place to hold the arm in the open position. This retainer is sometimes spring loaded in order to reduce the force required to trip the poppet. The retaining clip is typically connected to a ball-chain line which is then connected to a mechanical trip system located at the lowest point of the "UDC" or Secondary Containment sump. The trip mechanism is designed to react to liquid buildup in a cup located at a point lower than the bottom of the containment sump itself. Liquid buildup will raise the float - which actuates an arm and pulls the chain - thus pulling the retaining clip free from the spring-loaded arm that holds the gate-style poppet in the open position - resulting in an immediate closure of the poppet. See also "Suction system" and "Prime".

Tank Conversion Chart

A printed table which enables a "tank" owner to convert depth of liquid in a storage tank to the number of gallons remaining in the tank. When an tank owner withdraws a gauge stick from a storage tank, he records the number of inches reached by the liquid level in the tank. This number might be, say, 4 feet and 11 inches. That's the depth of gasoline or other liquid in the tank. But how does this figure translate into gallons? If the tank is a 10,000-gallon tank, how many gallons are represented by a depth of 4 feet and 11 inches? The most common way of making this conversion is through reference to a printed chart. Separate charts are required for tanks of different lengths, diameters, and configurations. For example, a conversion table designed for a steel tank with flat ends could not be used for a fiberglass tank of the same capacity with convex ends.

Air/Soap Test

A procedure followed during the installation of an underground tank and pipe system to confirm the integrity of the system before the excavation is backfilled. Immediately prior to installation, while a new tank is still resting on the surface alongside the excavation, all openings in the tank, except one, are sealed. Through this remaining opening, compressed air with a pressure no greater than 5 psig is introduced into the tank. While the tank remains under pressure, workers using mops, sponges, or garden sprayers, coat the exterior surface of the tank with a soapy water solution. They then inspect the tank surface for the presence of bubbles. If none appear, the soundness of the tank is proven. The presence of bubbles, however, indicates a leak, a pinhole size leak, perhaps, but still a leak. If a leak is revealed, corrective action must be taken before the tank can be placed in the ground. Piping systems can also be subjected to an air/soap test, prior to introduction of backfill into the excavation. When piping systems are tested, all fittings, joints, and piping surfaces are soaped. Normally, the air pressure used for primary piping tests is about 50 psig. Less pressure is used for testing secondary piping interstices. This pressure/soap testing is similarly conducted on other DoubleWall containment vessels such as Tank/Turbine sumps, transition sumps and under dispenser sumps. Sometimes new tanks are subjected to an air/soap test after they have been placed in the excavation, and after all piping has been connected. This allows for the testing of risers and tank connections, as well as the tank and piping.

Pump and Treat

A procedure for removing free product and cleaning up "groundwater" that has been contaminated as a result of a "tank" leak or spill. Groundwater believed to be contaminated is pumped to the surface, and subjected to a treatment process. The water is then returned to the ground at the site, or otherwise disposed of. Pump-and-treat is not a process that can be used for rapidly removing residual hydrocarbons adhering to soil particles, nor is it always effective in complex geological formations. The pump-and-treat process can, however, be effective in situations where large volumes of free product are present in the groundwater in certain types of geological formations

Corrosion

A process that occurs in nature in which a material is broken down and eaten away as a result of chemical or electrolytic action. An unprotected "underground storage tank", for example, is a candidate for corrosion. Stray electric currents coursing through the adjacent soil have the effect of causing the steel to begin to rust and pit and gradually flake away. This process is referred to as corrosion.

Hand Pump

A pump operated by the movement of a handle powered by a human hand. In the petroleum marketing field, a hand pump is typically used for dispensing product from a 55-gallon drum. The pump, usually equipped with a 4- or 5-foot length of dispensing hose, is mounted on the top of the drum. A tube, mounted on the underside of the unit, extends down into the liquid below. To dispense product, the operator moves a handle back and forth, or turns a wheel-like handle. The movement of the handle creates a vacuum in the pump, and this draws product up from below. Some hand pumps are designated as quart stroke pumps. This identifies them as having been designed to dispense approximately 1 quart of liquid with each complete rotation of the handle.

Independent Marketer

A purchaser of refined products, on the open market, for resale at the wholesale and retail level. Independent marketers are distinguished from branded marketers principally by the manner in which they purchase "gasoline", "diesel" fuel and other products for resale. The branded marketer (or oil "jobber" ) buys most, if not all, of his product from a single major refiner. In turn, the branded marketer usually resells the product at outlets which display the brand name of the supplying refiner. Independent marketers, on the other hand, purchase product from a variety of sources, such as oil companies or independent refiners. Independent marketers usually operate, or supply, a relatively large number of stations. The petroleum products sold through these outlets are generally sold under the marketer's own label.

Code

A regulation or set of regulations. Model codes in the United States are developed by private standards-making organizations and made available as "models" for adoption by jurisdictions. Model codes are typically developed through a consensus process. As an example, the "National Fire Protection Association" has developed - and continues to refine - guidelines for the design and installation of flammable fuel handling facilities: tank spacing, venting requirements, minimum distances from adjoining property, etc. When published by the organization, these guidelines are referred to as a code. Often, a government agency with rule-making authority will adopt all, or a portion, of a model code developed by a private organization. When this occurs, the codes so adopted take on the force and effect of law within that jurisdiction.

State Implementation Plan

A requirement in the federal "Clean Air Act" that places responsibility on individual states to develop programs that will ensure compliance with standards prescribed in the act. To comply with provisions of the act, a state environmental agency begins by establishing geographical divisions within its jurisdiction: divisions referred to as Air Quality Control Regions (AQCRs). For each AQCR, the agency is then required to develop a specific plan, outlining the pollution control requirements for that region. In a metropolitan AQCR, for example, Stage II gasoline vapor control might be required. In a rural AQCR, it would not be. These regional programs, adopted by a state, are referred to in the Clean Air Act as state implementation plans-SIPs.

Lessee Dealer

A retail petroleum operator who leases his or her "gasoline" station and equipment from a "major oil company" or an "independent marketer".

Face Seal

A ring, made of a pliable rubber-like material, that forms the end of the bellows which surrounds the spout of a balance system vapor-recovery "nozzle". When the nozzle is inserted and the "bellows" compressed, the face seal makes a snug connection with the lip of the vehicle's fill pipe. A worn seal may be removed and replaced without taking the nozzle out of service. The term face seal is also used to describe a carbon seal used on the shafts of petroleum centrifugal pumps.

Rainshield

A roof-like shield erected between an aboveground tank and an adjoining "dike" wall. The shield helps prevent rainwater from accumulating within the diked area. Any area enclosed by a rainshield must be vented for fire-safety purposes, to prevent pressure buildup from vapors during a fire exposure.

Safety Breakaway

A safety device installed at strategic locations in marina fuel piping that is designed to separate when excessive pulling force is placed on the pipe. Valves within the safety break automatically close when the breakaway separates, minimizing the release of fuel from the piping. A safety break is intended to protect the piping from damage when a "floating dock" moves beyond the design limits. Also known as a "breakaway."

Interim Prohibition

A section in the federal "Resource Conservation and Recovery Act", adopted by Congress in November 1984, which sets out compliance requirements for underground tanks installed after the effective date of the law (May 5, 1985) and the date when all of its provisions would become effective. When it adopted the law, Congress recognized time would be required for "Environmental Protection Agency" to get new tank regulations in place. For that reason, the law provided that most of its provisions would not become effective for 18 months. But Congress also wanted to make sure that any new tanks installed during this interim period would comply with the basic requirements of the law. So it included an interim prohibition in the act which said that any tanks installed during this period must be capable of preventing releases due to corrosion or structural failure for the operational life of the tanks; must be protected against corrosion, or constructed of noncorrosive material; and must be compatible with the substance stored. Because of delays in issuing final rules, the interim prohibition remained in effect until December 22, 1988.

Dealer

A service station operator. The operator may own and control the land and building, but most dealers lease the station from another party without owning it.

Whip Hose

A short length of "hose" with threaded fittings at both ends that is usually installed adjacent to a breakaway valve. The whip hose ensures that forces exerted during a drive off are aligned with the axis of a breakaway valve. See also "PEI/RP300".

Nipple

A short length of pipe, with threads on each end, used for connecting valves and other fittings. Nipples are typically used at the end of a piping run where the pipe connects to other components.

Annunciator

A signaling device, capable of delivering an audible message or signal to the person using the device. Suppose you drive into a self-service station and begin the process of purchasing "gasoline" by inserting your credit card into a "card acceptor" and that a recorded voice then instructs you to punch in the number of the "dispenser" you intend to use. The technical equipment that allows the system to give you these oral instructions is referred to as an annunciator.

Free Product

A significant accumulation of a hydrocarbon product, such as "gasoline", floating on a "water table".

Milking the Hose

A slang term applied to the occasional practice of motorists in seeking to extract a few additional ounces of motor fuel after their purchase transaction has been completed. Normally, a motorist returns the "nozzle" to the "dispenser" when the tank is full or when, according to figures displayed on the dispenser, he or she has obtained all the fuel he or she intends to buy. Sometimes, though, instead of immediately placing the nozzle back in the dispenser, a motorist will turn off the lever that controls operation of the dispenser pump and allow the nozzle to remain in the fill pipe of his of her car. When the pump is turned off, the meter stops running. However, a small amount of product still remains in the hose. By manipulating the hose and holding the nozzle in an open position, the motorist can cause that product to trickle down into his tank. Thus, milking the hose. When the next motorist operates the same dispenser, the hose must be refilled before product actually begins flowing into his or her tank, resulting in a condition referred to as "computer creep".

Observation Well

A slotted or screened tube or pipe, positioned vertically in an underground tank excavation, that permits an operator to check conditions in the excavation and, in particular, to determine whether there may be a leak in the tank system. One or more observation wells can be placed adjacent to the tanks and/or piping. The lower end of the tube descends to a point below the bottom of the tank. The upper end of the tube is at grade level. Through use of vapor or liquid detection instruments lowered into the observation well, the operator can determine if gasoline or other product is present in the excavation.

Keg

A small "barrel" with a capacity of about 16 gallons of lube oil or about 120 pounds of grease. See also "PEI/RP700".

Vapor Escape Guard

A small, flexible, cone-shaped boot that is installed at the base of certain "vacuum assist Stage II recovery nozzle" spouts to enhance the effectiveness of vapor collection. Although similar in function to a nozzle "bellows", a vapor escape is much smaller and does not provide an airtight seal with the motor-vehicle fill pipe. This device is also called a vapor splash guard or an efficiency compliance device (ECD). See also "PEI/RP500".

Solenoid Valve

A solenoid valve is an electromechanical valve for use with liquid or gas controlled by running or stopping an electric current through a solenoid, which is a coil of wire, thus changing the state of the valve. The operation of a solenoid valve is similar to that of a light switch, but typically controls the flow of air or water, whereas a light switch typically controls the flow of electricity. Solenoid valves may have two or more ports: in the case of a two-port valve the flow is switched on or off; in the case of a three-port valve, the outflow is switched between the two outlet ports. Multiple solenoid valves can be placed together on a manifold. Solenoid valves are the most frequently used control elements in fluidics. Their tasks are to shut off, release, dose, distribute or mix fluids. They are found in many application areas. Solenoids offer fast and safe switching, high reliability, long service life, good medium compatibility of the materials used, low control power and compact design. Besides the plunger-type actuator which is used most frequently, pivoted-armature actuators and rocker actuators are also used.

Vapor Recovery Adapter

A special fitting in a "Stage I vapor recovery" system that is installed at the top of the vapor recovery riser in two-point and manifolded Stage I vapor recovery systems. The vapor recovery adaptor mates to the vapor recovery elbow attached by the fuel delivery driver prior to a delivery. Some adaptors incorporate a swivel feature that allows the vapor recovery elbow to rotate on a vertical axis, thus preventing the loosening of the adaptor from the riser because of the movement of the vapor recovery hose. The adaptor includes a spring loaded "poppet" that remains closed until the driver attaches the vapor recovery elbow. An orange dust cap is placed on the adaptor between fuel deliveries to keep the poppet clean and identify the adaptor as a vapor recovery fitting. See also "PEI/RP300".

Slip Joint

A special fitting, sometimes referred to as a "dresser coupling," designed to facilitate the connection of a "dispenser" to the underground pipe that carries product from the storage tank to the dispenser. See also "Dresser type coupling".

Spring Operated Hose Retriever

A spring operated hose retriever utilizes a rope or wire cable clamped to the dispensing "hose" at one end and wound on a spring tensioned reel at the other end. The reel unwinds to allow the "nozzle" to be brought to the vehicle fill pipe and rewinds to pick up the slack in the hose when the nozzle is returned to the "dispenser". See also "Hose retriever", "Counterweight operated hose retriever" and "PEI/RP500".

Inductor Plate

A steel disc attached to the bottom of a grease pump. Like a "follower plate", the inductor plate helps move product in a "drum" toward the inlet of the pump, and includes a seal that wipes the inside surface of the drum as the product level decreases. While a follower plate slides down the body of the pump, the inductor plate is fixed to the bottom end of the pump so that the weight of the pump helps push the inductor plate down onto the product, reducing cavitation by forcing the product towards the pump inlet. See also "PEI/RP700".

Follower Plate

A steel disc installed inside an open-head "drum" that helps keep viscous fluids flowing to the pump inlet. The disc rests on the top surface of the product in the drum. The disc typically includes a seal on its outer rim that wipes product from the inside surface of the drum as the product level in the drum decreases. The disc also includes a hole in the middle of the disc through which the pump is inserted. See also "PEI/RP700".

Drum Cover

A steel disc with a rim that is designed to sit on top of a standard open-head, 55-gallon "drum". The drum cover includes an opening and a clamp mechanism that allows the body of a "stick pump" to be inserted and held in a fixed position inside the drum. See also "PEI/RP700".

Double Wall Tank

A storage "tank " that is essentially a tank within a tank, with a small space, or "interstice", between the two. If the inner tank should develop a leak, its contents would be retained by the outer tank. If the outer tank should develop a leak, groundwater would be prevented by the inner tank from contaminating the product inside. In addition, the existence of the interstice provides a method of continuously monitoring the integrity of each of the tanks.

Loose Fill

A technique for delivering fuel into a take where the delivery "nozzle" is inserted into the fill pipe opening but no mechanical connection is made between the nozzle and the fill pipe. See also "Tight fill", "PEI/RP600".

Tank

A storage tank is a container, usually for holding liquids or compressed gases. The term can be used for both reservoirs (artificial lakes and ponds), and for manufactured containers. The usage of the word tank for reservoirs is common or universal in Indian English, and moderately common in British English. In other countries, the term tends to refer only to artificial containers. Storage tanks may often operate under very little or no pressure, distinguishing them from pressure vessels. Storage tanks are often vertical cylindrical in shape, perpendicular to the ground with flat bottoms and fixed domed roofs, hinged or floating roofs. There are many environmental considerations and regulations applicable to the design and operation of storage tanks, often depending on nature the fluid contained within. Aboveground storage tanks differ from underground varieties in the kinds of regulations that are applied. Storage tanks are available in many shapes: vertical and horizontal cylindrical; open top and closed top; flat bottom, cone bottom, slope bottom and dish bottom; but large tanks tend to be vertical cylindrical, or to have rounded corners to easier withstand hydraulic hydrostatically induced pressure of contained liquid. Most container tanks for handling liquids during transportation are designed to handle varing degrees of pressure. A large tank is sometimes mounted on a lorry, truck or on an articulated lorry trailer, all are commonly referred to as tankers. Since most liquids can spill, evaporate, or seep through even the smallest opening, special consideration must made for their safe and secure handling. This usually involves building a secondary containment "dike" around the tank, so that any leakage may be safely contained. Some storage tanks need a floating roof in addition to or in lieu of the fixed roof and structure. This floating roof rises and falls with the liquid level inside the tank, thereby decreasing the vapor space above the liquid level. Floating roofs are considered a safety requirement as well as a pollution prevention measure for many industries including petroleum refining.

Strainer

A strainer is a screen-like device fitted into a product line to prevent impurities in a fuel supply from flowing through to the fuel tank of a vehicle or airplane.

Dispenser Platform

A structural component installed between the base of a "dispenser" and a "dock" surface. The dispenser platform elevates the dispenser cabinet above the dock surface in order to increase the space available beneath the dispenser for various piping, fittings, and components. Dispenser platforms are also used in aboveground installations where it is desired to keep all product piping out of the ground and in view.

Loading Rack

A structure at a "terminal" or "bulk plant" consisting of a platform and a "loading arm" designed for use in loading the compartments of a tank vehicle. The platform at a typical bulk plant is approximately 5 feet above grade level and has a set of steps at each end. During the period when the transport driver or rack attendant is engaged in filling the vehicle compartments, the driver stands at a level that makes it easy to open hatch covers and move loading arms into position. Such loading-rack platforms are made of steel, with expanded metal floors. Many are covered with sloping roofs, designed to protect operators from rain or snow during loading operations. Loading racks vary in length, depending upon the number of vehicles to be simultaneously filled and the number of loading arms at the location. Loading racks at terminals have facilities for both top and bottom loading, and are equipped with sophisticated control devices. These devices prevent overfilling of transports and ensure bonding of the vehicles to prevent uncontrolled static discharges.

Cetane

A structure of hydrocarbon molecules which exists in "crude oil". Cetane, when separated from crude, is a colorless liquid that can be added to motor fuel, particularly "diesel" fuel, to improve its ignition quality.

Floating Dock

A structure that rises and falls with the water level and is usually accessible from shore via a gangway. See also "Dock", "Pier", "Wharf " and "Quay".

Cardcinogen

A substance believed to be capable of causing cancer in some persons exposed to it. Benzene, for example, has been identified as a carcinogen.

Dielectric

A substance that will not conduct direct-current electricity: an insulator. When "cathodic protection" systems are designed, it often becomes important to electrically isolate structures from each other. If sacrificial anodes are being used to protect a steel tank, for example, it is usually desirable that electric current not flow from the tank to steel pipe connected to the tank. Isolation of these two structures is accomplished through use of a dielectric bushing, a fitting made of a substance such as nylon that does not conduct electricity.

Electrolyte

A substance which, when dissolved in a suitable solvent (as water), will conduct electricity. A battery, for example, contains an electrolyte, either in the form of a liquid or a pasty solution. In an "underground storage tank" installation, water and moist soil surrounding the tanks can serve as an electrolyte. If steel tanks are not cathodically protected, corrosive reactions may occur as ions (charged atoms) move through the electrolyte.

Pourable Fluid

A substance with a relatively low viscosity that can be efficiently transferred from one container to another by gravity. See also "PEI/RP700".

Hydraulic Hammer

A sudden, temporary increase in pressure inside a fluid-distribution system. Hydraulic hammer is typically produced when flow through a fluid-distribution network is suddenly stopped by the rapid closing of a dispense handle. See also "PEI/RP700".

Slurry

A suspension of a solid in a liquid. If an underground tank is to be permanently taken out of service, but allowed by the local jurisdiction to remain in the ground, it must be filled with an inert material. Sand may be used for this purpose. If sand is placed in the tank, however, a fairly large hole must be cut in the top to permit the introduction of the sand. Moreover, as the tank deteriorates the sand may migrate into the surrounding soil. But if a liquid-like material, that will later set up into a solid, can be pumped into the tank, the job becomes somewhat easier, as well as far more permanent. For this purpose, a slurry is sometimes used. In its liquid state, the slurry can be pumped in through a small opening in the top of the tank. Later, when it sets up, the slurry becomes a solid. In addition to water, material used to create a slurry may consist of cement, polyurethane foam, or other chemicals.

Prover Tank

A tank used for calibration of large-volume liquid flow meters. Prover tanks are generally mounted on mobile trailer units that can be pulled by truck from one location to another. The tanks are made of either stainless steel or carbon steel, and are designed and built with little or no dimensional tolerances. Use of a prover tank permits the operator to accurately calibrate the accuracy of liquid flow meters.

Aircraft Refueler

A tank vehicle used at airports to transport fuel to an airplane for refueling. The main feature of the vehicle is a large tank from which fuel is pumped directly into the aircraft through an aircraft fueling nozzle. Some larger airports use hydrant refuelers to supply fuel to aircraft. These hydrant vehicles do not, themselves, transport fuel. Rather, they provide a refueling connection between the aircraft and an underground fuel supply.

Stage II Vapor Recovery

A system designed to capture displaced vapors that emerge from inside a motorist's fuel tank, when "gasoline" is dispensed into the "tank". Gasoline vapors accumulate in automobile and truck tanks, above the liquid level. When the tanks are filled, the rising liquid forces these vapors to seek an escape route. When a conventional "nozzle" is used, the displaced vapors flow out around the "nozzle spout" and into the air. When thousands of vehicles are refueled, in an urban area, the escaping vapors add significantly to the region's air pollution. In areas where air pollution is serious, environmental regulations require the use of Stage II gasoline vapor recovery systems. Such systems are referred to as Stage II because they address the second phase in the capture of vapors at a gasoline station. Stage I refers to the capture of gasoline vapors when fuel is delivered to the station's storage tanks. There are two basic types of Stage II systems. One is the "balance system", which transfers vapors from the vehicle tank to the station storage tank without the assistance of an external force, such as a vacuum. The second type is a system that relies on a vacuum source to help move the vapors out of the vehicle tank and into the storage tank. A key feature in the balance system is a hose nozzle that makes a tight connection with the fill pipe on the vehicle fuel tank. The nozzle spout is fitted with an accordion-like "bellows" that presses snugly against the fill pipe lip. Balance systems are designed with controls that prevent fuel from flowing into the vehicle tank unless there is a tight connection between the nozzle bellows and the fill pipe. When fuel delivery begins, gasoline flows from the "dispenser" into the vehicle fuel tank. Vapors displaced by the rising liquid seek an escape route. They find that route in an open port in the nozzle bellows. The vapors flow into the port, through the nozzle bellows, through a "coaxial" hose that connects the nozzle to the dispenser, and finally on through a vapor-return pipe back into a storage tank-typically, the same tank from which gasoline is being pumped. This movement of vapors is accomplished without use of any external force. The withdrawal of vapors from the vehicle tank is balanced by the simultaneous addition of the vapors to the underground tank from which liquid is being withdrawn-hence the name, balance system. To improve the efficiency and convenience of Stage II systems, it is often deemed desirable to assist the transfer of vapors. This is accomplished through use of a vacuum. Vacuum systems are of two types: vacuum-assist systems and aspirator-assist systems. Although use of vacuum systems is usually optional in conjunction with "underground storage tanks", such systems are required in facilities where aboveground tanks are installed. Vapors displaced from a motorist's tank won't flow "uphill" to the aboveground storage tank without assistance. This assistance is provided through creation of a vacuum that has the effect of propelling the vapors back through the vapor return line into the storage tank. In vacuum-assist systems, a vacuum pump provides the vacuum power. In aspirator-assist systems, the vacuum is created through an aspirator device. See also "Stage I vapor recovery".

Stage I Vapor Recovery

A system designed to capture displaced vapors that emerge from inside a storage "tank" when a load of "gasoline" is delivered into the tank. During the filling process, the rising liquid displaces the vapors present in the upper portion of the tank. These displaced vapors have to escape. If there is not a tight connection between the delivery hose and the tank, some vapors flow out around the hose nozzle while others are expelled through the vent pipe. Unless captured, the escaping vapors can make a major contribution to an air pollution problem. To deal with the problem, the petroleum industry developed Stage I gasoline vapor recovery systems. The process was referred to as Stage I because it addressed capture of vapors during the first phase of the gasoline transfer process at a motor fuel station: transfer of gasoline from the tanker truck to the storage tanks. The capture of vapors at the point where fuel later flows into automobile and truck tanks is referred to as Stage II. In a typical Stage I system, the "gasoline" transport driver connects two hoses between the delivery truck and the storage tank to which the delivery is being made. Gasoline from the truck flows through one hose into the storage tank. Displaced vapors, pushed out of the storage tank by the rising liquid, flow into the second hose. These vapors are pulled into the storage-tank compartment on the delivery vehicle by the vacuum created as a result of the emptying of product from the compartment. After completion of his gasoline deliveries, the driver returns to the "terminal". There, the gasoline vapors that have been collected in his or her truck compartments are removed when the truck is refilled with product. Some may be incinerated. Most, however, are processed through compression, adsorption, or refrigeration. In this process, most of the vapors are converted back to a liquid gasoline state and returned to storage. More important, however, is the fact that the use of Stage I systems prevents vapors displaced during the filling of storage tanks from escaping into the atmosphere. See also "Stage II vapor recovery".

Oil/Water Separator

A system for separating "petroleum" from water that has been contaminated with petroleum products. If rainwater finds its way into an underground "gasoline" storage "tank", over a period of time the water forms a layer on the bottom of the tank and the gasoline floats above. Petroleum products are lighter than water and will, therefore, float on top of water. Because of this tendency of the two liquids to arrange themselves in layers, manufacturers of oil/water separators have been able to develop equipment that contaminated water can be fed into, and which creates an action resulting in relatively clean water coming out one port and petroleum product coming out the other. Oil/water separators are relatively simple devices that look somewhat like an ordinary tank containing a series of baffle plates or coalescer plates. The contaminated water is introduced into one end of the tank and as it moves through the baffles, the oil-floating on top of the water-collects on these impediments. The oil floats to one level; the water to another level. By the time the oil/water mixture has made its way through the entire oil/water separator, a substantial portion of the two liquids has been separated. The oil typically collects in the oil/water separator until pumped out for sanitary disposal or further processing. The water typically flows out and is directed to an approved discharge point. Oil/water separators are widely used at petroleum "terminals" and other locations where spills and overfills of product combine with surface water to create contamination.

Keylock

A system of controlling access to commercial fueling "dispensers", such as those used at trucking companies and taxi companies. At retail motor fuel sites open to the public, it is generally required that an attendant be on duty to operate the pumps and collect the money. But at commercial fueling sites, drivers who are authorized to obtain fuel at the location are given coded cards or keys that operate the pumps. These facilities are referred to as cardlock or keylock locations. Both operate on essentially the same principle. When a driver arrives at a keylock location for a fill-up, he inserts a key in the pump. The pump "reads" the key and determines that the key owner is eligible to obtain fuel at that location. The pump is also able, through the key, to identify the vehicle being fueled. Not only do the coded keys provide security for commercial fueling sites, but they also make it possible for the owner of the site to elicit detailed records on each transaction: identity of driver, identity of vehicle, number of gallons dispensed-even the approximate mileage on the vehicle.

Tank Hole Liner

A system used for providing "secondary containment" of "underground storage tanks". The system involves lining the walls and floor of the tank excavation with an impervious synthetic membrane, prior to placement of the tanks in the excavation. The membrane, made of a tough reinforced plastic material, are prefabricated or assembled at the jobsite and thermally "welded" together to form a continuous barrier. A sump is normally designed in the floor of the liner. Should a tank leak later occur, spilled product will collect in this sump, where its presence can be detected through use of an observation well. The precise source of the leak, however, cannot be identified.

Level Alarm

A system, either mechanical or electronic, in a storage "tank" that can monitor the liquid level in the tank, and activate an alarm, a light, a buzzer or computer message, when the liquid reaches a predetermined level, or when the level drops substantially during a period when it should have remained constant. See also "High level alarm".

Meter Calibration Seal

A tamper-evident device used to secure the calibration mechanism of a fuel dispensing meter. A meter calibration seal normally consists of a loop of wire that prevents the meter calibration mechanism from being adjusted. The wire loop is held in place by a small, round lead disk pressed around the ends of the wire that may be imprinted with the sealers initials on one side and the name of his or her employer on the other. See also "Calibration", "PEI/RP500".

Excise Tax

A tax imposed on the sale of a particular product. Per-gallon gasoline taxes are excise taxes.

Grounding

A technique for dissipating static electricity charges from a structure or object, through use of a connection that transfers the static charges into the earth. If static electricity builds up during a fueling operation, an electrical spark may ignite volatile vapors present at the site. For reasons of safety, then, it is important that static electricity, which may have accumulated, be dissipated. One way to accomplish this is through grounding. Grounding is a specific form of bonding in which one or more objects are connected to the earth by means of an attachment to a grounding "point," such as a rod driven into the soil. See also "Bond".

Swing Joint

A technique for providing flexibility at various points in an underground piping system by making up joints composed of steel 90-degree elbows and nipples. Consider, for example, the point at which the horizontal pipe from an underground storage tank must turn upward to enter a pump island dispenser. If you made this connection simply by installing a right-angle elbow connector between the pipe and the riser leading into the dispenser, your connection would work well enough. It would, however, be absolutely rigid. If, later, there was a slight shift in the position of the dispenser, or a heaving motion caused by ground frost, the connection could not "give." Instead, it might break or crack. To prevent this, tank system designers have long recognized the need for providing a certain amount of flexibility in the connections where underground piping changes directions. The traditional technique for creating this flexibility has been the swing joint. A swing joint is made up of a series of from two to five 90-degree pipe elbows and nipples (short pieces of pipe, threaded on each end). These fittings are all threaded together, in a series, to provide a change of direction in the piping. If, later, there is some ground movement, the swing joint will "give." One elbow section will rotate in one direction, while compensating movement occurs in another section. Rupture of the piping is thus avoided but, unfortunately, leakage often occurs. Although swing joints are still used, in the U.S. they largely have been supplanted by flexible connectors. These "flex" connectors, 30 inches or so in length, are made of impervious plastic covered with a mesh of stainless steel or other material. They will bend freely in any direction, and are generally considered much more flexible and less likely to leak than swing joints.

Air Sparging

A technique for removing contaminants, such as the dissolved components of gasoline, from an underground water table. The process involves injection of air beneath the surface of the water table. As the air bubbles through the water, volatile organic compounds present in the water transfer to the air bubbles and emerge in the form of vapor. These contaminated vapors then collect in the surrounding soil. In turn, the contaminated vapors in the soil are removed by a process called soil vapor extraction.

Remote Impounding

A technique for retaining "gasoline" and other petroleum products that may have escaped from aboveground storage "tanks". Traditionally, fire-safety codes have required that aboveground storage tanks be surrounded by a "dike". That is, the tanks must have earthen, steel, or concrete walls which create a basin around the tanks. If the tanks should rupture or be overfilled, the containment area created by the surrounding dike would be able to hold the spilled product. Fire codes also provide for an alternative to diking, which is remote impounding. This is a technique that allows aboveground tank owners to construct what amounts to a drainage ditch, leading away from the tanks and sloping downgrade. The ditch continues to a location removed from the tanks. There, the ditch empties into a pond-like basin called a "retention area." This area must be located a certain distance from the tank and from nearby buildings and property lines. If one or more of the tanks protected by this arrangement should rupture, the spilled product, instead of collecting in the diked area around the tanks, would be diverted to the remote impounding pond away from the tanks. Fire codes spell out specific requirements for designing and constructing remote impounding facilities.

Tank Lining

A technique for the rehabilitation of an existing motor fuel storage "tank". The technique involves entering the tank and thoroughly cleaning it. If the tank walls are sound, the tank lining crew then sprays a thick coating of an epoxy resin onto the interior walls.

Land Farming

A technique for treating contaminated soil. For active treatment, the technique involves spreading the soil to a depth of 6 to 12 inches, over impermeable soil or an impermeable barrier. Every 2 weeks or so, this soil is aerated, typically by use of some sort of farm implement such as a harrow. The soil is also watered and fertilized, and then covered with plastic. The process results in the breakdown of petroleum contaminants in the soil. Land farming works well with soil that has been contaminated with "gasoline" and other liquid hydrocarbons. For example, contaminated soil removed from a gasoline storage "tank" area can be subjected to the land farming process and then returned to its original site. Environmental regulations do not always permit use of the land-farming technique. Even where it is allowed, there are often requirements that hydrocarbons released from contaminated soil be further processed before they are allowed to escape into the air.

Explosion Proof Device

A term applied to an electrical device that is constructed so as to prevent release of vapor-igniting sparks, and which may be installed in an area where the device might be surrounded by ignitible vapors. An electric pump motor installed in a manhole, just above an "underground storage tank", is located in an area where "gasoline" vapors might normally be present. A spark from the motor could ignite these vapors. However, pump motors and other electrical devices used in such locations are designed to be explosion proof. This condition is achieved by enclosing the device in a housing capable of withstanding a vapor explosion that might occur within the device. The housing is also designed to prevent escape of a spark or flash that could ignite vapors surrounding the unit. Explosion-proof devices are further designed so that the external temperature of the housing will not get hot enough to ignite vapors present in the area. Fire safety codes require use of explosion-proof electrical devices in areas where ignitible vapors could be present.

Intrinsically Safe

A term applied to any electrical circuit, wiring system, or apparatus that is not capable of generating an ignition-capable arc or ignition-capable heat under either normal or abnormal operation. Typically, such a circuit, wiring system, or apparatus operates at very low voltage and current levels. Intrinsically-safe equipment is used in the sensing probes installed in underground gasoline storage tanks. These are electronic devices, capable of detecting minute changes in the liquid level in the tank. Some can also detect the presence of water. However, the voltage and current capabilities used in these systems are so low that they cannot create a spark to ignite gasoline vapors in the tank. The equipment is thus said to be intrinsically safe.

Cardlock

A term used to describe a dispensing pump designed to be actuated through insertion of a coded card. Cardlocks are commonplace in commercial installations-in fueling facilities operated by taxicab companies, for instance. Each driver is issued a coded card that will actuate the pump. When he refuels, no cash is involved in the transaction. Instead, the driver merely inserts his special coded card. The cardlock device not only records the amount of fuel dispensed, but can also enter information in the records, printed out later, which identifies the driver. Some cardlock systems are programmed to calculate mileage driven between fillups, vehicle miles per gallon, and similar data. See also "Keylock".

Prime

A term used to describe a situation in which a dispensing pump is maintained "at the ready," capable of immediately dispensing fuel. In a suction system, the pumping unit inside the "dispenser" "pulls" product from an underground storage tank when the pump is turned on. When the transaction is completed and the pump is turned off, product remaining in the pipe line-between dispenser and tank-would normally flow back into the tank, an undesirable scenerio. It would mean that the next time the pump was operated the first drop of product out of the tank would have to move all the way through the empty piping before it could be dispensed. Such a situation would not only create a delay, but would also make the pumping operation more difficult. Ideally, then, the piping and pumping mechanism should remain filled with product, even when the pumping unit is not in operation. This is accomplished through use of a check valve in the piping system. When the pump is turned off, the valve closes and prevents product in the line from flowing back into the tank. Both suction and "pressurized systems" use check valves for this purpose. This practice is referred to as "keeping the pump primed." If a check valve failure occurs, and product in the line does flow back into the tank, the system is said to have "lost prime." See also "Check valve".

Safe Suction

A term used to describe a suction pumping system where the following are true: 1) There is only one check valve located immediately below the pump. 2) The pump is at a higher elevation than the tank 3) The piping slopes continually back to the tank. Suction pumping systems incorporating these features are "safe" because leaks in the piping will result in a loss of "prime" but not release of product outside the "primary containment". See also "PEI/RP900".

Precision Test

A term used to describe certain types of tightness tests conducted on underground tank-and-piping systems. To qualify as a precision test a tightness test must take into account several variables, particularly product temperature at differing liquid depths and tank-end deflection. The term, precision test, was originally used in Underground Leakage of Flammable and Combustible Liquids, NFPA 329, a publication of the "National Fire Protection Association". In its current edition, however, the publication has dropped use of the term. Even so, some tank regulations continue to require that tank testing be accomplished through "precision test" methods.

Pump Cycle

A term used to describe the motion of the moving parts in a "positive displacement pump". One complete pump cycle is the path taken by the moving components from a starting point back to the starting point. For a "stick pump", the pump cycle consists of an upstroke, where fluid on the upper side of the pump piston is pushed out of the pump into the distribution system, and fluid on the lower side of the piston is drawn into the body of the pump, and a down stroke, where fluid passes from the lower to the upper side of the piston. One complete upstroke and down stroke of the pump is required to complete one pump cycle. See also "PEI/RP700".

Offloading System

A term used to describe the process by which petroleum liquids are transferred from a tanker truck into a storage "tank". Typically, when product is offloaded from a tank vehicle to a storage tank, a 4-inch-diameter hose connection is made between the vehicle and the fill pipe in the tank. If the tank is underground, the offloading is usually accomplished through gravity flow. If the tank is aboveground, the liquid must be moved by a pump, located either on the tank vehicle or in the area adjacent to the tank.

Annulus

A term used to describe the small space between the inner and outer walls of a double-wall "tank" or double-wall piping. In the petroleum marketing industry, it is more common to refer to this area as an interstice, or an "interstitial space".

Flow Rate

A term used to describe the speed at which a liquid moves through a refueling system. In petroleum marketing operations, the flow rate is usually identified in terms of gpm-gallons per minute. A particular type of gasoline "nozzle", for example, might be described as having a flow rate of 10 gpm.

Net Gallons

A term used to identify the volume a product, such as "gasoline", would record if it were measured at 60ºF.

Gross Gallons

A term used to identify the volume a product, such as "gasoline", would record if it were measured at ambient temperature. See also "Net gallons".

Blockage Test

A test conducted on "Stage II vapor recovery" systems to determine if liquid may be collecting in low places in the piping, and thus blocking the flow of vapor back to the storage "tank". The blockage test is prescribed by the PEI Recommended Practice for Installation and Testing of Vapor Recovery Systems at Vehicle Fueling Sites, "PEI/RP300". The test involves passing nitrogen through the vapor-return system. Obstructions in the piping, such as those caused by an accumulation of liquid at low points, will impede the flow of nitrogen and indicate the presence of the obstructions.

Dynamic Backpressure Test

A test procedure prescribed in PEI's Recommended Practices for Installation and Testing of Vapor Recovery Systems at Vehicle Fueling Sites. The procedure, also referred to as a "dry test," is conducted to make sure that vapors displaced during the fueling process will move properly from the vehicle fuel tank back through the system to the motor fuel storage tank. The test simulates the pressure required to move the vapors during a routine fueling operation. The pressure-inducing material used in the test is nitrogen. See also "PEI/RP300"

Air To Liquid Ratio Test

A test procedure that measures the volume of the air returned to a storage tank when a specified volume of gasoline is dispensed from a vacuum assist stage II recovery nozzle. The ratio of the volume of air returned to the tank and the volume of gasoline dispensed is a measure of the effectiveness of the vapor-recovery system. The A/L ratio measured during a test is compared to the specifications for a specific vacuum-assist system to determine if the equipment is operating properly.

Core

A trade term, used in the petroleum marketing equipment business, to refer to a piece of equipment - a "nozzle", "meter" or pump computer -that is returned to the manufacturer in exchange for a new or rebuilt item of the same type. A "core" mechanical computer, for example, could be one that has become outdated because it does not display current price and gallonage figures. This core computer would be exchanged for a new or rebuilt computer capable of displaying the proper figures. The core unit, in turn, would be taken by the manufacturer and "recycled." That is, it would be rebuilt, with new parts substituted for those that had become worn or obsolete.

Truckstop

A truck stop is a commercial facility that provides fuel, parking, and often food and other services to long-haul trucks. Truck stops are usually located on or near a busy road and consist of a "diesel" grade fueling station with bays wide and tall enough for modern tractor/trailer rigs, plus a large enough parking area to accommodate from five to over a hundred trucks and other heavy vehicles. The truck stop originated in the United States in the 1940s, as a reliable source of "diesel" fuel not commonly available at filling stations. This, coupled with the growth of the Interstate Highway System, led to the creation of the professional haulage and truck stop industries.

Drop Tube

A tube, usually made of aluminum, positioned inside an "underground storage tank" fill pipe and extending to a point about 6 inches from the bottom of the tank. The drop tube reduces turbulence when the tank is being filled. Instead of splashing into the nearly empty tank from the top, product entering the tank is routed through the drop tube where it emerges near the bottom of the tank. This serves to minimize turbulence and, as a consequence, minimize the creation of vapors.

Deadman Anchors

A type of anchoring system used to prevent "underground storage tanks" from floating out of the ground during periods of high "groundwater". Deadman anchors are made of reinforced concrete. They consist of two elongated beams that run the full length of the tank. The beams, usually 12 inches or so wide and high, rest on the bottom of the excavation just outside the diameter of the tank itself. Straps running across the top of the tank connect the two anchors to each other. The weight of the beams goes a long way toward holding down the tank if it seeks to float. More important, a portion of the backfill in the excavation also bears directly down on each of the two deadman anchors placed along the sides of the tank. The weight of this backfill provides additional downward force to prevent flotation. The term "deadman anchor" has long been used in the construction trades to describe a block of concrete, or similar object, buried in the ground for the purpose of holding down a connected structure. See also "Tank anchors".

Vent Whistle

A type of audible overfill prevention device used with aboveground tanks that produces a high pitched whistling sound continuously during the fuel delivery and stops when the alarm level is reached. See also "PEI/RP600".

Check Valve

A type of valve used in the piping of a "gasoline" station. The distance between "dispensers" and storage tanks in a modern gasoline station is 60 feet or more. The systems are designed so that the piping gradually slopes back toward the "tanks". If there was an open pipe between the dispenser and the tank, however, each time a pump was turned off all product then present in the piping would flow back into the storage tank. Each time a pump was turned back on it would have to start afresh in moving product all the way from the storage tank, through the empty pipe, into the dispenser. This would cause a delay in dispensing. It would also mean that the liquid seeking to flow through the piping would have to sputter its way through the air and vapor that had accumulated in the piping after the pump had been turned off from its previous use. To prevent this from happening, engineers have designed a number of valves that can be positioned at various points in the piping-valves whose function is to check the backward flow of product when a pump is turned off. The valves hold product in the line, and are thus said to keep the system "primed." These various valves are referred to as union check valves, angle check valves, vertical check valves, and "foot valves". Even though a variety of check valves are available, only one such valve is required in a typical piping system and it can be placed anywhere along the piping. All check valves operate in much the same fashion. Inside the metal body of each valve is a disk-or two metal disks. These disks are called " "poppets"." When the action of the pump begins, the disks are pulled or pushed in the direction of the dispenser, allowing liquid from the tank to flow around the poppets. When the pumping action stops, however, the poppets drop back down to their normal position, seating themselves on a lip that runs around the inside of the valve. Once the poppets seat themselves inside the valve, liquid in the piping above the valve-toward the dispenser-is trapped. It cannot flow back into the tank. The system thus remains "primed" until pumping action is next resumed. Although all check valves operate on the same principle, different locations in the piping system call for somewhat different design configurations. Angle check valves are used at the top of the storage tank. Vertical check valves are used at the "dispenser" location. Foot valves are used inside the storage tank, at the lower end of the suction stub. Union check valves are used inside a union, usually at the pump. Check valves are not required in the piping from aboveground storage tanks. However, if a check valve should be installed in aboveground storage tank piping, it should be accompanied by a thermo-relief valve to allow product expansion caused by solar heating to be relieved back to the storage tank. Thermo-relief valves are also often required for use with submersible-pump piping systems. See also "Suction system".

Fire Valve

A valve designed to close automatically when subjected to intense heat. Typically, a fire valve is equipped with a fusible link. Under normal conditions, this link holds a spring-loaded "poppet" in the open position, allowing fuel to flow, unimpeded, through the valve. A fire at the site, however, would cause the fusible link to melt. This, in turn, would cause the spring loaded poppet to pop into the closed position, automatically cutting off the flow of "gasoline" or other fuel. See also "Breakaway connector", "Emergency shutoff valve", "Fire resistant tank".

Vapor Valve

A valve in the vapor pathway of a vapor recovery system that opens to allow vapor to flow back to the storage "tank" and closes whenever product is not being dispensed. See also "PEI/RP300".

Breakaway Connector

A valve installed between the "nozzle" and "dispenser", on a "gasoline" station hose, that will pull apart if a motorist drives away with the nozzle still inserted in the fill pipe of his fuel tank. An unthinking motorist or attendant may neglect to remove the nozzle after completion of the fueling operation. The motorist gets in his car and starts to drive out of the station. If the nozzle remains hooked in the fill pipe of the car's tank, the car can exert enough force to pull the gasoline dispenser off the pump island. At a minimum, this can result in expensive repairs to the dispenser and hose assembly. At worst, if the impact valve beneath the dispenser fails to operate properly, the result can be a serious fire, as gasoline spews, under pressure, from the dispenser piping. Breakaway connectors were developed to overcome this problem. The connector is installed on the hose, between the nozzle and dispenser. (If the hose is suspended from a "hose retriever" on a supporting cable, the connector is installed between the nozzle and the cable hose clamp.) When a predetermined amount of pressure (usually 250 pounds) is applied to the hose, the two parts of the connector separate. Instantly, a valve closes in each of the two now-separate parts of the connector. This closing action prevents fuel from flowing out of either of the parted sections of the hose. In addition, the separation of the breakaway connector prevents the motorist from pulling the dispenser off the pump island. Breakaways are required by some codes.

Antisiphon Valve

A valve installed in an aboveground "tank" system to prevent liquid from accidentally flowing out of the tank. An anti siphon valve is often needed where the liquid level in the tank is higher than the elevation of the dispenser or any of the product piping. To understand how such a valve works, visualize a [fuel] tank located above a fueling station. The force of gravity causesfuel in the tank constantly to try to flow through the pipe connecting it to the dispensing pump at the marina below. Some positive shut off device needs to be present in the piping to prevent this from happening, except during those periods when the operator specifically desires that product flow through the pipe. The device used for this purpose is referred to as an anti siphon valve. Such a valve is positioned in the tank's discharge pipe, downstream from the block valve that is located just outside the tank shell. An anti siphon valve is designed to remain in a closed position, thus preventing the flow of liquid except when some positive action, such as the turning on of the pump, is taken. An anti siphon valve may operate on the solenoid principle. Others are spring-loaded "check valves". Both are designed to open only when the pump is operating. An alternate anti-siphon scheme operates not as a flow preventing valve, but rather as a siphon breaker. On systems where the piping connections come out of the top of an AST it consists of a small normally open solendoi valve which is installed in the highest point in the pipe run. It is de-energized (open) when the pump is not running. Loss of prime back into the tank is prevented by installing a check valve in the suction riser pipe coming up out of the tank. When the pump is turned on, the solenoid is energized, and it closes. Normal pump suction draws fuel up out of the tank, and down to the pump. When the pump is shut off the solenoid (siphon breaker) opens again. If there is a leak, or a valve in the pump or downstream of the pump is accidentally left open, or of a pump seal fails, fuel will flow out of the system, but with the siphon breaker introducing air into the piping as fuael flows out, only the amount of fuel held in the pipe will spill out. None will be drawin out of the tank by siphon, because the siphon breaker has introduced air into the suction line and broken the continuaou siphon effect. Another type of anti-siphon valve for suction line a p[plication is called a Tank Safety Valve, and consists of a diaphragm globe valve with a spring pushing it closed. , It is opened by a double sided power diaphragm having one side connectged by small piot line to a fitting near the suction inlet of the pump, and the other side connected similarly to the high pressure discharge side of the pump. When the pump is operating the pressure differential causes sufficient force on the power diaphragm to move the valve diaphragm open ane permits flow. In marina applications, mechanical anti siphon valves are not recommended. See also "Solenoid valve".

High Level Valve

A valve located in the filling system of a storage "tank", designed to slow or stop the flow of product during a filling operation when the liquid in the tank reaches a prescribed level.

Gate Valve

A valve used to restrict or stop the flow of liquids through a pipe in applications where "petroleum" products are moved in bulk quantities; at a "bulk plant" or "terminal". A gate valve, in a sense, performs like a gate inside a pipe, allowing product to flow when it is open, stopping the flow when it is closed. The blockage is provided by a flat plate that is moved into the closed position by operation of the handle. Gate valves may be operated either manually or through use of power controls.

Emergency Shutoff Valve

A valve, installed in the product line of a pressurized system and positioned level with the top surface of a "pump island", just below the "dispenser". The valve is capable of automatically shutting off the flow of motor fuel in event of a fire at the dispenser, or in event the dispenser, fed by a "submersible pump", is knocked over or pulled off its base. If a car strikes the dispenser, or a motorist pulls away with the nozzle still in his car's fill pipe, the dislodging of the dispenser could damage the piping and cause gasoline to spew onto the driveway, under pressure. An emergency shutoff valve is designed to operate when an accident of this sort dislodges the dispenser. The top portion of the valve shears off, releasing a spring-loaded "poppet" inside the valve that immediately closes, shutting off the flow of "gasoline". The valves are also equipped with fusible links, devices that will melt in intense heat. If a fire occurs at a pump island, the fusible link holding the valve open will melt and allow a spring-loaded internal poppet to close, shutting off the flow of gasoline. Emergency shutoff valves are also referred to as impact valves, fire valves, shear valves, or crash valves.

Hydrant Refueler

A vehicle used at larger airports to provide a refueling connection between an aircraft and a fuel supply piped underground to the refueling point. Hydrant refuelers are sometimes referred to as "hydrant carts." Unlike aircraft refuelers, they do not transport fuel. Rather, they are trucks equipped with meters, filters, hoses, and couplings. The operator makes a connection between the aircraft and a below-grade pipeline hydrant at the fueling site. Fuel is then pumped into the aircraft through this connection.

Emergency Vent

A vent installed on an aboveground tank to provide for vapor release in event of excessive pressure build-up resulting from fire exposure of the tank. Such vents are designed to operate at higher pressure settings and to allow a greater flow rate of vapors than those which actuate the operation of pressure/vacuum vents on normal vent pipes. Aboveground storage tanks have two separate openings for vents-one for emergency venting and one for normal venting.

Double Bottomed Tank

A vertical aboveground " tank" designed with two bottoms separated by an interstitial space. If a leak should develop in the bottom of the primary tank, the released liquid will enter the interstitial space. A double-bottomed tank thus provides a means for monitoring tank leaks, as well as a form of "secondary containment."

Drip Leg

A vertical length of piping or tubing that is designed to capture any water droplets that may be traveling inside compressed air distribution piping or tubing. An automatic or manually operated drain valve is installed at the lowest point of a drip leg to allow the removal of the water that has accumulated. A drip leg typically forms the lowest point of an "air drop", but may also be installed in an "air header". See also "PEI/RP700".

Riser

A vertical pipe. In the petroleum marketing equipment industry, the term riser is applied to vertical pipes in a variety of applications. The pipe that projects out of an underground tank, and which is used for delivering product into the tank, will often be referred to as a fill riser or tank riser. A vent riser is the vertical portion of a vent line. A product riser is the vertical section of pipe under a dispenser.

Dike

A wall or embankment made of earth, concrete, or steel, around the perimeter of one or more aboveground tanks. Dikes are designed to retain product that might accidentally be released from the tanks or their related equipment, and thus to minimize the possibility of off-site water contamination or fire danger.

Chock

A wedge or similar device inserted in a space adjacent to an object, to hold the object steady. When an "underground storage tank" is delivered to a construction site, it often remain on the ground for several days prior to installation. As a result of wind or uneven surfaces, the tanks may tend to roll. Such movement can cause abrasions in the tanks' coatings or damage to the tanks' structures. To prevent movement of tanks in temporary storage at a jobsite, the tanks should be chocked. That is, something should be wedged under the lower quadrant of each tank to keep it from rolling.

Shop Fabricated Tank

A welded carbon or stainless steel "tank" fabricated in a manufacturing facility. See also "PEI/RP800".

UL 142 Tank

A welded steel vessel designed to store flammable and combustible liquids constructed according to "Underwriters Laboratories" Standard 142 entitled, Steel Aboveground Tanks for Flammable and Combustible Liquids. A UL 142 tank is intended for noncorrosive, stable liquids that have a specific gravity not exceeding that of water. See also "PEI/RP600", "UL 80 tank" and "UL 2085 tank".

UL 80 Tank

A welded steel vessel with a maximum capacity of 660 gallons constructed according to "Underwriters Laboratories" Standard 80 entitled, Steel Tanks for Oil Burner Fuel. A UL 80 tank is intended for installation inside buildings or for outside aboveground applications. These tanks are primarily used for the supply of fuel oil to oil burners. See also "PEI/RP600", "UL 142 tank" and "UL 2085 tank".

API 12F Tank

A welded-steel vessel designed to store flammable and combustible liquids constructed according to "API" Specification 12F entitled, Specification for Shop Welded Tanks for Storage or Production Liquids. A tank constructed according to API Specification 12F is intended for the storage of crude petroleum and other liquids commonly stored in the course of oil production. For more information, see "PEI/RP600".

ARCO

ARCO (an acronym for Atlantic Richfield Company) is an oil company which is, since 2000, a subsidiary of UK-based BP and is officially known as BP West Coast Products LLC. ARCO that was formed by the merger of East Coast-based Atlantic Refining and California-based Richfield Petroleum in 1966. It is known for having low-priced gasoline compared with other national brands, mainly due to an early 1980s decision to emphasize cost cuts (cash only policy) and alternative sources of income. ARCO is headquartered in La Palma, California. The Atlantic Petroleum Storage Company's heritage dates to 1866; it became part of the Standard Oil trust in 1874, but achieved independence again when Standard Oil was broken up in 1911. ARCO was a principal in the discovery of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, North America's largest oil field, in 1968. Led by founder Robert Orville Anderson, ARCO acquired Sinclair Oil in 1969, but later divested certain Sinclair assets during the mid 1970s, resulting in Sinclair returning as a private company. Commercial oil exploration started in Prudhoe Bay area in the 1960s and the Prudhoe Bay field was discovered on March 12, 1968, by Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) and Exxon, with the well Prudhoe Bay State #1. ARCO merged with Anaconda Copper Mining Company (ACM) of Montana in 1977. ACM holdings including the Berkeley Pit and the Anaconda, Montana Smelter. ARCO founder stated "he hoped Anaconda's resources and expertise would help him launch a major shale-oil venture, but that the world oil glut and the declining price of petroleum made shale oil moot." The purchase turned out to be a regrettable decision for ARCO. Lack of experience with hard-rock mining, and a sudden drop in the price of copper to below seventy cents a pound, the lowest in years, caused ARCO to suspend all operations in Butte, Montana. By 1983, only six years after acquiring rights to the "Richest Hill on Earth," the Berkeley Pit was completely idle. By 1986, some ARCO properties were sold to billionaire industrialist Dennis Washington, whose company Montana Resources operates a much smaller open-pit mine east of the defunct Berkeley Pit. The Atlantic brand was spun off for ARCO's East Coast stations, and was acquired by Sunoco. The ARCO brand is now used on the West Coast. ARCO specializes in discount gas by removing many frills, among them forcing prepayment for fuel, not accepting credit cards at most locations, and charging $0.45 for use of debit cards. In most locations, it is co-branded with ampm convenience stores, also a division of BP West Coast.

AUTEC Car Wash Systems

AUTEC Car Wash Systems manufactures precision-built, all stainless steel, Soft Touch, Touch Free, and hybrid car wash systems which provide exceptional cleaning performance with the lowest operating costs. AUTEC offers site analysis, demographic studies, design-build capabilities, engineered drawings, site plans, glass buildings, block buildings, blowers, reclaim and R/O, leasing and financing, national, factory-trained service team, marketing support, customized graphics and POS materials. Located at its Statesville, North Carolina corporate facility, AUTEC's new car wash facility is now open to the public. Featuring AUTEC's EV-1 Evolution car wash system, it washes a documented 30-plus cars per hour. The Ultimate wash cleans in 1.5 minutes. The menu includes three Touch Free and three Touch washes, as well as a combination of both. External Link "www.autec-carwash.com"

AXI Fuel Restoration

AXI Fuel Restoration is a joint venture between two well-known entities in tank and fuel maintenance, Algae-X International and Leighton O'Brien. Algae-X International is a company in the business of conditioning, maintaining and providing fuel quality products, specializing in the marine, and transport and energy operation industries. Leighton O'Brien is regarded by many as the best underground tank management company in the world, providing tank monitoring, management and testing services to major oil companies including: ExxonMobil, Chevron; Caltex; Shell; BP; 7-Eleven, Sheetz and United. Based in Australia, AXI Fuel Restoration was formed to meet today's industrial and business needs in conversion, maintenance and conditioning of critical fuel and tank systems. External Link "www.axifuelrestoration.com"

Adsorption

Adsorption is a process that occurs when a gas or liquid solute accumulates on the surface of a solid or a liquid, forming a film of molecules or atoms. It is different from absorption, in which a substance diffuses into a liquid or solid to form a solution. The term sorption encompasses both processes, while desorption is the reverse process. Charcoal used to remove hydrocarbon vapors given off by gasoline, in a so-called vehicle "onboard" vapor recovery system, is an example of adsorption in the petroleum equipment industry. Adsorption is present in many natural physical, biological, and chemical systems, and is widely used in industrial applications such as activated charcoal, synthetic resins, and water purification. Adsorption, ion exchange, and chromatography are sorption processes in which certain adsorbates are selectively transferred from the fluid phase to the surface of insoluble, rigid particles suspended in a vessel or packed in a column.

Alcoa Architectural Products

Alcoa Architectural Products is a business unit of Alcoa, with nearly 130,000 employees in 43 countries. The company produces and distributes products ranging from composite panels to household foils. Alcoa offers its customers the security of a global group, combined with the personal care of a typical regional midsized company, on an international scale. AAP operates two manufacturing facilities, located in Eastman, Georgia, USA, and Merxheim, France. Both facilities have supplied quality products and outstanding customer service to the building and construction industry for more than 30 years. In 1989, the Eastman facility inaugurated the Reynobond brand Aluminum Composite Material production line, and also produces Reynolux metal wall panels, flat sheet and coil. Our Merxheim facility has built an excellent reputation with the production of Reynolux coil-coated aluminum — and began operation of its own state-of-the-art Reynobond production line in 2000. In 2007, the Merxheim plant also began operation of a new, high-speed coil coating line capable of painting multiple paint systems in widths up to two meters wide (78 3/4 inches).

Algae Meal

Algae Meal is the second of two products resulting from the extraction of algae oil from algae cake, the first being algae oil. Similar to soybean meal, it contains carbohydrates and protein, and other "leftover" materials after oil extraction.

Algae Oilfield Equipment

Algae Oilfield Equipment is a term used to describe a new category of industrial equipment - namely equipment used for mass cultivation of algae and downstream processing of algae, as an alternative source of oil for use in the energy and other industries.

Algae

Algae are primitive plants, usually aquatic, capable of synthesising their own food by photosynthesis. Algae is currently being investigated as a possible feedstock for producing biodiesel.

Algae Cake

Algae cake is a term used to describe algae that has been dried, without any further processing. In other words, it is "dried, whole algae" prior to oil extraction or other downstream processing steps.

Fixed Roof Tank

An aboveground "tank" with a roof that is permanently affixed to the tank walls, and, except for the required vent openings, is vapor-tight. Another type of vertical aboveground tank is equipped with a roof that moves up and down, depending upon the amount of fuel present in the tank. See also "Floating roof tank".

Algal Biomass

Algal Biomass refers to the biomass produced by growing algae. It is similar to biomass produced by farm crops like soybean plants. It contains three major categories of chemicals - oils and fats, sugars and carbohydrates, proteins and amino acids - and two minor categories of chemicals - DNA and minerals. The oils & fats can be extracted and refined into biodiesel fuel. The sugars and carbohydrates can be refined into ethanol fuel. And, the proteins and amino acids can be processed into animal feed. Some species also contain important vitamin supplements and other valuable chemicals.

Submersible Pump

Also called a submerged turbine pump (STP). A pumping unit located inside a storage tank. Because the pump is positioned near the bottom of the tank, below the liquid level, it is normally submerged in the fuel; thus, a submersible pump. Installations in which submersible pumps are used to transfer gasoline from the storage tanks to pump island dispensers are usually referred to as remote systems. See also "Remote pumping system" and "Pressurized system".

Aircraft Fueling Nozzle

Although a nozzle used to dispense fuel into small airplanes generally bear a physical resemblance to one used in a service station, the operating characteristics of the two are somewhat different. Aircraft fueling nozzles have a much higher flow rate and are typically equipped with a strainer inside the nozzle spout designed to remove rust or other impurities that may have entered the fueling stream. Many fueling nozzles are fitted with a ring, attached around the end of the nozzle spout, that protects the wing of the airplane from accidental damage while the fueling operation is in progress. Also available are aircraft fueling nozzles equipped with a specially shaped spout that can prevent the accidental misfueling of piston aircraft with turbine fuel.

Ambeint Temperature

Ambient temperature is a term to denote a certain temperature within enclosed space at which humans are accustome Room temperature is thus often indicated by general human comfort, with the common range of 18°C to 28°C, though climate may acclimatize people to higher or lower temperatures. As used in the petroleum marketing industry, however, ambient temperature means the outside temperature of the surrounding area at a particular location. The term can also refer to a temperature of food to be consumed, which is placed in such a room for a given time. Furthermore, it may refer to a certain temperature within settings of scientific experiments and calculations. The progress and results of many scientific and industrial processes depends a little or not at all on the temperature of the surroundings of the equipment. For example, a measurement of the charge of the electron does not depend upon the temperature of the test equipment. In such cases if any mention of temperature is made, it is customary and sufficient to speak simply of "room temperature", which implies that no specific cooling or heating was involved. In most cases considerable temperature variations are irrelevant; work may be carried out in winter or summer without heating or air-conditioning, without mention of the temperature. The phenomena that researchers may choose to study at room temperature can naturally occur in the range of 20 to 23.5 °C, or they may not. Researchers will choose to study a process outside its natural temperature range when they expect the conclusions to a specific question to be the same at room temperature as at a more natural temperature. Experimentalists have an advantage in anticipating aspects of a room-temperature experiment, because the temperature is close to 20 °C, at which many of the material properties and physical constants in standards tables have been measured (more at standard state). By consulting such tables a researcher may estimate, for example, how fast a chemical reaction is likely to proceed at room temperature. Unless there is a reason to work at a specific temperature, it is clearly more convenient not to control the temperature. Even in cases where a known, controlled, temperature is advantageous but not essential, work may be carried out at room temperature. But, for example, very large, warehouse-type experimental facilities may lack sufficient heating and cooling capabilities to maintain 'room temperatures'. If it is believed that work which may have some dependence upon temperature has been carried out at temperatures significantly outside the range 20 to 23.5 °C, it may be reported that it was carried out at an ambient temperature of some approximate specified value. An assumed typical ambient temperature may be used for general calculations; for example, the thermal efficiency of a typical internal combustion engine may be given as approximately 25 percent, with no mention of the air temperature: the actual efficiency will depend to some extent on ambient temperature, decreasing in extremely hot weather conditions due to lower air density.

Ameron International

Ameron International Corporation is a multinational manufacturer of engineered products and materials for the chemical, industrial, energy, transportation and infrastructure markets. Traded on the New York Stock Exchange (AMN), Ameron is a leading producer of water transmission lines and fabricated steel products, such as wind towers; fiberglass-composite pipe for transporting oil, chemicals and corrosive fluids and specialized materials and products used in infrastructure projects. The Company operates businesses in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. It also participates in several joint-venture companies in the U.S. and the Middle East.

Elevated Tank

An "aboveground storage tank" that is not in contact with the ground and is raised above grade. It may allow for visual external inspection of the bottom of the tank. See also "PEI/RP800".

Skid Tank

An "aboveground tank", mounted on a small, factory-built platform. At construction and farm sites, where fueling operations are performed on a temporary basis, it is desirable to have storage tanks available. Because of the temporary nature of the operation, however, it would be wasteful to install the tanks underground or mount them on permanent supports aboveground. In such instances, a tank will often be mounted on a platform made of various steel structural shapes, such as angle iron or beams. The platform keeps the tank from resting directly on the ground and also prevents it from rolling over. Further, the platform allows the tank to be dragged from one location to another at the site, hence the term skid tank. Dispensing pumps are sometimes mounted on the skid, along with the tank creating a self-contained dispensing and storage system that can be moved from one location to another.

Fiberglass Tank

An "underground storage tank" constructed of thin glass fibers in a plastic matrix. Technically, the tanks are said to be constructed of a "fiberglass reinforced plastic coating", or FRP.

Algae Growth Unit

An Algae Growth Unit (AGU) is the core component of a Texas Clean Fuels Micro Organism Production System. It is a specialized, patent-pending, clear, plastic tank product intended for mass cultivation of photosynthetic algae as a fuel feedstock source. They are intended to be hooked together in series and/or in parrallel, in order to produce algae biomass faster and more profitably than other tank products already on the market.

Floating Roof Tank

An aboveground "tank" in which a metal deck or pan, the "roof," floats directly on the surface of the liquid. The roof is flush with the wall of the tank and moves up and down with the level of the liquid, much like in a piston in a cylinder. In some installations, the floating pan is open to the environment and designed in a way that will cause rainwater to drain from the top of the pan. Such an installation is referred to as an "open floating roof tank." In other installations, the tank may have a fixed roof or cover to protect the floating pan. These installations are referred to as "covered floating roof tanks." The purpose of a floating roof system is to minimize the volume of vapor present in the tank, as well as to reduce emission of vapors from the tank. See also "Fixed roof tank".

Handbook 44

An annual publication issued by the "National Institute of Standards and Technology". It contains recommended regulations adopted by the membership of the "National Conference on Weights and Measures". The publication is of special interest to petroleum marketers because it includes a section on retail measurement of liquid products. The provisions in Handbook 44 are adopted by weights and measures agencies in most states and cities. As a consequence, what this publication says about requirements for motor fuel dispensers is of critical concern to petroleum marketers. PEI members can download the latest copy of Handbook 44 from the Members Only section of the PEI website.

Facade

An architectural term that refers to the front of a building, particularly an ornamental front that is more imposing than the rest of the building. Sometimes the decorative facing designed for the front of a service station building, or the station canopy, is referred to as the facade. Sometimes it is also referred to as fascia (Pronounced "fay-sha"). Pronounced "fuh-sod."

Visible Meter Pump

An early "gasoline" dispenser with a graduated glass cylinder at the top. The dispenser was operated by manually working a handle on the side of the pump, which pumped gasoline from an underground storage tank into the glass cylinder. Then, by operating the hose "nozzle", the operated dispensed gasoline from the cylinder into the fuel tank of an automobile. The amount of gasoline flowing into the vehicle, from the glass cylinder, could be visually observed. Hence, the device was referred to as a visible pump or visible meter pump.

Berm

An edge or shoulder alongside a paved surface, designed to retain liquid that may collect on the surface. Normally, a berm is no more than 6 or 8 inches in height. A larger dirt berm may be used temporarily during an "underground storage tank" installation to direct runoff water away from the excavation. A berm might be constructed along the edge of a "gasoline" station driveway to direct the flow of accumulated rainwater toward the inlet point of a storm sewer system. Or a berm might be constructed around the perimeter of a small aboveground tank, to retain spilled product or to control the direction of its flow.

Probe

An electronic measuring device installed in an underground "tank". Probes typically measure product level, water level and product temperature and communicate this information to an automatic tank gauge console. See also "PEI/RP900".

Manhole

An entry point in a storage "tank". Originally, manholes were just that, openings large enough to accommodate entry by a man. Over the years, however, any tank opening, including those where delivery and vapor return hoses are connected, have come to be referred to as manholes. In petroleum marketing facilities, manholes are fitted with a cover that must be removed to provide access to the opening below.

Meter Creep

An event where the "dispenser" meter display indicates an increase in volume when the pump is on, even though no fuel is being dispensed. Meter creep is generally indicative of a leak in the liquid-carrying components downstream from the meter. See also "Meter jump" ", PEI/RP500."

Stick the Tank

An expression used in the petroleum marketing industry to describe the action used in manually measuring the amount of liquid in a storage tank. When a station operator "sticks the tank," he removes the fill cap from the tank and inserts a long gauge pole marked with numbers indicating inches. After the end of the pole has touched the bottom of the tank, the operator withdraws it and notes the highest number, to the nearest 1/8 inch, at which the liquid has "wetted" the pole. By relating this number to the numbers in a conversion chart for that particular tank, the operator can determine the number of gallons of liquid currently present in the tank.

Globe

An illuminated glass globe, mounted atop a gasoline station pump for display of the "gasoline" marketer's logo. Globes began to appear on pumps before 1910. The company emblem was etched (or painted) on the sides of the globe. A light bulb inside gave brilliance to the display. Globes began to disappear from the gasoline marketing scene after World War II. They are not used on modern gasoline station dispensers. So-called "gas pump globes" have become collector's items.

Internal Combustion Engine

An internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs in a combustion chamber inside and integral to the engine. In an internal combustion engine it is always the expansion of the high temperature and pressure gases that are produced which apply force to the movable component of the engine, such as the pistons or turbine blades. The term internal combustion engine most usually refers to an engine in which combustion is intermittent, such as the familiar four-stroke and two-stroke engines, along with a very few more exotic variants, such as the Wankel engine. These engines almost invariably use reciprocating pistons, with crankshafts, connecting rods and most of them now use camshafts with cams. A second class of internal combustion engines use continuous combustion - Jet engines (including gas turbines) and most rockets, each of which are internal combustion engines on the same principle as previously described. The internal combustion engine contrasts with the external combustion engine, such as a steam or Stirling engine in which the energy is delivered within a working fluid heated in a boiler by fossil fuel, wood-burning, nuclear, solar etc. A large number of different designs for ICEs have been developed and built, with a variety of different strengths and weaknesses. While there have been and still are many stationary applications, the real strength of internal combustion engines is in mobile applications and they completely dominate as a power supply for cars, aircraft, and boats, from the smallest to the biggest. Only for hand-held power tools do they share part of the market with battery powered devices. Powered by an energy-dense fuel (nearly always liquid, derived from fossil fuels) the ICE delivers an excellent power-to-weight ratio with very few safety or other disadvantages.

Block Valve

Any type of valve that is used to close off flow, such as flow through a pipeline or out of a "tank". Types of valves used in such service include gate valves, ball valves, and plug valves. Typically, a block valve can be locked in either the open or closed position to prevent tampering or vandalism.

Container

Any vessel of 119 gallons or less capacity used for transporting or storing liquids. "NFPA 30" defines container so as not to conflict with the US Department of Transportation's defintion of non-bulk packaging, in Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 171.8, part of which reads "a maximum capacity of 119 gallons or less as a receptacle for liquids." In the same section DOT defines bulk pacakaging, as it applies to liquids, as a packaging that has "a maximum capacity greater than 119 gallons." Bulk pacakaging includes transport vehicles and freight containers. However, in Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 178.700, DOT includes specifications for what it refers to as an "intermediate bulk container," a receptacle that has a capacity of not more than 793 gallons, but not less than 119 gallons.

Fill Cap

As the name implies, a fill cap is simply a cap that fits over the open end of a "fill pipe".

Ashland Oil

Ashland was founded in 1924 as Ashland Refining Company of Ashland, Kentucky, by Paul G. Blazer. The refinery was originally set up under the guise of the Swiss Oil Company located in Lexington, Kentucky. In 1930, the nearby Tri-State Refining Company was purchased, adding 5,500 barrels per day of capacity to the company. The company continued to merge or acquire other oil companies, combining with Swiss Oil in 1936, Allied Oil in 1948, Aetna Oil in 1949, and purchasing Frontier Oil Refining and National Refining in 1950. By that time, the company began to diversify, adding petrochemicals to its portfolio with the acquisition of R. J. Brown Company in 1956 and United Carbon in 1963. Diversification continued with the purchase of Warren Brothers in 1966, which later was to become Ashland Paving and Construction. A significant acquisition was made in 1967 when the company purchased ADM Chemical Group; whose chemical distribution business would go on to be one of the primary businesses of the company in the later part of the 20th century. In 1969, the company reorganized to form Ashland Petroleum, as well as entering into a joint venture in Coal Mining under the name Arch Mineral. In the 1980s and early part of the 1990s, Ashland continued to expand, buying The Permian Corporation and merging it with Scurlock Oil Company in 1991 to form a subsidiary known as Scurlock Permian Corporation. In 1992, most of Unocal's chemical distribution business was acquired, making Ashland the top chemical distributor in North America. At this time, the Industrial Chemicals & Solvents (IC&S) division was established. The company's name was changed from "Ashland Oil" to the present "Ashland Inc." in 1995, which noted the reduced importance of oil in the overall business. The late 1990s saw considerable change in the structure of the company. In 1998, the petroleum division merged with Marathon Oil to form Marathon Ashland Petroleum, LLC (MAP). Following that in 1999, Ashland agreed to sell its Scurlock Permian subsidiary to Plains All American Pipeline and the headquarters were moved from Russell, Kentucky to Covington, Kentucky, although the Russell office is still in operation as of 2007. A monumental change came in 2005, when Ashland sold its shares of the Marathon Ashland Petroleum joint venture, to Marathon Oil, effectively dissolving the remnants of their petroleum division. After the sale, the company was no longer involved in the refining or marketing of fuels. The original oil refinery in Catlettsburg, Kentucky is still in operation today and is owned and operated by Marathon. In 2006, Ashland sold APAC (the paving and construction division) to Oldcastle Materials of Dublin, Ireland. Ashland purchased the adhesive and emulsions divisions of Air Products & Chemicals in 2008. Ashland announced plans to acquire Hercules Inc. on July 11, 2008 for $3.3 billion On November 13, 2008, the transaction was completed. The company currently has four wholly owned divisions, which include Distribution, Performance Materials, Valvoline, and Water Technologies. The Distribution division provides chemicals and solvents to a variety of industrial customers. Industries served include Adhesives, Automotive, Cleaning products, Coatings, Elastomers, Inks, Paints, Personal Care, and Plastics and Plastic Molding. Ashland also operates a business called "Environmental Services" out of certain facilities. This business is engaged in temporary storage and transport of customer waste to the proper disposal facility.[5] Combining the Casting Solutions, Composite Polymers, and Specialty Polymers & Adhesives businesses, Performance Materials provides products for the construction, packaging, transport, marine, and metal casting industries. Twenty Nine manufacturing facilities are found in 15 countries around the world. Casting Solutions makes Foundry Binder Resins, chemicals, sleeves, and filters for the metalworking industry. The Composite Polymers business sells unsaturated polyester resins, vinyl ester resins, and gelcoats, for use in Composites. Finally, the Specialty Polymers & Adhesives business manufacturers various adhesives and resins for the transportation, aerospace, and construction industries. In North America, Valvoline is divided into two main sections. The "Do it for me" (DIFM) business, which includes Valvoline Instant Oil Change along with the franchise business Valvoline Express Care. The "Do it yourself" (DIY) business includes a wide variety of automotive related products. Included in these are Valvoline lubricants, along with Car Brite commercial automotive appearance products, Eagle One consumer automotive appearance products, Pyroil automotive chemicals, and Zerex antifreeze. Outside of North America, the company does not have any auto care businesses, but rather focuses on selling to consumers as well as OEM manufacturers. In the Water Technologies division, Ashland makes chemical and non-chemical water treatment products for industrial, commercial, and municipal customers. This includes wastewater treatment, pathogen control, and boiling and cooling water treatment chemicals. The business was recently expanded with the acquisition of Degussa AG's water treatment business. In late 2008 with the closure of the Hercules acquisition, the water and papers division was created with expected revenues in excess of $2 billion. External link "www.ashland.com"

Bellows

Balance Stage II vapor recovery nozzles must make a vapor-tight connection with the fill pipe of the vehicle tank that is being fueled. The bellows device is used to provide this tight connection is an accordion-like sleeve, made of a flexible rubber or plastic compound, that fits around the outside of the "nozzle spout". When the spout is inserted into the fill pipe, the folds on the bellows compress, and the end of the bellows mechanism forms a snug, vapor-tight union with the lip of the fill pipe. The bellows is also referred to as the "nozzle boot" or boot assembly. See also "Nozzle".

API

Based in Washington, DC, the American Petroleum Institute, commonly referred to as API, is the main U.S trade association for the oil and natural gas industry, representing about 400 corporations involved in production, refinement, distribution, and many other aspects of the industry. The association's chief functions on behalf of the industry include advocacy and negotiation with governmental, legal, and regulatory agencies; research into economic, toxicological, and environmental effects; establishment and certification of industry standards; and education outreach. API both funds and conducts research related to many aspects of the petroleum industry. API distributes more than 200,000 copies of its publications each year. The publications, technical standards, and electronic and online products are designed to help users improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of their operations, comply with legislative and regulatory requirements, and safeguard health, ensure safety, and protect the environment. Each publication is overseen by a committee of leading industry professionals. API's publications are developed by member company engineers and other professionals. For example, API 610 is the specification for centrifugal pumps, API 682 governs mechanical seals, and API 677 is the standard for gear units. API also defines the industry standard for the energy conservation of motor oil. API SM is the latest specification to which motor oils intended for spark-ignited engines should adhere since 2004. It supersedes API SL. Different specifications exist for compression-ignited engines. External Link "www.api.org"

Biobutanol

Biobutanol is an advantaged "biofuel" that offers a number of benefits over conventional biofuels. For example, biobutanol has an energy content closer to that of "petroleum" so consumers face less of a compromise on fuel economy. It can easily be added to conventional "petrol" and can be blended at higher concentrations than bioethanol for use in standard vehicle engines.

Biodiesel

Biodiesel is a "biofuel" produced from various feedstocks including vegetable oils (such as oilseed, rapeseed and soy bean), animal fats or algae. Biodiesel can be blended with "diesel" for use in diesel engine vehicles. The blending of biodiesel to reduce the need for importing of crude oil is being encouraged by many goverments. These blends are referred to by the percentage of biodiesel used. For example B-10 is 10% biodiesel and 90% petroleum based diesel. B-100 is pure biodiesel. The introduction of biodiesel to a fuel supply system raises a number of issues that may need to be addressed.

Biomass

Biomass is biological material, including corn, switchgrass, and oilseed crops, that can be converted into fuel.

Codes 30 and 30A

Codes developed by the "National Fire Protection Association" and applied at facilities where flammable and combustible liquids are stored and dispensed. "NFPA 30" is entitled Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code. "NFPA 30A" is entitled Automotive and Marine Service Station Code. These two codes have become very important to designers, installers, and operators of petroleum marketing facilities. The codes prescribe details, such as the required distance between "tanks". Many city, county, and state governmental agencies adopt the codes and thus give them the status of enforceable law.

Colonial Chemical Company

Colonial Chemical Company is a producer, packager, and distributore of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF). The company has been supplying urea solutions for SCR systems for 12 years and currently supply more the 10 million gallons per year. Colonial has been producing DEF since 2006 and has been suppplying comercial quantities since 2008 in bulk, totes, 5,15,& 55 gallons drums as well as 1 and 2.5 gallon bottles. Colonial is located in Tabernacle, NJ. External link "www.urea-scr.com"

Aboveground Storage Tank

Commonly abbreviated AST, an aboveground storage tank is a storage tank that is aboveground, regardless of whether they are used for to store petroleum products, hazardous waste, or other hazardous material. Aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) used for the store of petroleum products is regulated primarily under 40 CFR 112. The regulation does not actually use the terms "aboveground storage tank." Instead the term "bulk storage container" is used and is defined as "any container used to store oil. These containers are used for purposes including, but not limited to, the storage of oil prior to use, while being used, or prior to further distribution in commerce. Oil-filled electrical, operating, or manufacturing equipment is not a bulk storage container." A bulk storage container is 55 gal. or greater and may be aboveground, partially buried, bunkered, or completely buried. "Bunkered tanks" are defined as "a container constructed or placed in the ground by cutting the earth and re-covering the container in a manner that breaks the surrounding natural grade, or that lies above grade, and is covered with earth, sand, gravel, asphalt, or other material. A bunkered tank is considered an aboveground storage container for purposes of 40 CFR 112"

Authority Having Jurisdiction

Commonly known as AHJ, authority having jurisdiction is a term widely used in publications of the "National Fire Protection Association" and other organizations which write standards and codes. It refers to an organization, individual, or office responsible for approving equipment, installations, or procedures. For example, an NFPA code might provide that an "underground storage tank" installation must be approved by the authority having jurisdiction. In one community, this authority could be the local fire marshal. In another, it could be the state environmental agency.

Compressed Natural Gas

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is a fossil fuel substitute for "gasoline", "diesel", or "propane". Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill. CNG is made by compressing natural gas and is stored and distributed in hard containers, at a normal pressure of 200-220 bar (2900-3200 psi), usually in cylindrical or spherical shapes. CNG is used in traditional gasoline internal combustion engine cars that have been converted into "bi-fueled vehicles". Natural gas vehicles are increasingly used in Europe and South America due to rising gasoline prices.

ConocoPhillips

ConocoPhillips Company is an international energy corporation with its headquarters located in Houston, Texas but has offices located worldwide. It is the fifth largest private sector energy corporation in the world and is one of the six "supermajor" vertically integrated oil companies. Its fuel stations are known under the Phillips 66, Conoco, and 76 names. It was created through the merger of Conoco Inc. and the Phillips Petroleum Company on August 30, 2002. ConocoPhillips employs approximately 32,600 people worldwide in nearly 40 countries. As of 2006, their 12 U.S. refineries had a combined crude processing capacity of 2,208,000 barrels per day (BPD) making it the second-largest refiner in the United States. Worldwide, they have a combined crude processing capacity of 2,901,000 bbl/d making it the fifth-largest refiner in the world. Conoco Inc. was an American oil company founded in 1875 as the Continental Oil and Transportation Company. Based in Ogden, Utah, the company was a coal, oil, kerosene, grease and candles distributor in the West. The main office was later moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma, when on June 26, 1929, Marland Oil Company (founded by exploration pioneer E. W. Marland) acquired for a consideration of 2,317,266 shares of stock, the assets (subject to liabilities) of Continental Oil Company. At that time Marland Oil changed its name to Continental Oil Company. The acquisition gave Conoco the red triangle symbol previously used by Marland and would become Conoco's logo from 1930 to 1970 when the current capsule logo was adopted. In 2005, the corporation began rebranding their (Union) 76 gas stations, prompting a petition campaign by fans hoping to save the historic 76 orange ball signage[2]. On January 20, 2007, a Wall Street Journal article on the petition campaign included a statement from ConocoPhillips that it was changing course and would be saving several dozen orange and blue 76 Balls to give to museums, as well as fabricating about one hundred spherical 76-logo signs in the ConocoPhillips color scheme of red and blue, to be placed at select 76 stations. ConocoPhillips operates 19 refineries around the world. In the United States, the company operates Conoco, Phillips 66, and (Union) 76 (which was part of Unocal for many years, later a Tosco brand before that company was bought by Phillips) retail gas stations. In Europe, it operates Jet filling stations in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Thailand and the United Kingdom. ProJET was the brand operated in Malaysia, Turkpetrol in Turkey, and COOP in Switzerland. External link "www.conocophillips.com"

Conventional Biofuel

Conventional "biofuel " such as bioethanol and "biodiesel" are typically made from corn, sugarcane and beet, wheat or an oilseed crop such as soy.

Discrete

Detached from others; separate. In an electronic motor fuel "dispenser", for example, each number that is displayed-to indicate price and gallonage - is totally separate from all other numbers.

Lift Safety Legs

Devices built into automotive lifts to protect workers in event the system's hydraulic system should fail. As auto mechanics work beneath cars elevated on lifts the lifts are raised through a hydraulic system that operates on air pressure. A sudden malfunction might cause the lift to drop. In such event, safety legs-installed in the bottom portion of the superstructure and engaged each time the lift rises high enough-prevent the car-laden lift from dropping to floor level.

Tank Anchors

Devices installed in storage tank excavations to prevent tanks from floating out of the ground in event of a high level of "groundwater" in the excavation or a high groundwater level after the installation is complete. Anchoring usually involves attaching the tank to a concrete weight. One common anchoring method is to install a reinforced concrete pad, from 6 to 12 inches thick, in the bottom of the tank hole. Straps connected to this pad are looped over the top of the tank. When a high water level is present in the hole, the weight of the pad, plus the weight of the backfill above the pad, helps hold the tank down and prevents it from floating. Another form of restraint is referred to as "deadman anchors". These are long, heavy beams of reinforced concrete. The beams, positioned on each side of a tank, are connected to each other with straps that extend over the top of the tank. The weight of the concrete beams, plus the weight of the backfill above the beams, will help keep the tank from floating. Calculation of the amount of anchor weight and backfill required to keep tanks from floating requires use of detailed mathematical formulas. The procedure is further explained in the Recommended Practices for Installation of Underground Liquid Storage Systems "PEI/RP100", published by the Petroleum Equipment Institute.

Baffles

Devices used to deflect or slow the flow of liquid in a "tank" or other vessel, and to minimize sloshing of liquid in a tank truck. For example, as a mixture of oil and water flows through an "oil/water separator", it is necessary to temporarily reduce the velocity of the mixture and thus allow the water an opportunity to separate from the oil. This is accomplished through use of a series of plates, called baffles, positioned inside the tank of the separator. The plates may be set at an angle. As liquid flows through, it encounters each of the plates, and its movement is temporarily checked.

Diesel Exhaust Fluid test

Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF), sometimes known simply by the name of its active component urea, is a key component of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems, which help diesel vehicles meet stringent emission regulations. DEF is a liquid reducing agent that reacts with engine exhaust in the presence of a catalyst to convert smog-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx) into harmless nitrogen and water vapor. Current DEF formulations are a nontoxic, colorless, and odorless mixture of the chemical urea and purified water. The use of alternative reducing agents—such as diesel fuel—is also being explored. Urea is a nitrogen-containing compound that transforms into ammonia when heated. It occurs naturally or is synthesized from natural gas and is used in various industries, including as a fertilizer in agriculture. Diesel Exhaust Fluid is carried onboard a vehicle in a tank separate from the fuel tank. The vehicle's DEF tank must be refilled periodically. Experience in Europe indicates that average DEF consumption is about 5% of diesel fuel consumption. Refilling the DEF tank occurs at approximately the interval of recommended oil changes for light-duty vehicles. The interval varies based on application for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Other than refilling the tank, no actions are required by the driver for an SCR/DEF system to function.

Divestiture

Divestiture is a political term used to describe the breaking up of major oil companies. Divestiture can take two forms: horizontal and vertical. Horizontal divestiture would force big oil companies to shed their non-oil business, like chemicals, coal, and nuclear energy. Vertical divestiture would require the oil companies to divide their operations by function (exploration, production, refining, transportation, marketing), and spin off all but one operation. Divestiture, today, has generally come to mean that integrated oil companies would no longer be allowed to own and operate retail marketing facilities. See also "Divorcement".

Hans Goldschmidt

Doctor Hans Goldschmidt was a German chemist. Born in Berlin, he was a student of Robert Bunsen. His father, Theodor Goldschmidt, was the founder of the chemical company Chemische Fabrik Th. Goldschmidt which eventually became the modern company Degussa, and Hans and his brother Karl managed this company for many years. He is principally noted as the inventor of thermite and co-inventor of sodium amalgam. The thermite reaction is one in which aluminum metal is oxidized by an oxide of another metal, usually iron oxide. This process is used for welding and is used in incendiary devices. This process is sometimes called the "Goldschmidt reaction" or "Goldschmidt process," because he invented it in 1893 and patented it in 1895. See also "Thermite welding".

Gasohol

E10, once commonly known as gasohol, is a fuel mixture of 10 percent "ethanol" and 90 percent "gasoline" that can be used in the "internal combustion engine" of most modern automobiles and light-duty vehicles without need for any modification on the engine or fuel system. E10 blends are typically rated as 2 to 3 octane higher than regular gasoline and are approved for use in all new US automobiles, and are mandated in some areas for emissions and other reasons. The E10 blend and lower ethanol content mixtures have been used in several countries, and its use has been primarily driven by the several world energy crises that have taken place since the 1973 oil crisis. Similar blends include E5 and E7. These concentrations are generally safe for recent engines that run on pure gasoline. Some regions and municipalities mandate that the locally-sold fuels contain limited amounts of ethanol. One way to measure alternative fuels in the US is the "gasoline-equivalent gallons" (GEG). In 2002, the U.S. used as fuel an amount of ethanol equal to 137 petajoules (PJ), the energy of 1.13 billion US gallons (4.28 GL) of gasoline. This was less than 1% of the total fuel used that year. E10 and other blends of ethanol are considered to be useful in decreasing US dependence on foreign oil, and can reduce carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by 20 to 30% under the right conditions. [4] Although E10 does decrease emissions of CO and green house gases such as CO2 by an estimated 2% over regular gasoline it can cause increases in evaporative emissions and some pollutants depending on factors like the age of the vehicle and weather conditions. According to the Philippine Department of Energy, the use of not more than a 10% ethanol-gasoline mixture is not harmful to cars' fuel systems. On October 27, 2006, though, the Federal Aviation Administration published their Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin - Automobile gasoline containing alcohol (Ethanol or Methanol) is not allowed to be used in aircraft. See also "Ethanol".

E85

E85 is an abbreviation for flex fuel meaning a mixture of up to 85% denatured fuel ethanol and gasoline or other hydrocarbon (HC) by volume. Some of the benefits of E85 over conventional gasoline powered vehicles include the potential for localized production of fuel in agricultural areas. Another benefit is potentially reduced pollution emissions especially Carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere which is an important element for adaptation to global warming. Potential benefits of E85 are contested by some experts who point out that deriving gasoline from petroleum is a relatively inexpensive (i.e., more efficient) process, even including the transportation of oil and gasoline long distances. Large-scale production of ethanol may be cost-prohibitive; and may result in a net energy loss when taking into account all the energy required to make alcohol from starchy plants. Another drawback for E85 is that, in a liter-to-liter comparison, E85 has less power potential than conventional gasoline; 30% percent less energy for transportation by volume.

Stray Current

Electric current flowing through paths other than the paths intended for a circuit. Often corrosion of buried structures, such as metal tanks, will occur in the presence of stray direct current unless the current is controlled, as with an impressed-current "cathodic protection " system. See also "Impressed current".

Anode

Electric energy consists of the flow of electrons through a conducting medium between a positive pole and a negative pole. The positive pole is referred to as an anode; the negative pole as a "cathode". A common dry cell battery, such as a battery used in a flashlight, has a positive and negative pole. For petroleum marketers, the concept of anodes and cathodes takes on significance as it relates to the corrosion of buried steel storage tanks and piping. Sacrificial anodes, buried in the soil adjacent to an underground "tank", control the flow of electrical currents around the tank, and protect the tank from corrosion. See also "Cathodic protection".

Vapor Processing Equipment

Equipment systems, principally installed at a "terminal", designed to convert "gasoline" vapors into liquid. Generally, systems involve some combination of condensation, compression, refrigeration or incineration. Gasoline vapors, collected at marketing facilities through use of "Stage I vapor recovery" equipment, are returned to terminals in tank trucks. There, as the tank truck is refilled, the vapors in the tank are directed through vapor processing systems. The liquid gasoline thus produced can then be added to the terminal's gasoline stock.

Vapor Recovery

Equipment systems, principally installed at a "terminal", designed to convert "gasoline" vapors into liquid. Generally, systems involve some combination of condensation, compression, refrigeration or incineration. Gasoline vapors, collected at marketing facilities through use of "Stage I vapor recovery" equipment, are returned to terminals in tank trucks. There, as the tank truck is refilled, the vapors in the tank are directed through vapor processing systems. The liquid gasoline thus produced can then be added to the terminal's gasoline stock.

Ethanol

Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. Ethanol has widespread use as a solvent of substances intended for human contact or consumption, including scents, flavorings, colorings, and medicines. In chemistry, it is both an essential solvent and a feedstock for the synthesis of other products. It has a long history as a fuel for heat and light and also as a fuel for "internal combustion engines". Except for use of fire, the fermentation of sugar into ethanol is one of the earliest organic reactions employed by humanity. The intoxicating effects of ethanol consumption have been known since ancient times. In modern times, ethanol intended for industrial use is also produced from by-products of petroleum refining. It is also a psychoactive drug, best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages and in thermometers. In common usage, it is often referred to simply as alcohol.

Oxygenated Gasoline

Gasoline that has been formulated in a way that is designed to reduce carbon monoxide from automotive exhausts. Oxygenates are either alcohols or ether compounds, added to gasoline. A number of American communities, with severe air pollution problems, now mandate use of oxygenated fuels. Oxygenated gasoline is particularly in demand during the winter months in areas where weather conditions cause increased air-pollution levels. Oxygenates increase the oxygen-to-fuel ratio inside an internal-combustion engine. This results in a more complete burning of the fuel, and hence reduces the amount of harmful pollutants released into the air.

Coaxial

Generally speaking, within the petroleum marketing industry, coaxial is used to describe a piece of equipment that consists of a tube within a tube. A coaxial hose, for instance, is an outer hose with a smaller hose inside. A coaxial fitting is one that can be attached to a single opening, but which will permit liquid to flow through one channel in the fitting while vapors are simultaneously flowing through another channel in the same fitting. Coaxial design has become important within the industry in recent years because of gasoline vapor recovery requirements. When "gasoline" is being unloaded into an underground storage tank, for instance, as liquid flows into the tank displaced vapors flow out. These vapors must be captured and returned to a terminal for processing. In some locations, the transport driver hooks a delivery hose into one opening in the tank, and connects a second hose-a vapor-return hose, to another opening. This is referred to as a two-point connection. At locations designed to accommodate coaxial delivery, however, the driver connects a single fitting to the tank opening. To one port on this fitting, the driver would connect a gasoline delivery hose; to another port, the driver would connect a vapor-return line. Thus, the coaxial fitting permits simultaneous product delivery and vapor retrieval through a single opening in the tank. Dispenser hoses, used in gasoline stations where "Stage II vapor recovery" is required, are generally coaxial. The hose connecting the nozzle to the dispenser appears to be a single hose. Actually, it is a hose within a hose. Gasoline flows through the inner hose, into the motorist's tank. Displaced vapors, from the tank, enter the nozzle and then flow back toward the dispenser by passing through the space between the inner and outer hose. In some coaxial hoses, liquid flows through the outer hose and vapor through the inner hose.

Getty Oil

Getty Oil is an oil company founded by J. Paul Getty. It was at its height during the 1960s. In 1971, the Getty Realty division was formed to manage the real estate needs of Getty stations. The division was later spun off, but now owns the rights to the Getty brand. In 1984, Texaco bought Getty Oil of Tulsa, Oklahoma. On November 19, 1985, Pennzoil won a $10.53 billion verdict from Texaco in the largest civil verdict in US history. (Texaco established a signed contract to buy Getty Oil after Pennzoil had already entered into an unsigned, yet still binding, buyout contract with Getty.) In the end, only some of the refineries changed hands, and Getty continued to exist. Getty gas stations survived the buyout. At one time, some were co-branded with Mid-Atlantic convenience store chain Uni-Mart, which now sells its own brand of gasoline. In November 2000, Russian oil company Lukoil purchased Getty Marketing, which had been spun off of Getty Realty, and in 2003 converted a small number of Getty stations to Lukoil. In 2004, Lukoil bought many Mobil stations from "ConocoPhillips", which had bought the stations from "ExxonMobil" in 2000. ExxonMobil sold these stations off due to an antitrust settlement soon after Exxon and Mobil merged. These stations were converted to Lukoil quickly for legal reasons. According to Getty Realty's 2006 annual report, Getty Realty owns the Getty trademark and trade name in the United States and licenses them to Getty Marketing (owned by Lukoil). At one point, Getty Oil owned a majority stake of ESPN, before it was sold to the American Broadcasting Company in 1984. External link "www.getty.com"

Groundwater

Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of lithologic formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water. The depth at which soil pore spaces or fractures and voids in rock become completely saturated with water is called the water table. Groundwater is recharged from, and eventually flows to, the surface naturally; natural discharge often occurs at springs and seeps, and can form oases or wetlands. Groundwater is also often withdrawn for agricultural, municipal and industrial use by constructing and operating extraction wells. The study of the distribution and movement of groundwater is hydrogeology, also called groundwater hydrology. Typically, groundwater is thought of as liquid water flowing through shallow aquifers, but technically it can also include soil moisture, permafrost (frozen soil), immobile water in very low permeability bedrock, and deep geothermal or oil formation water. Groundwater is hypothesized to provide lubrication that can possibly influence the movement of faults. It is likely that much of the Earth's subsurface contains some water, which may be mixed with other fluids in some instances. Groundwater is significant to petroleum marketers because many environmental regulations are aimed at preventing the release of gasoline and other products from storage systems into nearby groundwater.

Gulf Oil

Gulf Oil was a major global oil company from the 1900s to the 1980s. The eighth-largest American manufacturing company in 1941 and the ninth-largest in 1979, Gulf Oil was one of the so-called Seven Sisters oil companies. Gulf was one of the chief instruments of the legendary Mellon family fortune; both Gulf and Mellon Bank had their headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Gulf's former headquarters, originally referred to as "the Gulf Building" (now the Gulf Tower office condos), is an art-deco skyscraper. The tallest building in Pittsburgh until 1970, when it was eclipsed by the U.S. Steel building, it is capped by a "step pyramid" structure several stories high. Until the late 1970s, the entire top was illuminated, changing color with changes in barometric pressure to provide a weather indicator that could be seen for many miles. Gulf Oil Corporation (GOC) ceased to exist as an independent company in 1984, when it merged with Standard Oil of California (otherwise known as SOCAL or Chevron). However, the Gulf brand name and a number of the constituent business divisions of GOC survived. Gulf has experienced a significant revival since 1990, emerging as a flexible network of allied business interests based on partnerships, franchises and agencies. The network trades worldwide using the slogan "Your Local Global Brand." Gulf, in its present incarnation, is a "New Economy" business. It employs very few people directly and its assets are mainly in the form of intellectual property: brands, product specifications and scientific expertise. The corporate vehicle at the center of the Gulf network outside North America is Gulf Oil International Ltd (GOI), a company registered in the Cayman Islands since 1985. The ultimate holding company of GOI is Amas Holding SA (Luxembourg), an investment trust. Gulf's research and product development base is in Mumbai, India. Its business development function is run from London, United Kingdom. The company's focus is primarily in the provision of downstream products and services to a mass market through joint ventures, strategic alliances, licensing agreements, and distribution arrangements. The business that became Gulf Oil started in 1901 with the discovery of oil at Spindletop, Texas. A group of investors came together to promote the development of a modern refinery at nearby Port Arthur to process the oil. The largest investor was William Larimer Mellon of the Pittsburgh Mellon banking family, other investors included many of Mellon's Pennsylvania clients as well as some Texas wildcatters. Mellon Bank and Gulf Oil remained closely associated thereafter. The Gulf Oil Corporation itself was formed in 1907 through the amalgamation of a number of oil businesses, principally the J.M. Guffey Petroleum and Gulf Refining companies of Texas. Output from Spindletop peaked at around 100,000 barrels per day (16,000 m³/d) just after it was discovered and then started to decline. Later discoveries made 1927 the peak year of Spindletop production, but Spindletop's early decline forced Gulf to seek alternative sources of supply to sustain its substantial investment in refining capacity. This was achieved by constructing the 400-mile (640-km) Glenn Pool pipeline connecting oilfields in Oklahoma with Gulf's refinery at Port Arthur. The pipeline opened in September 1907. Gulf later built a network of pipelines and refineries in the eastern and southern United States, requiring heavy capital investment. Thus, Gulf Oil provided Mellon Bank with a secure vehicle for investing in the oil sector. Gulf promoted the concept of branded product sales by selling gasoline in containers and from pumps marked with a distinctive orange disc logo. A customer buying Gulf-branded gasoline could be assured of its quality and consistent standard. Gulf Oil grew steadily in the inter-war years, with its activities mainly confined to the U.S. The company was characterised by its vertically integrated business activities, and was active across the whole spectrum of the oil industry: exploration, production, transport, refining and marketing. It also involved itself in associated industries such as petrochemicals and automobile component manufacturing. It introduced significant commercial and technical innovations, including the first drive-in service station (1911), complimentary road maps, drilling over water at Ferry Lake, and the catalytic cracking refining process (Gulf installed the world's first commercial catalytic cracking unit at its Port Arthur, Texas, refinery complex in 1951). Gulf also established the model for the integrated, international "oil major," which refers to one of a group of very large companies that assumed influential and sensitive positions in the countries in which they operated. Gulf had extensive exploration and production operations in the Gulf of Mexico area and in Kuwait. The company played a major role in the early development of oil production in Kuwait, and through the 1950s and '60s apparently enjoyed a "special relationship" with the Kuwaiti government. This special relationship attracted unfavourable attention since it was associated with "political contributions" (see below) and support for anti-democratic politics, as evidenced by papers taken from the body of a Gulf executive killed in the crash of a TWA aircraft at Cairo in 1950. In 1934, the Kuwait Oil Company was formed as a joint venture by British Petroleum (BP) and Gulf. Both BP and Gulf held equal shares in the venture. KOC pioneered the exploration for oil in Kuwait during the late 1930s. Oil was discovered at Burgan in 1938 but it was not until 1946 that the first crude oil was shipped. Oil production started from Rawdhatain in 1955 and Minagish in 1959. KOC started gas production in 1964. It was the cheap oil and gas being shipped from Kuwait that formed the economic basis for Gulf's diverse petroleum sector operations in Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, and the Indian subcontinent. These last operations were coordinated by Gulf Oil Corporation, Eastern Hemisphere (EH) from an office at Portman Street, London. Gulf expanded on a worldwide basis from the end of the war until the mid-1970s. Much of the expansion was through the acquisition of privately-owned chains of filling stations in various countries, allowing Gulf outlets to sell product (sometimes through 'matching' arrangements) from the oil that it was "lifting" in the Gulf of Mexico and Kuwait. Some of these acquisitions were to prove less than resilient in the face of economic and political developments from the 1970s on. Gulf invested heavily in product technology and developed many speciality products, particularly for application in the maritime and aviation engineering sectors. It was particularly noted for its range of lubricants and greases. Gulf Oil reached the peak of its development in around 1970. In that year, the company processed 1.3 million barrels (210,000 m3) of crude daily, held assets worth $6.5 billion, employed 58,000 employees worldwide, and was owned by 163,000 shareholders. In addition to its petroleum marketing interests, Gulf was a major producer of petrochemicals, plastics, and agricultural chemicals. Through its subsidiary, Gulf General Atomic Inc., it was also active in the nuclear energy sector. Gulf abandoned its involvement in the nuclear sector after a failed deal to build atomic power plants in Romania in the mid-1970s. In 1974, the Kuwait National Assembly took a 60 percent stake in the equity of KOC with the remaining 40 percent divided equally between BP and Gulf. The Kuwaitis took over the rest of the equity in 1975, giving them full ownership of KOC. This meant that Gulf (EH) had to start supplying its downstream operations in Europe with crude bought on the world market at commercial prices. The whole GOC(EH) edifice now became highly marginal in an economic sense. Many of the marketing companies that Gulf had established in Europe were never truly viable on a stand-alone basis. Gulf was at the forefront of various projects in the late 1960s intended to adjust the world oil industry to developments of the time including closure of the Suez canal after the 1967 war. In particular, Gulf undertook the construction of deep water terminals at Bantry Bay in Ireland and Okinawa in Japan capable of handling Ultra Large Crude Carrier (ULCC) vessels serving the European and Asian markets respectively. In 1968, the Universe Ireland was added to Gulf's tanker fleet. At 312,000 long tons deadweight (DWT), this was the largest vessel in the world and incapable of berthing at most normal ports. Gulf also participated in a partnership with other majors, including Texaco, to build the Pembroke Catalytic Cracker refinery at Milford Haven and the associated Mainline Pipelines fuel distribution network. The eventual reopening of the Suez canal and upgrading of the older European oil terminals (Europoort and Marchwood) meant that the financial return from these projects was not all that had been hoped for. The Bantry terminal was devastated by the explosion of a Total tanker, the Betelgeuse, in January 1979 (the Betelgeuse incident) and it was never fully reopened. The Irish government took over ownership of the terminal in 1986 and held its strategic oil reserve there. In the 1970s, Gulf participated in the development of new oilfields in the UK North Sea and in Cabinda, although these were high-cost operations that never compensated for the loss of Gulf's interest in Kuwait. A mercenary army had to be raised to protect the oil installations in Cabinda during the Angolan civil war. The Angolan connection was another "special relationship" that attracted comment. In the late 1970s, Gulf was effectively funding a Soviet bloc regime in Africa while the US government was attempting to overthrow that regime by supporting the UNITA rebels led by Jonas Savimbi. In 1975, several senior Gulf executives, including Chairman Bob Dorsey, were implicated in the making of illegal "political contributions" and were forced to step down from their positions. This loss of senior personnel at a critical time in Gulf's fortunes may have had a bearing on the events that followed. Gulf's operations worldwide were struggling financially in the recession of the early 1980s, so Gulf's management devised the "Big Jobber" strategic realignment in 1981 (along with a program of selective divestments) to maintain viability. The Big Jobber strategy recognized that the day of the integrated, multi-national oil major might be over, since it involved concentrating on those parts of the supply chain where Gulf had a competitive advantage. External link "www.gulfoilltd.com"

Viscous

Having a thick, sticky consistency between solid and liquid; having a high viscosity. See also "PEI/RP700" and "Viscosity".

Compaction

In "underground storage tank" installation projects, compaction refers to the process of tamping or packing "backfill" material. Compaction helps prevent subsequent settling of the material. If voids are allowed to remain in the backfill, the tanks will not have adequate support. Mechanical compactors are sometimes used. These are machines, about the size of power lawn mowers that employ a vibrating motion to pack sand or other backfill material into tighter compression.

Two Point System

In a "Stage I vapor recovery" system, a method for recovering vapors from an underground storage tank. In using the method, the transport driver connects his delivery hose to the fill opening of the tank and his vapor return hose to another opening, thus making his connections at two different points. See also "Stage I vapor recovery".

National Fire Protection Association

Headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts, The National Fire Protection Association is an organization charged with creating and maintaining minimum standards and requirements for fire prevention and suppression activities, training, and equipment, as well as other life-safety codes and standards, including everything from building codes to the personal protective equipment utilized by firefighters. The NFPA oversees the development and maintenance of over 300 codes and standards. A cadre of over 6000 volunteers representing the fire service, insurance, business, industry, government, and consumers develops these documents. Many state, local, and national governments incorporate the standards and codes developed by the Association into their own law either verbatim, or with only minor modifications. Even when not written into law, the Association's standards and codes are typically accepted as a professional standard, and are recognized by many courts as such. This widespread acceptance is a testament to the broad representation and input received on all the NFPA's projects. History The NFPA was formed in 1896 by a group of insurance firm representatives with the stated purpose of standardizing the new and burgeoning market of fire sprinkler systems. The scope of the NFPA's influence grew from sprinklers to include building electrical systems, and then all aspects of building design and construction. Its original membership consisted of, and was limited to, insurance underwriting firms. There was little representation from the industries the NFPA sought to regulate. This changed in 1904 to allow other industries and individuals to participate actively in the development of the standards promulgated by the NFPA. The first fire department to be represented in the NFPA was the New York City Fire Department in 1905. Today, the NFPA includes representatives from many fire departments, insurance companies, manufacturing associations, unions, individuals and trade organizations. External Link "www.nfpa.org"

NATSO

Headquartered just outside Washington, D.C., NATSO is a national trade association representing travel plaza and truckstop owners and operators. NATSO represents over 1,020 travel plazas and truckstops nationwide, owned by more than 257 corporate entities, and pursues a clear mission: to advance the success of truckstop and travel plaza members. Since 1960, NATSO has dedicated itself to the needs of truckstops, travel plazas and their suppliers by serving as America's official source of information on the diverse industry. NATSO also acts as the voice of the industry on Capitol Hill and at regulatory agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Labor and the Department of Energy. In addition, NATSO conducts the industry's only national convention and exposition. External link "www.natso.com"

Heating Oil

Heating oil, also known in the United States as No. 2 heating oil, is a low viscosity, flammable liquid "petroleum" product used to fuel building furnaces or boilers. In the U.S., it must conform to ASTM standard D396. "Diesel " and "kerosene", while often confused as being similar or identical, must conform to their own respective ASTM standards. Heating oil is commonly delivered by tank truck to residential, commercial and municipal buildings and stored in aboveground storage tanks located in the basements, garages, or outside adjacent to the building. It is sometimes stored in "underground storage tanks" but less often than ASTs. ASTs are used for smaller installations due to the lower cost factor. Heating oil is less commonly used as an industrial fuel or for power generation. Heating oil is widely used in parts of the United States and Canada where natural gas or propane is frequently not available. Where other fuels are not available, it is sometimes referred to as the unit cost per unit, and can be less than other fuels. Boiler and "forced air" furnace manufacturers have perfected "retention head oil-fired burners" and "triple-pass flue" boilers that have increased theoretical oil burner efficiency to over 93 percent. To reach that level of efficiency, however, would require a lower flue gas temperature that most oil burners cannot produce. Therefore causing condensation that most oil-fired furnaces cannot handle without damage to the heat exchanger, venting pipes or outside casing of the appliance. Practical efficiency is typically around 86 percent. Red dyes are usually added, resulting in its "red diesel" name in countries like United Kingdom. Solvent Yellow 124 is added as a "Euromarker" since 2002 in European Union.

Bunker Fuels

Heavy fuel oil used in ships' boilers. Bunker B is a No. 5 fuel oil, sometimes referred to as Navy Special. Bunker C is a No. 6 fuel oil. It is so thick, in cool weather it more closely resembles a solid than a liquid. No. 6 oil is used in a number of industrial heating applications, as well as for powering ships.

Hydraulic Head

Hydraulic head is a specific measurement of water pressure. It is usually measured as a water surface elevation, expressed in units of length, at the entrance of a piezometer. In an aquifer, it can be calculated from the depth to water in a well, and given information of the well elevation and screen depth. Hydraulic head can similarly be measured in a column of water using a standpipe piezometer by measuring the height of the water surface in the tube relative to a common factor. The hydraulic head can be used to determine a hydraulic gradient between two or more points. The "static head" of a pump is the maximum height it can deliver. The capability of the pump can be read from its Q-H curve (flow vs. height). Head is equal to the fluid's energy per unit weight. Head is useful in specifying centrifugal pumps because their pumping characteristics tend to be independent of the fluid's density.

Aspirator Assist

In a "Stage II gasoline vapor recovery" system, a method for creating a slight vacuum to help collect vapors from the vehicle fuel tank. An aspirator is a suction pump in which the suction action is created as a result of the high-speed flow of fluid in an adjoining chamber. To visualize how an aspirator works, think of two hoses laid alongside each other and fastened together by tape. Imagine that at one point there is a small hole that extends through the wall of one hose and on through the adjoining wall of the second hose. Now suppose you run a liquid, under pressure, through one of the hoses. The liquid will move at high speed. At the point where it rushes past the hole, it will have the effect of sucking in air, through this opening, from the adjoining hose. The withdrawal of air, in turn, has the effect of creating a slight vacuum in the second hose. If the second hose were connected to a chamber containing "gasoline" vapor, the presence of the vacuum would suck the vapor out of the chamber and into the hose. This principle is incorporated in some Stage II gasoline vapor recovery systems. As gasoline moves past a small aperture opening into the vapor-return line, the rush of gasoline creates a slight vacuum at the aperture. This vacuum, in turn, helps pull vapors out of the motor vehicle tank. In other words, the aspirator assists in the operation of the Stage II system. Such systems are referred to as aspirator-assist systems. See also "Venturi tube".

Hydrology

Hydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water throughout the Earth. Domains of hydrology include hydrometeorology, surface hydrology, hydrogeology, drainage basin management and water quality, where water plays the central role. History Hydrology has been a subject of investigation and engineering for millennia. For example, in about 4000 B.C. the Nile was dammed to improve agricultural productivity of previously barren lands. Mesopotamian towns were protected from flooding with high earthen walls. Aqueducts were built by the Greeks and Ancient Romans, while the History of China shows they built irrigation and flood control works. The ancient Sinhalese used hydrology to build complex irrigation Works in Sri Lanka, also known for invention of the Valve Pit which allowed construction of large reservoirs, anicuts and canals which still function. Marcus Vitruvius, in the first century B.C., described a philosophical theory of the hydrologic cycle, in which precipitation falling in the mountains infiltrated the earth's surface and led to streams and springs in the lowlands. With adoption of a more scientific approach, Leonardo da Vinci and Bernard Palissy independently reached an accurate representation of the hydrologic cycle. It was not until the 17th century that hydrologic variables began to be quantified. Pioneers of the modern science of hydrology include Pierre Perrault, Edme Mariotte and Edmund Halley. By measuring rainfall, runoff, and drainage area, Perrault showed that rainfall was sufficient to account for flow of the Seine. Marriotte combined velocity and river cross-section measurements to obtain discharge, again in the Seine. Halley showed that the evaporation from the Mediterranean Sea was sufficient to account for the outflow of rivers flowing into the sea. Advances in the 18th century included the Bernoulli piezometer and Bernoulli's equation, by Daniel Bernoulli, the Pitot tube. The 19th century saw development in groundwater hydrology, including Darcy's law, the Dupuit-Thiem well formula, and Hagen-Poiseuille's capillary flow equation. Rational analyses began to replace empiricism in the 20th century, while governmental agencies began their own hydrological research programs. Of particular importance were Leroy Sherman's unit hydrograph, the infiltration theory of Robert E. Horton, and C.V. Theis's Aquifer test/equation describing well hydraulics. Since the 1950's, hydrology has been approached with a more theoretical basis than in the past, facilitated by advances in the physical understanding of hydrological processes and by the advent of computers and especially Geographic Information Systems.

Hydrostatic Test

Hydrostatic tests are conducted under the constraints of either the industry's or the customer's specifications. The vessel is filled with a nearly incompressible liquid - usually water or oil - and examined for leaks or permanent changes in shape. Red or fluorescent dyes are usually added to the water to make leaks easier to see. The test pressure is always considerably more than the operating pressure to give a margin for safety, typically 150 percent of the design pressure. An example would be if a cylinder was rated to DOT-2015 PSI it would be tested at around 3360 PSI to ensure maximum usage and to provide more safety. Water is commonly used because it is almost incompressible (compressible only by weight, not air pressure), so will only expand by a very small amount should the vessel split. If high pressure gas were used, then the gas would expand to perhaps several hundred times its compressed volume in an explosion, with the attendant risk of damage or injury. This is the risk which the testing is intended to mitigate.

Bathtub Effect

If underground "tank" s are installed in an area which consists of dense clay or other soil that does not allow water to readily pass through it, surface water that enters the excavation cannot easily escape by seeping through the side walls of the excavation. As a result, water tends to accumulate in the excavation and remain there. The accumulation of water in the hole can cause the tanks to seek to float. This circumstance is sometimes referred to as the bathtub effect.

Imperial Gallon

Imperial gallon is legally defined as 4.54609 litres. This definition is used in Commonwealth countries and Ireland, and is based on the volume of 10 pounds of water at 62 °F. A U.S. liquid gallon of water weighs about 8.33 pounds at the same temperature. The Imperial fluid ounce is defined as 1/160 of an Imperial gallon. Imperial units or the Imperial system is a collection of units, first defined in the British Weights and Measures Act of 1824, later refined (until 1959) and reduced. Systems of imperial units are sometimes referred to as foot-pound-second, after the base units of length, mass and time. The units were introduced in the British Empire, excluding the then already independent United States. As of 2008, all countries that used the Imperial system have become officially metric (except for Myanmar), but Imperial units continue to be used alongside metric units. The distinction between the imperial system and the U.S. customary units (also called standard or English units) or older British/English units/systems and newer additions is often not drawn precisely. Most length units are shared between the imperial and U.S. systems, albeit partially and temporally defined differently. Capacity measures differ the most due to the introduction of the imperial gallon and the unification of wet and dry measures. The avoirdupois system applies only to weights; it has a long designation and a short designation for the hundredweight and ton. The term imperial should not be applied to English units that were outlawed in Weights and Measures Act of 1824 or earlier, or which had fallen out of use by that time, nor to post-imperial inventions such as the slug or poundal. Although most of the units are defined in more than one system, some subsidiary units were used to a much greater extent, or for different purposes, in one area rather than the other.

Implode

Implosion is a process in which objects are destroyed by collapsing on themselves. The opposite of explosion, implosion concentrates matter and energy. An example of implosion is a submarine being crushed from the outside by the hydrostatic pressure of the surrounding water. When product or air is withdrawn from a tightly sealed, unvented storage "tank", a vacuum is created within the tank. As the amount of vacuum increases, atmospheric pressure on the outside of the tank is no longer balanced by pressure inside the tank, causing the tank walls to collapse inward. This event is referred to as an implosion.

Pressure Regulator

In "Stage II vapor recovery" testing applications, a pressure regulator is used to reduce the very high pressures present in the nitrogen source bottle to the very low pressure required to conduct various Stage II tests. Because of the large difference in inlet and outlet pressures involved in the accuracy with which the outlet pressure must be controlled, a pressure regulator that steps down pressure in two stages is generally required. Alternatively, two pressure regulators, one with a high inlet pressure and one with low inlet pressure, may be used in a series to accurately control the nitrogen pressure. See "PEI/RP300".

Triple Wall

In "Triple Wall" construction - as regards tanks or containment sumps - two interstices are present and both are continuously monitored. In this case, only two of the three walls can truly be breached, the innermost, and the outermost. A breach in one wall or another would be backed up by the integrity of the other. See also "underground storage tank", "tank" and "double wall tank".

Sacrificial Anode

In a "cathodic protection" system designed to prevent steel underground tanks from corroding, a sacrificial "anode" is a bar of metal, usually made of magnesium or zinc and connected to the metal to be protected. As electric currents flow through the soil, around the tank, they tend to flow from the metal bar (the anode) to the tank (the "cathode" ). The currents moving from the anode carry with them bits of metal. As a consequence, the anode gradually corrodes; it "sacrifices" itself, and thus protects the tank. Were it not for the presence of the nearby magnesium or zinc anode, the tank itself would serve as an anode. Currents flowing away from it would carry with them bits of metal, causing the tank to corrode. See also "Cathodic protection".

Interstice

In a "double wall tank", the interstice is the space between the inner tank and the outer tank. Interstice can also refer to the space between two containment walls in an Under Dispenser Containment (UDC) sump, or any other sump other than a tank. It is this space that can be monitored for leaks in the walls of either the inner or outer tanks. In double-wall piping, the space between the inner and outer pipes is also referred to as the interstice. Another, less-used term for the interstice, is annulus. Annulus literally means "ring."

Remote Pumping System

In a "gasoline" station or other fueling facility, a system used for pumping motor fuel from an "underground storage tank" to a "dispenser". In a remote pumping system, the pump is not located in the dispenser. Rather it is positioned inside, or just above, the underground tank. The pump is actuated when the nozzle is removed from the dispenser and a switch lever turned on. The pumping action pushes product from the tank, through the piping, to the dispenser. Most modern pumping systems in retail marketing operations are of the remote variety. See also "Pressure system".

Air Header

In a compressed air distribution system, the main trunk line that carries the compressed air from the compressor to the various areas where air operated equipment is located. An air drop connects the air header to the air-operated equipment.

Counterweight Operated Hose Retriever

In a counterweight operated hose retriever, the rope or wire cable clamped to the hose is led over a pulley mounted at the top of a pole and fastened to a counterweight at the other end. The counterweight rises and falls in response to the movement of the dispensing hose, minimizing the slack in the hose at all times. See also "Hose retriever", "Spring operated hose retriever".

Flexible Connector

In a piping system, it is not always possible to have straight runs of pipe. At the point where the piping beneath a "gasoline" "dispenser " ties into the pipe that runs to the storage tank, for example, the connection essentially consists of a 90-degree angle. Moreover, it is desirable to have some flexibility in the underground piping system to accommodate movement: frost heave, vibration, and the like. The traditional method of providing angle turns, as well as flexibility, in underground piping systems has been through use of swing joints. A swing joint is a pipe connection made up of a series of pipe elbows and related fittings. When a swing joint is in use, ground movement is accommodated as one threaded end of an elbow turns and tightens, and another threaded end-somewhere in the swing joint assembly, turns and loosens. As a result of this movement, swing joints often leak. In addition, they will not move unless subjected to significant force. In response to the disadvantages of swing joints in underground applications, the flexible connector was developed. A typical connector is 2 feet or so in length and, because of its flexibility, resembles a short length of hose. Unlike ordinary hose, however, flex connectors are usually constructed of synthetic materials, typically teflon, and are covered by an outer stainless steel mesh. Because stainless steel can corrode, flex connectors in contact with the soil must either be cathodically protected or isolated from the soil through use of an outer jacket of noncorrosive material, such as PVC.

Jobber

In general, in the petroleum marketing industry a jobber is an independent business person who purchases "gasoline", fuel oil, or other refined products from a refining company and, in turn, resells the product. Often, a jobber owns a "bulk plant", as well as gasoline stations or "C-store". The fuel purchased from the refiner is stored in the bulk plant and delivered from there to stations or C-stores. Jobbers also frequently resell refined products to commercial users, government agencies, and industrial accounts. A jobber who displays at his retail outlets the brand name of the refining company from which he has purchased products is referred to as a branded jobber. The term jobber has largely fallen into disuse in the petroleum and petroleum equipment industries. A jobber is thought of as a middleman-someone who stands between the manufacturer and ultimate consumer. Because middleman, hence, jobber has a negative connotation, most companies, today, avoid its use. Resellers of petroleum products, once called jobbers, now refer to themselves as marketers. The trade association long known as the National Oil Jobbers Council is now named "Petroleum Marketers Association of America". The association once known as the National Association of Oil Equipment Jobbers is now the "Petroleum Equipment Institute".

Asphalt

In its natural state, asphalt is a solid, dark-colored bituminous substance that can be found in the earth, like coal, at various locations around the world. From a chemical standpoint, asphalt is classified as a hydrocarbon. Much of the asphalt used in the United States is derived as a by-product from "crude oil" during the cracking process. When mixed with gravel or crushed rock, asphalt is used as a paving product.

Incineration Systems

Incineration is a waste treatment technology that involves the combustion of organic materials and/or substances. Incineration and other high temperature waste treatment systems are described as "thermal treatment". Incineration of waste materials converts the waste into incinerator bottom ash, flue gases, particulates, and heat, which can in turn be used to generate electric power. The flue gases are cleaned of pollutants before they are dispersed in the atmosphere. The term has found its way into the petroleum marketing industry because at some facilities, at some gasoline stations, unwanted "gasoline" vapors are burned instead of being transported back to a terminal for conversion into liquid gasoline. At such stations, equipped with "Stage II vapor recovery" systems, the incineration unit is usually located on top of the station building. Vapors collected by the Stage II system are routed to this unit, ignited, and burned off. Incineration with energy recovery is one of several waste-to-energy technologies such as gasification, Plasma arc gasification, pyrolysis and anaerobic digestion. Incineration may also be implemented without energy and materials recovery. In several countries there are still expert and local community concerns about the environmental impact of incinerators. Incinerators reduce the volume of the original waste by 95-96 percent, depending upon composition and degree of recovery of materials such as metals from the ash for recycling. This means that while incineration does not completely replace landfilling, it reduces the necessary volume for disposal significantly. Incineration has particularly strong benefits for the treatment of certain waste types in niche areas such as clinical wastes and certain hazardous wastes where pathogens and toxins can be destroyed by high temperatures. Examples include chemical multi-product plants with diverse toxic or very toxic wastewater streams, which cannot be routed to a conventional wastewater treatment plant.

Hydrocarbon

In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. With relation to chemical terminology, aromatic hydrocarbons or arenes, alkanes, alkenes and alkyne-based compounds composed entirely of carbon or hydrogen are referred to as "pure" hydrocarbons, whereas other hydrocarbons with bonded compounds or impurities of sulphur or nitrogen, are referred to as "impure", and remain somewhat erroneously referred to as hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons are referred to as consisting of a "backbone" or "skeleton" composed entirely of carbon and hydrogen and other bonded compounds, and lack a functional group that generally facilitates combustion. The majority of hydrocarbons found naturally occur in "crude oil", where decomposed organic matter provides an abundance of carbon and hydrogen which, when bonded, can catenate to form seemingly limitless chains. Because of differences in molecular structure, the empirical formula remains different between hydrocarbons; in linear, or "straight-run" alkanes, alkenes and alkynes, the amount of bonded hydrogen lessens in alkenes and alkynes due to the "self-bonding" or catenation of carbon preventing entire saturation of the hydrocarbon by the formation of double or triple bonds. This inherent ability of hydrocarbons to bond to themselves is referred to as catenation, and allows hydrocarbon to form more complex molecules, such as cyclohexane, and in rarer cases, arenes such as benzene. This ability comes from the fact that bond character between carbon atoms is entirely non-polar, in that the distribution of electrons between the two elements is somewhat even due to the same electronegativity values of the elements and does not result in the formation of an electrophile. Generally, with catenation comes the loss of the total amount of bonded hydrocarbons and an increase in the amount of energy required for bond cleavage due to strain exerted upon the molecule; in molecules such as cyclohexane, this is referred to as ring strain, and occurs due to the "destabilized" spatial electron configuration of the atom. In simple chemistry, as per valence bond theory, the carbon atom must follow the "4-hydrogen rule", which states that the maximum number of atoms available to bond with carbon is equal to the number of electrons that are attracted into the outer shell of carbon. In terms of shells, carbon consists of an incomplete outer shell, which comprises 4 electrons, and thus has 4 electrons available for covalent or dative bonding. "Gasoline", fuel oil, and other petroleum products are referred to as "hydrocarbons," although they usually also contain additives from other chemical groups.

Ballast

In petroleum marketing operations, the term ballast has two meanings. The first has been derived from the term used to describe additional weight introduced into the hull of a ship to provide greater stability. When an "underground storage tank" is being installed, there are occasions when "groundwater" or rainwater might enter the excavation and cause the empty tank to float. During the installation process, it sometimes becomes necessary to add weight to the tank to keep it from floating. This can be accomplished by dispensing into the tank either water or the product the tank is ultimately destined to contain. The liquid thus introduced into the tank is referred to as ballast. It is important that the level of liquid used as ballast not be higher than the backfill on the outside of the tank at the time the ballast is added. Otherwise, the weight of the liquid inside the tank- unsupported by "backfill" on the outside-could cause distortions or ruptures in the tank shell. The term ballast is also used to describe an assembly used in fluorescent light fixtures. The device provides the voltage which starts a fluorescent lamp. In addition to starting the lamp, the ballast regulates the flow of current in the lamp circuit.

Vault

In petroleum marketing operations, there is a growing trend toward use of aboveground storage tanks for "gasoline" and other petroleum fuels. For fire-safety reasons, some of these aboveground tanks are installed within enclosures built of steel reinforced concrete. These structures are referred to as vaults. Vaults may be located aboveground, fully or partially submerged.

Commercial Account

In petroleum marketing, a purchaser of "gasoline", "diesel " fuel, or similar products who buys these products primarily for use in his or her own company. An air conditioning contractor, for example, who operates a fleet of service trucks, may have a gasoline storage and dispensing facility where trucks are fueled. The contractor buys gasoline from a local gasoline wholesaler. To the "jobber " who is selling the gasoline, this contractor constitutes a commercial account. Because the contractor buys in relatively large quantities, he will often receive a discount on gasoline purchases.

Full Service

In self service stations, motorists fill their own tanks. In a full-service station, by contrast, motorists may remain in their vehicles during fueling operations. Attendants at the station handle the fueling and may also check the pressure of the motorist's tires, clean the windshield and check the motor oil.

Temperature Compensation

In tank-tightness testing procedures, it is critical to avoid distorted readings that might be caused by temperature changes in product at various depth levels in the tank. To compensate for temperature variances during a tank test, test instruments monitor temperatures. Mathematical formulas, used in conjunction with the temperature measurements and volume of product, enable test operators to properly compensate for temperature changes. Temperature compensation can also become a consideration during bulk deliveries of gasoline to storage tanks. A significant differential between the gasoline being delivered into a tank and the temperature of the gasoline already in the tank will cause a difference in the temperature of the resulting mixture. This difference can subsequently cause an increase or decrease in the volume of gasoline. For this reason, Hawaii has adopted regulations which require that when petroleum products are transferred, metering devices must be adjusted to reflect temperature conditions.

Statistical Inventory Reconciliation

In the operation of petroleum product storage tanks, a technique for leak detection. The method begins with daily gauging of the tanks, combined with recordkeeping of product withdrawals and deliveries. If all the figures so obtained are conscientiously recorded in a prescribed form, maintained over a designated period, and statistically evaluated by an independent consultant on a regular basis, they will provide a reliable indication of the integrity of the tank-and-piping system. Most states approve SIR procedures as an accepted leak detection method.

Co-Mingle

In the petroleum marketing industry this term refers to the situation which occurs when an error is made during a fuel delivery and the incorrect product is delivered into a storage "tank". This product becomes co-mingled, or blended, with the product already present in the tank, resulting is a distortion of both products.

Airport Hydrant System

It was once customary to refuel an airplane by pulling a tank vehicle up alongside the plane, and pumping fuel from the vehicle tanks into the fuel tanks of an aircraft. Today, at large airports a different system is used. Pipes from storage tanks, located on the perimeter of the airport, carry fuel to various locations on the runway apron. At each of these locations, a manhole contains underground connection points or hydrants located just beneath the surface. When an airplane arrives at the position for refueling, a hydrant refueler pulls up alongside the airplane. The driver raises the lid on the manhole, and connects one end of a hose-located on his truck-to a hydrant. The other end is connected to equipment on the hydrant truck which separates any water from the fuel that may be present, filters the fuel,and meters the fuel delivery. After it has been filtered and metered, the fuel flows through a second hose connected to the airplane fuel tank. An second connection from the vehicle to the hydrant controls the pressure of the system. The pumping source for hydrant systems is not on the refueler itself. Rather, pumping pressure on the entire system is provided by stationary pumps that may be located on the perimeter of the airport, as far as 2 or 3 miles away.

Jet Fuel

Jet fuel is a type of aviation fuel designed for use in aircraft powered by gas-turbine engines. Jet fuel is clear to straw colored. The most common fuel is "kerosene" oil-based fuel classified as Jet A-1, which is produced to an internationally standardized set of specifications. The only other jet fuel that is commonly used in civilian turbine engine-powered aviation is called Jet B, a fuel in the naphtha-kerosene region that is used for its enhanced cold-weather performance. However, Jet B's lighter composition makes it more dangerous to handle, and it is thus restricted only to areas where its cold-weather characteristics are absolutely necessary. Jet fuel is a mixture of a large number of different hydrocarbons, possibly as many as a thousand or more. The range of their sizes (molecular weights or carbon numbers) is restricted by the requirements for the product, for example, freezing point or smoke point. Kerosene-type jet fuel (including Jet A and Jet A-1) has a carbon number distribution between about 8 and 16 carbon numbers; wide-cut or naphtha-type jet fuel (including Jet B), between about 5 and 15 carbon numbers.

Liquified Petroleum Gas

Liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG, is manufactured both from "crude oil" and "natural gas". Through compression, the gas is condensed to a point where it becomes a liquid. It must, however, be maintained under pressure, which means it can be stored only in pressurized tanks or cylinders. The most common liquefied petroleum gas is "propane". LPG is used as a heating and cooking fuel in recreation vehicles, and, in many rural communities, as a home heating fuel. It can also be used as a motor fuel. See also "Refining process".

Methanol

Methanol, also known as M85, is typically made from "natural gas" ; though it is possible to produce it by fermenting biomass, this is not economically competitive yet. Because it is easier to transport natural gas to a distant market by converting it to methanol, which is a liquid at ordinary temperatures and pressures, than by chilling and liquefying it or by building a pipeline, some petroleum-exporting countries are looking at exporting their "waste" natural gas, by converting it to methanol. However, most of the natural gas that goes into methanol in the United States is still domestically produced. M85 is commonly used as an alternative motor fuel mixture consisting of 85 percent methanol and 15 percent gasoline. This fuel can be used only in vehicles manufactured for, or converted to, M85 use. The "unleaded gasoline" is added to assure luminosity and engine starts in cold weather. It takes about 1.7 gallons of M-85 to propel a vehicle the same distance as 1 gallon of gasoline. There have been efforts to introduce M85 into widespread use in various markets, most notably in California, but no transportation network exists to sypport such an effort.

Micro Organism Production System

Micro Organism Production System (MOPS) is the trademarked name of the complete, patent-pending PhotoBioReactor system designed by Jonathan L. Gal and assigned to "Texas Clean Fuels", Inc. The name is intended to reflect its dual functionality. It produces microorganisms (algae), while it "MOPS Up" carbon dioxide.

Microturbine

Microturbines are becoming widespread for distributed power and combined heat and power applications. Part of their success is due to advances in electronics, which allows unattended operation and interfacing with the commercial power grid. Electronic power switching technology eliminates the need for the generator to be synchronized with the power grid. This allows the generator to be integrated with the turbine shaft, and to double as the starter motor. Microturbine systems have many advantages over reciprocating engine generators, such as higher power to weight ratio, extremely low emissions and few, or just one, moving part. Advantages are that microturnbines may be designed with foil bearings and air-cooling operating without lubricating oil, coolants or other hazardous materials. Microturbines also have a further advantage of having the majority of the waste heat contained in the relatively high temperature exhaust making it simpler to capture, whereas the waste heat of reciprocating engines is split between its exhaust and cooling system. [10] However, reciprocating engine generators are quicker to respond to changes in output power requirement and are usually slightly more efficient, although the efficiency of microturbines is increasing. Microturbines also lose more efficiency at low power levels than reciprocating engines. When used in vehicles the static efficiency drawback is negated by the superior power - weight ratio - the vehicle does not have to pull a heavy engine and transmission. They accept most commercial fuels, such as gasoline, natural gas, propane, diesel, and kerosene as well as renewable fuels such as E85, biodiesel and biogas. Microturbine designs usually consist of a single stage radial compressor, a single stage radial turbine and a recuperator. Recuperators are difficult to design and manufacture because they operate under high pressure and temperature differentials. Exhaust heat can be used for water heating, space heating, drying processes or absorption chillers, which create cold for air conditioning from heat energy instead of electric energy. Typical microturbine efficiencies are 25 to 35%. When in a combined heat and power cogeneration system, efficiencies of greater than 80% are commonly achieved.

Alcohol Blends

Motor fuel that consists of a mixture of gasoline and alcohol, typically methyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol. Alcohol blends up to 10 percent alcohol can operate in essentially the same type of internal combustion engine as gasoline, (high-speed racing cars burn pure alcohol). Each fuel, however, has its own advantages and disadvantages. Alcohol creates less air pollution than gasoline, but alcohol-powered vehicles get fewer miles per gallon. In an effort to reduce crude oil consumption while simultaneously lowering pollution and improving engine performance, refiners have developed various blends of gasoline and alcohol. The original blend was marketed under the name of Gasohol. Gasohol consists of 90 percent gasoline and 10 percent ethanol (alcohol). Another blend, M-85, consists of 85 percent methanol (methyl alcohol) and 15 percent unleaded gasoline.

Occidental Petroleum

Occidental Petroleum Corporation (Oxy) is an international oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the United States, the Middle East, North Africa, and South America. The company nickname "Oxy" began in 1964 in reference to Occidental's NYSE stock ticker. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Oxy is the fourth largest U.S. oil and gas company, based on equity market capitalization. Oxy is the largest oil producer in Texas and the largest natural gas producer in California, with additional operations in Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado and New Mexico. Oxy's wholly-owned subsidiary, OxyChem, manufactures and markets chlor-alkali products and vinyls. Oxy was founded in 1920. In 1957 Dr. Armand Hammer was elected president and CEO. In 1961, Oxy discovered California's second largest natural gas field in the Arbuckle area of the Sacramento basin at Lathrop. Over the next 10 years, Oxy expanded worldwide operations with efforts in Libya, Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia, Trinidad and the United Kingdom. Occidental won exploration rights in Libya in 1965 and achieved exploration and development success until all activities were suspended in 1986 as the result of economic sanctions imposed by the United States government. In 1968, Oxy entered the chemical business with the acquisition of Hooker Chemicals. This was 26 years after the contamination at Love Canal. On July 6, 1988 a fire on Piper Alpha, an oil platform in the North Sea, caused the biggest disaster in offshore oil industry's history. Today Occidental Chemical Corporation (OxyChem) is a leading chemical manufacturer with interests in basic chemicals, vinyls and performance chemical products. In 1994, Dr. Ray Irani became President and CEO of Oxy. Occidental's oil and gas growth strategy relies on three components: Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), Exploration and Acquisitions. Oil and Gas operations are focused in three core areas, the United States, the Middle East/North Africa, and South America. In South America, Oxy operates in Argentina, and Colombia. In the Middle East, oxy has operations in Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Libya is its sole North African operation. In the United States--which accounts for 70 percent of its oil and gas reserves and 60 percent of current production--Oxy is the fourth largest oil and gas company. Occidental is the largest producer of natural gas in California, and the largest oil producer in Texas. Oxy also has operations in Kansas and Oklahoma. Occidental formerly operated in Ecuador, but interest in Block 15 in the Ecuadorian Amazon was ended by the nation's government in 2006. External link "www.oxy.com"

Toluene

One of the chemicals routinely used as a performance-enhancing additive in "gasoline". Also known as methylbenzene or phenylmethane, it is a clear, water-insoluble liquid with the typical smell of paint thinners, redolent of the sweet smell of the related compound benzene. It is an aromatic hydrocarbon that is widely used as an industrial feedstock and as a solvent. Like other solvents, toluene is also used as an inhalant drug for its intoxicating properties.

National Electrical Code

One of the many codes published by the "National Fire Protection Association". Most sections of the NEC apply to non-petroleum applications, however, some portions cover areas where flammable and combustible liquids are stored and dispensed. Technically, the code is referred to as NFPA 70.

Pressure Decay Test

One of the tests prescribed by PEI's Recommended Practices for Installation and Testing of Vapor Recovery Systems at Vehicle Fueling Sites, "PEI/RP300". The purpose of the pressure decay test is to ensure the tightness of the piping and valves in a "Stage II vapor recovery" system. Before the test begins, the vapor return piping is isolated from vents and vapor processing equipment. Nitrogen gas is then introduced into the piping at a prescribed pressure, and allowed to stand under pressure for 5 minutes. Pressure gauges attached to the piping system are used to determine if the nitrogen maintains its pressure throughout the entire test period. If it does, the piping system can be assumed sound. If it does not, the presence of a leak somewhere in the system is indicated.

Bollard

Originally, bollard was the name given to the short, thick, iron post mounted on a wharf to which a ship tied up when it docked. The British began using the same term to describe a post, connected by rope to other similar posts, to divert automobile traffic from a road or lawn. In a "gasoline" station, bollard is the term applied to the heavy protective posts set in the driveway at the ends of pump islands to prevent vehicles from coming in contact with the dispensers or other pump-island fixtures. Bollards are also used to protect aboveground storage tanks.

Class I, Division I

Part of the classification system used by the "National Electrical Code" (NFPA 70) to describe the fire or explosion hazard present in a specific area. A Class I, Division 1 location in which: ignitable concentrations of flammable gases or vapors can exist under normal operating conditions; ignitable concentrations of such gases or vapors may exist frequently because of repair or maintenance operations or because of leakage; or a breakdown or faulty operation of equipment or processes might release ignitable concentrations of flammable gases or vapors and might also cause simultaneous failure of electric equipment. See also "PEI/RP500".

PEI/RP100

PEI's Recommended Practices for Installation of Underground Liquid Storage Systems provides the most current information on sound engineering and construction practices with regard to the proper installation of underground liquid storage systems. The 41-page manual was prepared as an industry service by the "Petroleum Equipment Institute." The 2005 publication represents the fifth revision of the original 1986 document and replaces and supersedes the 2000 edition as significant changes have been made to text, drawings and tables. A few of the revisions include a new chapter dedicated to preinstallation inspection and tank testing; discussion of ballasting with fuel; a new section addressing release detection for satellite-dispenser piping; expanded, revised and reorganized test procedures tables; and a new chapter devoted to testing piping. The document contains sections on excavating, backfilling, anchoring, piping, release detection, cathodic protection, secondary containment, and other aspects of tank system installation. There are three appendices as well. One shows formulas for calculating weight required to prevent tank floatout. Another describes procedures for calculating sacrificial anode requirements. The third contains a current publication reference of other tank installation documents. The manual, which contains 33 line drawings, is completely indexed. External link "PEI/RP100"

PEI/RP600

PEI's Recommended Practices for Overfill Prevention for Shop-Fabricated Aboveground Tanks provides a comprehensive reference that consolidates published and unpublished information from equipment manufacturers, installers, tank owners, and regulators concerning proper procedures and equipment to minimize aboveground tank overfill incidents. The recommended practices described in this document are limited to the installation, operation, inspection, maintenance and testing of overfill-prevention equipment used on shop-fabricated, stationary, and atmospheric aboveground tanks intended for the storage or supply of liquid petroleum products and alternative fuels. These recommended practices may be applied to tanks used for bulk storage, motor-fuels dispensing, emergency-generator systems, residential and commercial heating-oil supply systems, or used oil storage systems. The transfer of large quantities of fuel into aboveground storage tanks usually involves a variety of pumps, pipes, valves and controls. The configuration of this equipment is very often unique to each storage-tank facility. Typically, the only person on site to manage the fuel transfer operation is the tank-vehicle driver. The lack of industry standards for fuel-transfer procedures and equipment and the reliance on a minimum number of personnel to execute the fuel transfer pose significant challenges to reducing the occurrence of overfill incidents. External link "PEI/RP600"

PEI/RP300

PEI/RP 300 is a 62-page Recommended Practices manual, published by the "Petroleum Equipment Institute", providing concise instructions for installation and testing of Stage I and Stage II equipment. The document focuses only on vapor-recovery systems located at vehicle fueling facilities. It has been completely revised, reorganized and expanded to include the most recent revisions by the "California Air Resources Board" to the vapor-recovery testing procedures. RP300-04 supersedes and replaces the previous 1997 publication. The manual contains chapters, drawings and photographs on all phases of proper vapor-recovery equipment installation and testing along with a new chapter of definitions. Included are chapters covering Stage I and Stage II vapor-recovery systems, "Stage II vapor recovery" system components, aboveground and underground piping and fittings, pressure decay testing, dynamic backpressure testing, air to liquid volume ratio testing, electrical installation, testing and inspection, and documentation and training. There are also appendices presenting pressure decay test tables, sample forms for recording test data and an appendix of documents used for reference. External link "PEI/RP300"

PEI/RP1000

PEI/RP1000 is a Recommended Practices manual for the Installation of Marina Fueling Systems. The purpose of the document is to provide a basic reference that conveys concrete, authoritative guidance on how to deal with the challenges of constructing safe, environmentally protective marina-fueling facilities that will allow reliable and economical service for many years. The recommended practices apply to facilities that: serve recreational, commercial, government facilities by storing and dispensing motor fuel into vessels; have fixed, onshore storage tanks using submersible or suction pumps to move the fuel; are located in fresh water or salt water, lake or river environments, stable or fluctuating water-level conditions, and along stable or fluctuating shorelines; have underground or aboveground storage tanks; and have a dispensing device that is stationary or mobile (e.g., a hydrant-type system with a mobile fueling cart). External Link "PEI/RP1000"

PEI/RP1100

PEI/RP1100, the Recommended Practices for the Storage and Dispensing of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF), has been published in response to a planned national roll out of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) dispensing infrastructure at travel centers and fleet refueling sites. Beginning with 2010 year-model diesel-powered trucks, Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) will be required in trucks utilizing Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) to meet federal emissions standards. SCR is an emissions-reduction technology with the ability to deliver near-zero emission of nitrogen oxide, a smog-causing pollutant and greenhouse gas. The purpose of the document is to provide recommended practices for the installation and operation of DEF storage and dispensing equipment that will preserve DEF product quality and prevent releases into the environment. The recommended practices in this document apply to the storage, handling, and dispensing of DEF at motor-fuel-dispensing facilities, travel plazas, service centers, and repair and maintenance garages. It is limited to storage containers that use a pump and/or meter to dispense DEF. External Link "PEI/RP1100"

PMP Corporation

PMP Corporation (originally named Petroleum Meter & Pump Co., Inc.) was formed in 1950 in Unionville, Connecticut. The main business was remanufacturing meters, pumping units and mechanical computers, which are components of service station pumps. The Farmington River flood of 1955-swept away the "old mill" building and with it the company operations. Fortunately, the company had established a good reputation with its customers and suppliers and they were generous in helping them start up again. In 1962, the company moved from Unionville to Farmington. Then, in 1977 the company moved to its present location at 25 Security Drive in Avon. The plant is set on eight scenic acres and includes fully air-conditioned 35,000 square feet. PMP employs over 70 people in its remanufacturing operation. PMP products are sold primarily to equipment distributors, which installs PMP products using their own maintenance technicians. PMP products are also sold by distributors to oil companies and independent technicians. The major PMP product lines are remanufactured printers, cash drawers, dispenser valves, vapor recovery pumps, gasoline meters, suction pumps and mechanical computers. In addition, related products such as electric resets, pulsers, ticket printers and mechanical counters are also remanufactured. External Link "www.pmp-corp.com"

Class I, Division 2

Part of the classification system used by the "National Electrical Code" (NFPA 70) to describe the fire or explosion hazard present in a specific area. A Class I, Division 2 location is a location: in which volatile flammable liquids are handled, processed or used but in which the liquids, vapors or gases will normally be confined within closed containers or closed systems from which they can escape only in case of accidental rupture or breakdown of such containers or systems, or in case of abnormal operation of equipment; in which ignitable concentrations of gases or vapors are normally prevented by positive mechanical ventilation and which might become hazardous through failure or abnormal operation of the ventilating equipment; or that is adjacent to a Class I, Division 1 location and to which ignitable concentrations of gases or vapors might occasionally be communicated unless such communication is prevented by adequate positive-pressure ventilation from a source of clean air, and effective safeguards against ventilation failure are prevented. See also "PEI/RP500".

Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment is designed to protect workers from serious workplace injuries or illnesses resulting from contact with chemical, physical, electrical, mechanical or other workplace hazards. Examples of personal protective equipment include safety shoes, hard hats, safety glasses, coveralls, gloves, high visibility vests and respirators. See also "PEI/RP300".

Petroleum

Petroleum, or crude oil, is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid found in rock formations in the Earth consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights, plus other organic compounds. Crude oil varies greatly in appearance depending on its composition. It is usually black or dark brown. In the reservoir it is usually found in association with natural gas, which being lighter forms a gas cap over the petroleum, and saline water which being heavier generally floats underneath it. Crude oil may also be found in semi-solid form mixed with sand as in the Athabasca oil sands in Canada, where is usually referred to as crude bitumen. Due to its high energy density, easy transportability and relative abundance, oil has become the world's most important source of energy since the mid-1950s. Petroleum is also the raw material for many chemical products, including pharmaceuticals, solvents, fertilizers, pesticides, and plastics; the 16 percent not used for energy production is converted into these other materials. Petroleum is found in porous rock formations in the upper strata of some areas of the Earth's crust. There is also petroleum in oil sands. Known reserves of petroleum are typically estimated at around 1.2 trillion barrels without oil sands or 3.74 trillion barrels with oil sands. Consumption is currently around 84 million barrels per day. Because the energy return over energy invested ratio of oil is constantly falling, recoverable oil reserves are significantly less than total oil in place. At current consumption levels, and assuming that oil will be consumed only from reservoirs, known recoverable reserves would be gone around 2039, potentially leading to a global energy crisis. However, there are factors which may extend or reduce this estimate, including the rapidly increasing demand for petroleum in China, India, and other developing nations; new discoveries; energy conservation and use of alternative energy sources; and new economically viable exploitation of non-conventional oil sources. Petroleum is used mostly, by volume, for producing fuel oil and "gasoline", both important "primary'' energy sources. Eighty four percent of the hydrocarbons present in petroleum is converted into petroleum-based fuels, including gasoline, "diesel", jet, heating, and other fuel oils, and liquefied petroleum gas. The lighter grades of crude oil produce the best yields of these products, but as the world's reserves of light and medium oil are depleted, oil refineries are increasingly having to process heavy oil and bitumen, and use more complex and expensive methods to produce the products required. Because heavier crude oils have too much carbon and not enough hydrogen, these processes generally involve removing carbon from or adding hydrogen to the molecules, and using fluid catalytic cracking to convert the longer, more complex molecules in the oil to the shorter, simpler ones in the fuels.

Point of Sale System

Point of sale or point of service can mean a retail shop, a checkout counter in a shop, or the location where a transaction occurs. Point of sale often refers to a POS terminal or more generally to the hardware and software used for checkouts, the equivalent of an electronic cash register.

Portable Electronic Thermometer

Portable Electronic Thermometer (PET) is the term used by "API" to describe a hand held electronic thermometer instrument with an associated display that is usually not part of a monitoring system. The use of the word PET presently implies a battery operated device that can be used for independent temperature measurement of "petroleum" products or systems associated with vessels, pipelines, or process systems. As an independent measuring device that may be used for commercial purposes, verification or calibration, it should meet the specifications of an applicable standard, whether that is API, ASTM, etc. The specifications for a PET usually include accuracy tolerance and other calibration requirements. Since a PET is most likely being used in an environment where flammable fluids may be present (Hazardous Location) it should be designated as an Intrinsically Safe device by a recognized testing and certification organization such as UL, BASEEFA, Intertek, TIIS etc.

Pressure System

Pressure systems at motor fuel dispensing facilities are those in which the pumping unit is located at a position remote from the pump island, typically inside or directly above the tank, and not in the dispenser itself. When a "dispenser" is authorized to dispense fuel, the pump serving that dispenser is turned on. Since the pump may serve several other dispensers, however, its operation will pressurize all the pipe lines in the system carrying the same product. Leaks in pressurized piping can thus quickly reach a catastrophic level. See also "Suction system".

Pressurized System

Pressurized systems at motor fuel dispensing facilities are those in which the pumping unit is located at a position remote from the pump island, typically inside or directly above the tank, and not in the dispenser itself. When a "dispenser" is authorized to dispense fuel, the pump serving that dispenser is turned on. Since the pump may serve several other dispensers, however, its operation will pressurize all the pipe lines in the system carrying the same product. Leaks in pressurized piping can thus quickly reach a catastrophic level. See also "Suction system".

Testing Laboratories

Private organizations which, for a fee, will conduct an objective analysis of a product or process. Using scientific methods and accepted engineering practices, these organizations subject products or processes to laboratory tests. There are some testing laboratories that, to some degree, engage in the analysis of petroleum marketing equipment. Others test leak detection devices. And there are other testing organizations, many of which operate in local markets, that test soil and water samples for contamination. These local organizations are widely used by tank-removal contractors and environmental firms. See also "Third party certification".

Lock Out / Tag Out

Procedures designed to safeguard workers from exposure to electrical hazards, the unexpected start up of machinery, or the release of fuel while equipment is being serviced. This requires, in part, that a designated individual turns off and isolates the equipment from its energy source(s) before performing service or maintenance. The designated individual either locks or tags the breakers or valves and takes steps to verify that the equipment has been isolated effectively. See also "PEI/RP900".

Propane

Propane is a three-carbon alkane, normally a gas, but compressible to a transportable liquid. It is derived from other petroleum products during oil or natural gas processing. It is commonly used as a fuel for engines, barbecue grills and home heating systems. When used as vehicle fuel, it is commonly known as liquified petroleum gas (LPG or LP-gas), which can be a mixture of propane along with small amounts of propylene, butane, and butylene. The odorant ethanethiol is also added so that people can easily smell the gas in case of a leak. Propane is also being used increasingly for vehicle fuels. In the United States, 190,000 on-road vehicles use propane, and 450,000 forklifts use it for power. It is the third most popular vehicle fuel in America, behind "gasoline" and "diesel". In other parts of the world, propane used in vehicles is known as "autogas". About 9 million vehicles worldwide use autogas. The advantage of propane is its liquid state at a moderate pressure. This allows fast refill times, affordable fuel tank construction, and ranges comparable to gasoline. Meanwhile it is noticeably cleaner both in handling, and in combustion, results in less engine wear due to carbon deposits without diluting engine oil often extending oil-change intervals. However, public filling stations are still rare. Many converted vehicles have provisions for topping off from "barbecue bottles". Purpose-built vehicles are often in commercially-owned fleets, and have private fueling facilities.

Pyrolysis Oil

Pyrolysis oil is a bio-oil produced by fast pyrolysis of "biomass". It is a dark brown, mobile liquid containing much of the energy content of the original biomass, with a heating value about half that of conventional fuel oil. Conversion of raw biomass to pyrolysis oil represents a considerable increase in energy density and it can thus represent a more efficient form in which to transport it.

Quaternary Oilfield Recovery

Quaternary Oilfield Recovery refers to the recycling of oilfield carbon dioxide sources by piping them into an algae cultivation system, where the photosynthetic algae consume the CO2 and turn it into high energy "algal biomass".

RMS

RMS is a privately held corporation founded in 1993 with its head Office in Calgary, Alberta (the oil capital of Canada) and with its US corporate headquarters located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The primary focus of RMS is to develop the most complete and comprehensive fuel management solutions available. The RMS GPI, fuel management solution, can be integrated ('bolted-on') to third party POS solutions for the addition of fuel management to existing POS solutions, In addition, RMS has developed an unattended stand-alone cardlock fuel management solution for customers that do not employ POS solutions yet still require a Fuel management solution. Our unique and adaptable software solutions provide complete Fuel management systems for customers in the C-store, C-gas, marina and airport industries. The RMS GPI application has the functionality to interface with any number of different types of pumps including those manufactured or supplied by Dresser Wayne, Tokheim, Gilbarco, Bennett, and others, as well as mechanical dispensers. The RMS system allows for a mix and match of pumps at the same site. RMS has become a recognized industry leader in providing Fuel management solutions - its bolt-on solutions have been integrated with some of the largest POS solution providers in the world, including those requiring Enterprise Resource Planning/Enterprise Application Interface (ERP/EAI) methodologies. The RMS GPI handles credit/debit cards, commercial fleet cards, private (proprietary) fleet cards, loyalty cards, prepay cards, gift cards; it provides for integration to car washes, digital price signs, tank monitors; and is certified as fully PA-DSS compliant. In addition, the RMS solution is EMV (chip and pin) ready with certification pending as of June 2010. External link: "www.rmssoftware.com"

Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation

RTFO, or the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation, is a British policy that places an obligation on fuel suppliers to ensure that a certain percentage of their aggregate sales is made up of "biofuels". The effect of this will be to require 5 percent of all UK fuel sold on UK "forecourts " to come from a renewable source by 2010.

Distillate

Technically, a distillate is a product obtained from the condensation of vapors during a distillation process. In this sense, most petroleum products - "gasoline", "diesel" fuel, "kerosene" and jet fuel-are, to some degree, distillates. The process by which they are produced involves heating "crude oil" and allowing it to rise in a tower-like chamber. Vapor thus created condenses at various levels in the tower, and the liquid is drawn off. In petroleum marketing, however, the term distillate is reserved for products in the middle distillation range. These products include heating oils and diesel fuel. The main distillate classifications are Nos. 1, 2, and 4 fuel oils, and Nos. 1, 2, and 4 diesel fuels. Kerosene is also a distillate, similar to No. 1 oils, but is often listed separately for statistical purposes. See also "Refining process".

PEI/RP200

Recommended Practices for Installation of Aboveground Storage Systems for Motor Vehicle Fueling is a 48-page manual prepared by the "Petroleum Equipment Institute". Installation contractors, equipment manufacturers, oil company engineers, trade associations, environmental regulators and other interested parties in the industry have had the opportunity to review and comment on the contents, which supersedes and replaces the 1999 edition of RP200, as significant changes have been made to both text and drawings. RP200-03 was written and revised in response to the environmental considerations and emerging technology that have prompted the industry to use aboveground tanks to store motor-vehicle fuel. The purpose of the document is to provide a concise reference to preferred practices and procedures for the installation of aboveground storage systems at service stations, marinas and other fueling sites. This recommended practice contains chapters and drawings on all phases of proper aboveground tank installation, including site planning, foundations, support and anchorage; dikes; vaults and special enclosures; tanks; pumps and valves; fills, gauges and vents; piping and fittings; corrosion protection; environmental protection; electrical installation; testing and inspection; and documentation, maintenance, and training. Three appendices describe size calculations for dikes, venting, and fire code requirements. An appendix of documents used for reference is also included. External link "PEI/RP200"

PEI/RP800

Recommended Practices for Installation of Bulk Storage Plants, as published by the "Petroleum Equipment Institute", provides a basic reference that consolidates published and unpublished information from equipment manufacturers, contractors, installers, bulk-plant facility owners, and regulators describing recommended practices for the construction of new petroleum bulk-storage systems. The document applies to underground, aboveground, atmospheric, and shop-fabricated tanks, associated piping, diking, spill containment, and equipment intended for the bulk storage and transfer of petroleum, biofuels, and related products to and from wheeled delivery-vehicle tanks. The recommended practices apply to single- and double-walled horizontal and vertical tanks, as well as insulated and fire-protected tanks. PEI has written this document to help maximize system efficiency; prevent surface and groundwater contamination; minimize environmental hazards; reduce safety hazards and avoid practices that will needlessly increase installation costs. External link "PEI/RP800"

Fire Code

Regulations developed by specialists in the fire-safety field and adopted by state and local fire officials. When adopted by a local jurisdiction, these codes become enforceable law. With respect to petroleum marketing operations, the principal U.S. fire codes are "NFPA 30" and "NFPA 30A", prepared by the "National Fire Protection Association" and the International Fire Code (IFC), published by the International Code Council (ICC). Fire codes developed by "Building Officials and Code Administrators" International and by the Southern Building Code Congress International also, on occasion, have an impact on petroleum marketing operations.

Southern Building Code Congress International

SBCCI is a nonprofit organization that develops, promotes, and promulgates model building codes, such as the Standard Plumbing Code, the Standard Gas Code, the Standard Fire Prevention Code, and the Standard Mechanical Code. SBCCI encourages local governments to enact its codes into law by reference, without cost to the governmental entity. In each of its codes, SBCCI asserts a copyright under which it claims the exclusive right to publish these codes or license their reproduction and publication. Once a governmental unit enacts such a code into law, copies are to be made available for inspection by the public in the enacting government's offices. Members of the public may make or obtain copies of portions of the SBCCI codes from city offices or local libraries or may purchase copies of the codes directly from SBCCI and from some bookstores as well. Although SBCCI is a nonprofit organization, it uses revenue from sales of its model codes to fund its continuing activities.

Second Generation Biofuels

Second generation "biofuels" are considered to be biofuels produced from "biomass" or non-edible "feedstocks".

Vapor Detection

Techniques used to detect the presence of hydrocarbon vapor in a monitoring well, a tank "interstice" or a "tank" being prepared for cleaning. Monitoring instruments-most often called combustible gas indicators or explosimeters-are available that give readings which reveal the vapor level in a confined space.

Nozzle Boot

The bellows-like assembly, fitted over the spout of a Stage II gasoline vapor recovery nozzle, which enables the nozzle to make a vapor-tight connection with the fill pipe of the vehicle being fueled. Nozzle boot is also used to describe the fitting on the dispenser into which the nozzle spout is inserted when the nozzle is returned to the "dispenser". See also "Bellows".

Selective Catalytic Reduction

Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is an advanced emission-control technology that can help light-, medium-, and heavy-duty diesel vehicles meet stringent regulations on nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. In an SCR system, a liquid reducing agent composed of urea and water, known as "Diesel Exhaust Fluid" (DEF), is combined with engine exhaust in the presence of a catalyst to convert smog-forming NOx into harmless nitrogen and water vapor. The process starts with ultra-low sulfur "diesel" fuel combusted in an optimized diesel engine. Hot exhaust from the engine flows through a diesel particulate filter (which removes particulate matter) toward the SCR catalyst. DEF from a storage tank is injected into the exhaust stream, and the exhaust and finely atomized DEF enter the SCR catalyst chamber together. In the presence of the SCR catalyst, the exhaust and DEF react to convert NOx into nitrogen (N2) and water vapor. One important requirement of an SCR system is consistently refilling the DEF storage tank. This occurs at approximately the interval of recommended oil changes for light-duty vehicles. The interval varies based on application for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. A DEF distribution system is being established to meet refilling needs. Selective catalytic reduction has been used for decades in marine and large stationary diesel engines. The technology is used extensively with heavy-duty highway vehicles in Europe. The use of SCR in highway and non-road engines has been demonstrated in the United States, and several auto manufacturers are incorporating SCR into their U.S. diesel products. Tests have shown that SCR can reduce NOx emissions by 75 percent to 90 percent.

Lifting Lugs

Small projections attached to, or built into, heavy components. The lugs have an opening in the center to which cables can be attached for lifting. Lifting lugs are in the construction of storage tanks and multi-grade "dispensers". Some tank manufacturers insert threaded lifting lugs in pipe openings. Industry codes of practice caution against attempts to lift or move storage tanks by wrapping chains or cables around the tank shell. Instead, the proper procedure is to thread cables or hooks into the lifting lugs, and to use a crane or similar power source to provide the upward thrust.

Soil Vapor Extraction

Soil vapor extraction (SVE) is an in situ process for soil remediation where contamination is removed from soil by carrying it out through a medium such as air or steam. The extracted soil vapors are separated into liquids and vapors, and each stream is treated as necessary. SVE is suitable for removing a variety of contaminants that have a high vapor pressure or a low boiling point compared to water, such as chlorinated solvents. SVE can handle high concentrations of contaminant, including contaminants in the form of a non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL). SVE is characterized as a quick and effective remediation technique.

Solomon R. Dresser

Solomon Robert Dresser was an inventor and a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Dresser was born in Litchfield, Michigan. He attended the common schools and Hillsdale College. He engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1865. He became an inventor of oil and gas well equipment, and moved to Pennsylvania in 1872 to work in the production of oil and gas. He was the founder and president of the S.R. Dresser Manufacturing Co. Dresser was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-eighth and Fifty-ninth Congresses. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1906. He resumed former business pursuits and died in Bradford, Pennsylvania in 1911.

Angle Check Valve

Some service stations and commercial fueling facilities rely on a suction pumping system. In such systems, various types of "check" valves such as angle check valves, vertical check valves and "foot valves" are used to hold product in the piping when the pumps are turned off. An angle check valve is usually located at the top of the "tank". Product enters the valve through the bottom and makes a 90-degree turn before it exits, thus the term "angle check." See also "Check valve".

Breather Vent

Storage tanks containing volatile liquids, such as "gasoline", need to "breathe." All space in the tank is filled with either liquid or vapor. Because the volatile liquid in the tank tends to increase and decrease in volume as the temperature of the product changes, and as product is added or withdrawn, the vapor space above the liquid level does not remain constant. These changes in the volume of liquid, as well as the volume of vapors in the tank, must be accommodated. If they were not, a variation in vapor volume-due to temperature change-would result in increased or decreased pressure on the walls of the tank. That's why atmospheric storage tanks must not be made air tight. Instead, they must be designed in a way that either allows vapors to get out or outside air to get in. For Class I liquids, this is accomplished through use of a vent pipe, connected to the top of the tank and extending 12 feet or more above grade level. To enhance operation of vapor recovery systems, these vents may be equipped with pressure/vacuum valves.

Tank Supports

Structures designed to elevate an aboveground storage tank above grade. See also "PEI/RP800".

Syngas

Syngas is a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen which is the product of high temperature gasification of organic material such as "biomass". Following clean-up to remove any impurities such as tars, synthesis gas can be used to synthesise organic molecules such as synthetic natural gas or liquid "biofuels" such as synthetic "diesel".

Bung

Technically, a bung is a stopper inserted into an opening in a cask, drum, or tank. The opening into which it fits is the bung hole. Tank workers, however, sometimes refer to an opening in the tank, into which a fitting is to be inserted, as a bung rather than as a bung hole.

Fastfill / Slowfill

Terms used in the "compressed natural gas" fuel business to indicate the speed at which different systems are capable of fueling vehicles. A fast-fill CNG dispenser, such as might be used in a retail fueling station, can generally fuel a passenger car in 5 to 7 minutes. On the other hand, at fleet facilities such as school bus garages, slow-fill systems are often used. Slow-fill fueling typically requires several hours and is usually done overnight. The term slow-fill is also used in connection with the filling of tank vehicles. The slow-fill technique is employed to reduce generation of static electricity. See also "Switch loading".

PEI/RP400

Testing Electrical Continuity of Fuel-Dispensing Hanging Hardware is a 20-page manual representing a synthesis of previously unpublished petroleum marketing industry practices, manufacturers' recommendations, and regulatory standards. This procedure is the consensus recommendation of the " Petroleum Equipment Institute" Electrical Continuity Testing Committee, which includes representatives from petroleum marketing, equipment manufacturing, service and installation contractor, and regulatory organizations. In addition, the Committee has had the benefit of reasoned comments submitted by parties interested in the petroleum marketing equipment industry. PEI's RP400 was written as an industry service to provide a concise recommended standard procedure for testing the electrical continuity of fueling hoses, breakaway valves, swivels, nozzles, and other hanging hardware used in dispensing petroleum products. The document focuses only on "gasoline" and diesel fuel-dispensing equipment typically attached to motor vehicle-fueling "dispensers" located at vehicle fueling facilities. Included are chapters covering when to test, testing equipment, safe work practices, test procedures, pass/fail criterion, locating and correcting problems and documenting test results. Two appendices present a sample form for recording continuity data and a picture summary of the continuity test procedure. An appendix of documents used for reference is included. Also, a laminated card containing full-color pictures illustrating the test procedure accompanies each copy of RP400. External Link "PEI/RP400"

Texas Clean Fuels

Texas Clean Fuels, Inc. is a startup company in the DFW, Texas area. It is currently launching its first product, the Algae Growth Unit, or "AGU", a specialized, patent-pending clear, plastic tank product , which is intended for mass cultivation of algae biomass as a feedstock for "biodiesel" and other alternative fuels processes. External link "www.texascleanfuels.com"

Underground Storage Tank

The "Environmental Protection Agency" defines an underground storage tank as "any combination of tanks, including underground pipes connected thereto, that is used to contain an accumulation of regulated substances and the volume of which is 10 percent or more beneath the surface of the ground." In the definition of an underground tank, the EPA goes on to identify certain tanks that are not covered: septic tanks, flow-through process tanks and basement tanks. A "tank" installed below grade, but which is not in contact with soil or backfill, is not considered an underground storage tank for regulatory purposes.

PEI/RP700

The "Petroleum Equipment Institute" Pneumatic and Hydraulic System Installation Committee publication entitled Recommended Practices for the Design and Installation and Servicing of Centralized Fluid-Distribution Systems at Vehicle Maintenance Facilities, PEI/RP700. The purpose of the document is to provide a concise summary of the design considerations and general guidelines for the proper installation of safe, reliable, and functional centralized fluid-distribution systems for various types of vehicle-related fluids. The publication will be assembled from published and unpublished sources provided by equipment manufacturers and experienced installers. The intent is to provide recommended practices to facility designers and installers that promotes construction of systems that operate safely and reliably; trouble-free performance of fluid-distribution equipment; and ample flow rates at various flow volumes. The recommended practices applies to stationary, centralized fluid-distribution systems for vehicle related fluids such as lubrication oil, gear oil, transmission fluid, hydraulic fluid, grease, antifreeze, and windshield washer fluid. The equipment covered includes supply containers, piping and tubing, pumps, compressors, hoses, reels, nozzles and other equipment typically used to construct these systems. The publication is not intended for mobile fluid-distribution systems for vehicular fluids, nor will they apply to distribution systems used in food service or food preparation operations. External link "PEI/RP700"

Curb Pump Hose

The "hose" on a gasoline station "dispenser". The original gasoline dispensers were mounted next to the street on sidewalk curbs. The dispensers were referred to as "curb pumps," and their hose was called "curb pump hose." Although dispensers are no longer placed on curbs, many oil equipment people continue to refer to dispenser hose as curb pump hose.

AMOCO

The American Oil Company, or Amoco, also known as Standard Oil of Indiana, was a global chemical and oil company, founded in Baltimore in 1910 and incorporated in 1922 by Louis Blaustein and his son Jacob. The firm's innovations included two essential parts of the modern industry, the gasoline tanker truck and the drive-through filling station.

Forecourt

The British term for what Americans refer to as a "gasoline" station "driveway". A U.S. marketer will refer to an "underground storage tank" located beneath the driveway; a British marketer will say the tank is located beneath the forecourt.

Building Officials and Code Administrators

The Building Officials and Code Administrators International is an association of professionals employed in the establishment and enforcement of building codes, which are the rules and regulations that govern the design and construction of buildings. BOCA encourages cities and states to adopt uniform building codes, and promotes competence and professionalism in the enforcement of those codes. History The organization was established in 1915 by building officials from nine states and Canada. Their purpose was to provide a forum for the exchange of knowledge and ideas about building safety and construction regulation. In 1950, BOCA published the BOCA Basic Building Code. This was the organization's first model code. Within one year, the BOCA code had been adopted by fifty cities. BOCA currently publishes a series of books called the BOCA National Codes, which contain detailed standards for all aspects of building construction. The section on stairways, for example, precisely describes the acceptable height, depth, and width of steps, and the proper placement and configuration of handrails necessary to ensure safety and ease of use. Separate volumes cover general construction, mechanical systems, plumbing, fire prevention, energy conservation, and other areas. The codes published by BOCA do not in themselves have the force of law. They can be enforced only when they have been adopted by cities, states, or other government bodies with the authority to issue or withhold building permits. A city or state is free to adopt the BOCA codes in whole or in part. BOCA's codes have been adopted by many states and cities in the eastern and midwestern United States. Other professional associations perform a similar function in other parts of the country, and publish their own building codes: the International Conference of Building Officials serves western states and publishes the Uniform Building Code, and the Southern Building Code Congress serves southern states and publishes the Standard Building Code. The three regional organizations are working together toward creating a single model code for the United States. The publication of the codes is BOCA's most important function. The organization also publishes manuals, textbooks, and periodicals for its members. In addition, BOCA continually develops its model code to keep it up-to-date. It conducts regular training and education programs for its members and provides consultation services for local governments. BOCA disseminates information on the quality and acceptability of building materials and systems as well as on new construction techniques. Membership BOCA's membership consists largely of cities, towns, and government agencies. These "government members" are represented by individual officials who administer rules and regulations on construction, fire safety, property maintenance, development, and land use. A typical official of this kind is a building inspector with duties to examine building plans and make on-site inspections during construction. Contractors, manufacturers, and people in the architectural and engineering professions may also be members of BOCA. BOCA is funded by the annual dues of its members and through the sale of its publications. It is based in Country Club Hills, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

California Air Resources Board

The California Air Resources Board was created to promote and protect public health, welfare and ecological resources through the effective and efficient reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering the effects on the economy of the state of California. CARB is responsible for regulating "gasoline" vapor recovery systems in California, and historically, California's vapor recovery regulations have formed the basis of regulations adopted by the government agencies in other states. CARB was created in 1967, when California's Legislature passed the Mulford-Carrell Act, which combined two Department of Health bureaus - the Bureau of Air Sanitation and the Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Board - to establish the Air Resources Board. In early 1968, the first meeting of the ARB was held in Sacramento.

Clean Air Act

The Clean Air Act is the main force behind the control of air pollution in the United States. The Act was originally passed in 1963, but large and important amendments were added in both 1970 and 1990. The Act enforces a comprehensive program for reducing air pollution. As passed by the U.S. Congress in 1963, the Clean Air Act was a moderate bill that offered federal research aid, urged the development of state control agencies, and involved the federal government in inter-state pollution issues. In 1965, an amendment was added to the bill requiring the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Services to create and enforce auto emission standards. This marked the federal government's first active role in clean air policy, though it was the Clean Air Act of 1970 that, for the first time, put real power in the hands of the federal government instead of the states. This 1970 law remains the basis for air pollution control policy. It has four major components. First, it put into place National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Targeted at major polluting chemicals, such standards were intended to protect human health as well as the environment. These standards were to be developed by the "Environmental Protection Agency." Second, the EPA was to establish New Source Performance Standards to determine how much pollution should be allowed by different industries in different regions. Third, the Act specified standards for controlling auto emissions with the aim of reducing various gases by almost 90 percent. Finally, the law encouraged states to develop plans to achieve such standards and then required that state plans be approved by the EPA. If a state chose not to form such a plan or did not complete it by a specified date, the EPA would take over the administration of the law for that state. The states were also required to enforce the Clean Air Act. In 1977, more amendments were added to the Act; these dealt with states that were not achieving national objectives, with auto emissions, and with measures to prevent air quality deterioration in areas where the air had previously been clean. The Clean Air Act was last amended in 1990. This time the additions addressed acid rain, toxic pollutants, areas still not at regulation standards, and ozone layer depletion. Under the Act, massive decreases in certain gas emissions were mandated in order to control acid rain; toxic pollutants were to be regulated even more; deadlines were set for the noncompliant areas; and three major chemical contributors to ozone layer depletion were phased out.

ExxonMobil

The Exxon Mobil Corporation, or ExxonMobil, is an American oil and gas corporation. It is a direct descendant of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil company, formed on November 30, 1999, by the merger of Exxon and Mobil. ExxonMobil is the world's largest publicly traded company when measured by either revenue or market capitalization. Exxon Mobil's reserves were 72 billion oil-equivalent barrels at the end of 2007 and, at current rates of production, are expected to last over 14 years.[4] The company has 38 oil refineries in 21 countries constituting a combined daily refining capacity of 6.3 million barrels. While it is the largest of the six oil supermajors with daily production of 3.921 million BOE (barrels of oil equivalent) in 2008, this is only approximately 3% of world production and ExxonMobil's daily production is surpassed by several of the largest state-owned petroleum companies. When ranked by oil and gas reserves it is 14th in the world with less than 1% of the total. The Exxon Mobil Corporation global headquarters are located in Irving, Texas. ExxonMobil markets products around the world under the brands of Exxon, Mobil, and Esso. It also owns hundreds of smaller subsidiaries such as Imperial Oil Limited (69.6% ownership) in Canada, and SeaRiver Maritime, a petroleum shipping company. The upstream division dominates the company's cashflow, accounting for approximately 70% of revenue. The company employs over 82,000 people worldwide, as indicated in ExxonMobil's 2006 Corporate Citizen Report, with approximately 4,000 employees in its Fairfax downstream headquarters and 27,000 people in its Houston upstream headquarters. Exxon Mobil Corporation was formed in 1999 by the merger of two major oil companies, Exxon and Mobil. Both Exxon and Mobil were descendants of the John D. Rockefeller corporation, Standard Oil which was established in 1870. The reputation of Standard Oil in the public eye suffered badly after publication of Ida M. Tarbell's classic exposé The History of the Standard Oil Company in 1904, leading to a growing outcry for the government to take action against the company. By 1911, with public outcry at a climax, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that Standard Oil must be dissolved and split into 34 companies. Two of these companies were Jersey Standard ("Standard Oil Company of New Jersey"), which eventually became Exxon, and Socony ("Standard Oil Company of New York"), which eventually became Mobil. In the same year, the nation's kerosene output was eclipsed for the first time by gasoline. The growing automotive market inspired the product trademark Mobiloil, registered by Socony in 1920. Over the next few decades, both companies grew significantly. Jersey Standard, led by Walter C. Teagle, became the largest oil producer in the world. It acquired a 50 percent share in Humble Oil & Refining Co., a Texas oil producer. Socony purchased a 45 percent interest in Magnolia Petroleum Co., a major refiner, marketer and pipeline transporter. In 1931, Socony merged with Vacuum Oil Co., an industry pioneer dating back to 1866 and a growing Standard Oil spin-off in its own right. In the Asia-Pacific region, Jersey Standard had oil production and refineries in Indonesia but no marketing network. Socony-Vacuum had Asian marketing outlets supplied remotely from California. In 1933, Jersey Standard and Socony-Vacuum merged their interests in the region into a 50-50 joint venture. Standard-Vacuum Oil Co., or "Stanvac," operated in 50 countries, from East Africa to New Zealand, before it was dissolved in 1962. Mobil Chemical Company was established in 1950. As of 1999, its principal products included basic olefins and aromatics, ethylene glycol and polyethylene. The company produced synthetic lubricant base stocks as well as lubricant additives, propylene packaging films and catalysts. Exxon Chemical Company (first named Enjay Chemicals) became a worldwide organization in 1965 and in 1999 was a major producer and marketer of olefins, aromatics, polyethylene and polypropylene along with specialty lines such as elastomers, plasticizers, solvents, process fluids, oxo alcohols and adhesive resins. The company was an industry leader in metallocene catalyst technology to make unique polymers with improved performance. In 1955, Socony-Vacuum became Socony Mobil Oil Co. and in 1966 simply Mobil Oil Corp. A decade later, the newly incorporated Mobil Corporation absorbed Mobil Oil as a wholly owned subsidiary. Jersey Standard changed its name to Exxon Corporation in 1972 and established Exxon as a trademark throughout the United States. In other parts of the world, Exxon and its affiliated companies continued to use its Esso trademark. On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez oil tanker struck Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska and spilled more than 11 million gallons of crude oil. The Exxon Valdez oil spill was the second largest in U.S. history, and in the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez incident, the U.S. Congress passed the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. An initial award of $5 billion USD punitive was reduced to $507.5 million by the US Supreme Court in June 2008, and distributions of this award have commenced. In 1998, Exxon and Mobil signed a $73.7 billion definitive agreement to merge and form a new company called Exxon Mobil Corporation, the largest company on the planet. After shareholder and regulatory approvals, the merger was completed on November 30, 1999. The merger of Exxon and Mobil was unique in American history because it reunited the two largest companies of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil trust, Standard Oil Company of New Jersey/Exxon and Standard Oil Company of New York/Mobil, which had been forcibly separated by government order nearly a century earlier. This reunion resulted in the largest merger in US corporate history. In 2000, ExxonMobil sold a refinery in Benicia, California and 340 Exxon-branded stations to Valero Energy Corporation, as part of an FTC-mandated divestiture of California assets. ExxonMobil continues to supply petroleum products to over 700 Mobil-branded retail outlets in California. In 2005, ExxonMobil's stock price surged in parallel with rising oil prices, surpassing General Electric as the largest corporation in the world in terms of market capitalization. At the end of 2005, it reported record profits of US $36 billion in annual income, up 42% from the previous year (the overall annual income was an all-time record for annual income by any business, and included $10 billion in the third quarter alone, also an all-time record income for a single quarter by any business). The company and the American Petroleum Institute (the oil and chemical industry's lobbying organization) put these profits in context by comparing oil industry profits to those of other large industries such as pharmaceuticals and banking. On June 12, 2008, ExxonMobil announced that it was exiting the retail fuel business, citing the increasing difficulty to run gas stations under rising crude oil costs. The multi-year process will gradually phase the corporation out of the direct market, and will affect 820 company-owned stations and approximately 1,400 other stations operated by dealers distributing across the United States. The sale will not result in the disappearance of Exxon and Mobil branded stations; the new owners will continue to sell ExxonMobil gasoline and license the appropriate names from ExxonMobil, who will in turn get compensated for use of the brand. External link "www.exxonmobil.com"

National Institute of Standards and Technology

The National Institute of Standards and Technology, known between 1901 and 1988 as the National Bureau of Standards, is a measurement standards laboratory which is a non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce. The institute's mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve quality of life. NIST employs about 2,900 scientists, engineers, technicians, and support and administrative personnel. About 1,800 NIST associates complement the staff. In addition, NIST partners with 1,400 manufacturing specialists and staff at nearly 350 affiliated centers around the country. NIST's headquarters are in Gaithersburg, Maryland. It also has laboratories in Boulder, Colorado. NIST has four major programs through which it helps U.S. industry: the NIST Laboratories; the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a nationwide network of centers to assist small manufacturers; the Advanced Technology Program, a grant program where NIST and industry partners cost share the early-stage development of innovative but high-risk technologies; and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award program, the nation's highest award for performance and business excellence. NIST's Boulder laboratories are best known for NIST-F1, one of the world's two most accurate atomic clocks. (The other is in Paris, France). NIST-F1 serves as the source of the nation's official time. From its precise measurement of the natural resonance frequency of cesium—which is used to define the second —NIST broadcasts time signals via longwave radio station WWVB at Fort Collins, Colorado, and shortwave radio stations WWV and WWVH, located at Fort Collins, Colorado and Kekaha, Hawaii, respectively. NIST manages some of the world's most specialized measurement facilities—including a cost effective NIST Center for Neutron Research user facility where cutting edge research is done on new and improved materials, advanced fuel cells, and biotechnology. The SURF III Synchrotron Ultraviolet Radiation Facility is the world's senior dedicated source of synchrotron radiation, in continuous operation since 1961. SURF III now serves as the US primary national standard for source-based radiometry throughout the generalized optical spectrum: from infrared through extreme ultraviolet. NIST's Advanced Measurement Laboratory is among the most technically advanced research facilities of its kind in the world. The AML offers American researchers opportunities to make the most sensitive and reliable measurements. This is important as new technologies become more complex and smaller. External Links "www.nist.gov"

Petroleum Marketers Association of America

The Petroleum Marketers Association of America represents more than 8,000 of America's independent motor fuel marketers, retailers and wholesalers nationwide. Based in Arlington, Virginia, it is the primary mission of PMAA to nationally unify "petroleum" marketers through their state and regional associations in order to effectively further the common business interests of the petroleum marketing industry. To achieve the mission, PMAA strives to serves as the collective voice of petroleum marketers and their state associations and provide comprehensive legislative and regulatory representation. The association also provides meetings, seminars and conventions where the petroleum marketing industry can learn about and develop consensus on important issues; institute communications programs and processes that insure effective two-way communications between state associations and PMAA; and develop member service programs that are national in scope and beneficial to petroleum marketers and/or their state and regional trade associations. External Link "www.pmaa.org"

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act gives EPA the authority to control hazardous waste from the "cradle-to-grave." This includes the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. RCRA also set forth a framework for the management of non-hazardous solid wastes. The 1986 amendments to RCRA enabled "Environmental Protection Agency" to address environmental problems that could result from underground tanks storing petroleum and other hazardous substances. HSWA - the Federal Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments - are the 1984 amendments to RCRA that focused on waste minimization and phasing out land disposal of hazardous waste as well as corrective action for releases. Some of the other mandates of this law include increased enforcement authority for EPA, more stringent hazardous waste management standards, and a comprehensive underground storage tank program.

Liter

The basic liquid measurement unit in the metric system. In most industrial nations outside the United States, motor fuel is now sold by the liter, not by the gallon. A liter (also spelled litre) is 0.2642 of a U.S. gallon. In the early 1980s, the Office of Weights and Measures of the U.S. Bureau of Standards coordinated an effort to convert petroleum marketing measurement, in the United States, from "gallon" units to liter units. Hundreds of American gasoline stations began selling "gasoline" by the liter. The public, however, did not perceive advantages in the change, and the effort failed.

Boot, Nozzle

The bellows-like assembly, fitted over the spout of a Stage II gasoline vapor recovery nozzle, which enables the nozzle to make a vapor-tight connection with the fill pipe of the vehicle being fueled. Nozzle boot is also used to describe the fitting on the dispenser into which the nozzle spout is inserted when the nozzle is returned to the "dispenser". See also "Bellows".

Steel Tank Institute

The Steel Tank Institute (STI) is a trade association representing fabricators of steel storage tanks throughout the world. STI develops standards and recommended practices for the industry, such as corrosion control requirements, "secondary containment" designs, and installation recommendations. In addition, STI licenses manufacturers of steel storage tanks to fabricate tanks in accordance with our specifications and perform quality control inspections. STI is a division of STI/SPFA. STI/SPFA serves its members, regulators and the public through research on state-of-the-art products; development of industry standards and certification programs; development of education, training, quality inspection and safety programs; expert commentary and participation in the regulatory and "code" development processes in several countries; and promotion of steel as a viable material for storage of products today and tomorrow. STI/SPFA is composed of four membership sections: Shop-Fabricated Tanks for petroleum use, Field-erected Tanks for "petroleum" and water use, Pressure vessels, and Pipe for water transmission. In addition, Affiliate members provide materials and services to the manufacturers of the other sections. External link "www.steeltank.com"

Tulsa Letter

The Tulsa Letter is the official newsletter of the "Petroleum Equipment Institute" and focuses on industry and association news. The Tulsa Letter, which provides the information and updates on state and federal regulations, equipment standards, industry trends and personnel changes has been published since 1951.

Environmental Protection Agency

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged to regulate chemicals and protect human health by safeguarding the natural environment: air, water, and land. The EPA was proposed by President Richard Nixon and began operation on December 2, 1970, when its establishment was passed by Congress, and signed into law by President Nixon, and has since been chiefly responsible for the environmental policy of the United States. It is led by its Administrator, who is appointed by the President of the United States. The EPA is not a Cabinet agency, but the Administrator is normally given cabinet rank. The incumbent Administrator and Deputy Administrator are Stephen L. Johnson and Marcus Peacock, respectively. The EPA employs 17,000 people in headquarters program offices, 10 regional offices, and 27 laboratories across the country. More than half of its staff are engineers, scientists, and environmental protection specialists; other groups include legal, public affairs, financial, and computer specialists. The agency conducts environmental assessment, research, and education. It has the primary responsibility for setting and enforcing national standards under a variety of environmental laws, in consultation with state, tribal, and local governments. It delegates some permitting, monitoring, and enforcement responsibility to U.S. states and Native American tribes. EPA enforcement powers include fines, sanctions, and other measures. The agency also works with industries and all levels of government in a wide variety of voluntary pollution prevention programs and energy conservation efforts. On July 9, 1970, President Nixon transmitted Reorganization Plan No. 3 to the United States Congress by executive order, creating the EPA as a single, independent agency from a number of smaller arms of different federal agencies. Prior to the establishment of the EPA, the federal government was not structured to comprehensively regulate the pollutants which harm human health and degrade the environment. The EPA was assigned the task of repairing the damage already done to the natural environment and to establish new criteria to guide Americans in making a cleaner, safer America. "www.epa.gov"

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. It was created by Congress under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed by President Richard M. Nixon, on December 29, 1970. Its mission is to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths by issuing and enforcing rules for workplace safety and health. The OSH Act, which created OSHA also created the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as a research agency focusing on occupational health and safety. NIOSH, however, is not a part of the U.S. Department of Labor. OSHA federal regulations cover most private sector workplaces. The OSH Act permits states to develop approved plans as long as they cover public sector employees and they provide protection equivalent to that provided under Federal OSHA regulations. In return, a portion of the cost of the approved State program is paid by the Federal Government. Twenty-two states and territories operate plans covering both the public and private sectors and four — Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and the US Virgin Islands — operate public employee only plans. In those four states, private sector employment remains under Federal OSHA jurisdiction. External Link "www.osha.gov"

Computer Creep

The advance of a dispenser meter caused by the repressurization of the "dispenser" "hose". The condition may occur when a customer at a self-service station drains some of the product from the hose after the dispenser is turned off. When the next customer fuels his car, the hose is partially empty of product and must be re-pressurized. Since the movement of only a few cubic inches of product can cause the dispenser meter to advance and display a sale of 1 cent, the second customer may find that the dispenser displays a sale of a few cents before the product actually flows from the nozzle into his vehicle fuel tank. Computer creep may also be caused by small leaks in the hose or nozzle, or by the "ballooning" of soft-wall hoses. Computer creep is sometimes referred to as computer jump or meter creep.

BTU (British Thermal Unit)

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water 1 degree Fahrenheit. In ratings of oil heaters, furnaces, and other heating devices, you will frequently encounter reference to BTU. A manufacturer of a particular furnace, for example, will publish test data showing that his furnace is capable of generating so many BTUs of heat. This allows a prospective buyer to compare the performance of the furnace with that of a competitive model. Fuels are also given a BTU rating. "Gasoline", for example, has a higher BTU value than alcohols.

Throughput

The amount of petroleum product that moves through a particular facility during a given period of time. For example, if a station has a monthly "gasoline" throughput of 150,000 gallons, it simply means that in a typical month the station dispenses around 150,000 gallons of gasoline. The term often appears in regulations related to petroleum marketing facilities. A regulation requiring installation of "Stage II vapor recovery " equipment, may apply only to facilities with a monthly throughput in excess of 10,000 gallons, or a similar figure. See also "Flow through".

Electrical Isolation

The condition of being electrically separated from other structures. Galvanic cathodic protection systems are designed to protect specific tanks or specific piping runs from corrosion. A system designed to protect a particular tank will not be totally effective if it seeks also to protect piping connected to the tank. (The piping may require its own "cathodic protection" system.) For this reason, tanks and piping are separated from other structures through use of electrical isolation devices. These include nylon bushings and special flanges. The presence of such isolation devices provides assurance that a cathodic protection system designed for particular structures effectively protects only the structures for which it is intended.

Free Flow Pumping Rate

The delivery rate of fluid at the outlet of a product pump when there is no "backpressure " present. The free flow pumping rate is typically stated in gallons per minute (gpm). Also known as "free flow." See also "PEI/RP700".

Depth of Cover

The depth of "backfill" and paving directly above an "underground storage tank". Depth is measured from the top of the tank to surface or grade.

Remote Readout

The display of the results of a liquid fuel transaction at a point removed from the actual place where the transaction occurred. In a self-service station, a motorist fills a tank at a "dispenser", where the number of gallons dispensed, and the total price, is displayed. Simultaneously, this same information is being displayed inside the station at the cashier's position. The inside display is a remote readout. Sophisticated in-tank monitoring equipment is also capable of transmitting gallonage data to marketing offices miles away. The data collected there is another form of remote readout.

Capacitance

The electrical characteristic which determines the magnitude of electrostatic charge between two oppositely charged plates. Certain models of electronic in-tank probes utilize capacitance type liquid measurement as a means of detecting changes in the depth of liquid in a storage "tank". A hollow metal tube, with a smaller electronic tube running down its center, is installed vertically in an "underground storage tank". The outside surface of the inside tube and the inside surface of the outside tube form the two plates of a capacitor. The space between them is a dielectric that serves essentially as an insulator between the two plates. The outer tube is open at the bottom, and liquid in the tank rises in this tube. A small electric charge is stored on the inner tube. This electric charge seeks to pass through the dielectric to the opposite plate represented by the outer tube of the probe. Air (where no liquid is present) may be assigned a dielectric value of 1. "Gasoline", on the other hand, could be assigned a dielectric value of 2. Thus, the electric charge on the inner tube encounters a different resistance when it seeks to pass through the air than when it seeks to pass through the gasoline. The capacitance probe is capable of precisely sensing the amount of air versus the amount of liquid fuel present between the tubes. This electronic property is then converted to a measurement of the liquid level in the tank. The measurement is translated on a gauging instrument, outside the tank, to the volume of liquid present in the tank. When set in a leak detection mode, over a period of time the system can detect the presence of a leak in the tank. See also "Magnetostrictive probe".

Pump Island

The elevated concrete platform, usually from 4 to 6 inches high, on which dispensing pumps are located. Fire codes require that "dispensers" be mounted on concrete islands or otherwise be protected against collision.

Algae Oil

The extraction of oil from algae, like the soybean crush process, produces two primary products: algae oil and algae meal. The exact chemical nature of the oil depends on many factors including the species of algae grown (there are over 100,000 different species known), the growth conditions (temperature, nutrient mix, pressure, etc.), and also on any genetic modifications that may be incorporated into the algae species being used. Some types of algae oil are amenable to biodiesel production, and others are amenable to conventional petroleum extraction. Still others may require yet-to-be-invented processes for downstream refining.

Submerged Fill

The filling of a storage tank or truck tank in a way that causes product to enter the vessel below the liquid level. For example, use of a drop tube in a storage tank permits a submerged fill. Product flows into the tube and emerges at a point near the bottom of the tank. Very quickly, the liquid level will rise above this point. As a consequence, most of the product entering the tank does not splash; instead, it flows in beneath the liquid level. This greatly reduces turbulence and therefore reduces the outflow of vapors into the atmosphere. Bottom loading of tanks or tank vehicles is a form of submerged fill.

Petroleum Equipment Institute

The international trade association which is now known as the Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI) was formally organized at a meeting held in Louisville, Kentucky on May 14-15, 1951. Principal planners of the meeting were J. M. Newberry, Memphis, Tennessee, and Fred G. Coffield Jr., South Bend, Indiana. Both men had served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Coffield as a fighter pilot and Newberry in PT boats. Both were second generation owners of oil marketing equipment and service firms. Both felt an urgent need for a national organization which would enable owners of similar companies, throughout the United States, to exchange ideas and improve their management skills. Coffield and Newberry were not acquainted, and by coincidence in 1951, both began independently organizing a national trade association for local stocking suppliers of oil marketing equipment. Eventually, they were put in touch with each other by A. W. Boulton, then associate publisher of National Petroleum News. Boulton also became interested in the prospects for a national association of oil equipment "jobbers", and actively promoted formation of the proposed organization in the pages of his magazine. (In this period, local suppliers of oil marketing equipment, who maintained warehouse stocks, were called jobbers. The term distributor, which is currently used, did not come into wide-spread usage in the industry until the mid-1960s.) A steering committee was formed in early 1951 to lay plans for an organizational meeting. In addition to Newberry and Coffield, it included owners of three other oil marketing equipment supply firms; H. R. Tuller, Columbus, Ohio; Eugene de Penaloza, St. Louis, Missouri; and C. L. McBride, Louisville, Kentucky. Approximately 50 persons gathered at the old Brown Hotel in Louisville for the organizational meeting. At the end of two days they had adopted a constitution and bylaws, elected a board of directors, and made plans for the first annual convention of the new group, to be held the following September in St. Louis. The new organization was called the National Association of Oil Equipment Jobbers (NAOEJ). It was conceived by equipment jobbers, planned for equipment jobbers, and intended primarily as an association for equipment jobbers. From the beginning, however, provision was made for associate membership by oil equipment manufacturers who marketed products through local stocking jobbers. A manufacturers liaison committee was created to allow manufacturer members to make known to the NAOEJ board the views of associate members. Newberry, who had presided at the Louisville meeting, was elected as the first president of the new organization, and Coffield was elected vice president; de Penaloza was named treasurer; Tuller was appointed secretary. NAOEJ was incorporated as a not-for-profit trade association in the state of Tennessee. Membership dues were established at $120 a year. Newberry took it as an article of faith that the new organization could not survive unless it had a full-time managing executive and a permanent headquarters office. Within weeks after the organizational meeting in Louisville, he set about locating a paid manager. The man ultimately hired by the board at the 1951 convention in St. Louis was Howard Upton, also a World War II naval officer, who had been serving since 1948 as a staff attorney for a national petroleum refiners association headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In those days, Tulsa still bore the title of "Oil Capital of the World." For this reason, and also because there was not enough money in the NAOEJ treasury to relocate the new staff employee to another city, it was determined by the board of directors that Tulsa would be the location of the organization's headquarters office. On October 1, 1951, Upton opened the association's first office in a ten-by-ten square foot room on the 14th floor of Tulsa's Hunt Building. The staff included himself and a typist. Total membership consisted of 79 companies. There was less than $4,500 in the association's bank account, and before another year had passed several of the charter members voluntarily prepaid their dues to keep the association afloat. Newberry, who had been elected as the first president of the association at the organizational meeting in Louisville, was reelected to that position six months later when NAOEJ held its first annual meeting in St. Louis. He was succeeded, after having served as president for 18 months, by John Quilter of Richmond, Virginia. Quilter, also an ex-Navy officer, served continuously as an officer or director of the association from 1951 until 1966, and served a second term as president in 1964. Many new trade associations flounder because the members seek to use the organization as a coercive weapon--as a device for gaining price concessions or other advantages in the marketplace through tactics of intimidation. When these ploys fail, the reason for the existence of the association appears to have failed as well. Thanks to the foresight of its early officers, NAOEJ avoided this fate. Newberry, in particular, repeatedly insisted that the purpose of the association was "to make us all better businessmen." The major emphasis of the new organization was on positive programs. By the mid-1950s the association was holding management institutes on the campuses of Georgia Tech, Ohio State, and the University of Oklahoma. The annual trade show was inaugurated in 1952. The Petroleum Equipment Directory, now sometimes referred to as the "bible" of the marketing equipment industry, was launched in 1954. The "Tulsa Letter", the association's widely read newsletter, began publication in 1951. The new organization soon took on an international flavor. In 1955, R.N.G. Oil Equipment Company Limited, Montreal, became the first member company outside the United States. By the end of the decade other petroleum equipment distributors in Cuba, Canada, and Venezuela had joined. The year 1966 was a turning point in the association's history. Although total membership had reached 300 companies, 114 of these firms were associate (manufacturer) members. Foreign membership was continuing to increase, and the annual convention was being attended by scores of individuals--installation contractors, manufacturer representatives, etc.--who were not eligible for membership. NAOEJ was becoming, in fact if not in name, the international association for the oil marketing equipment industry. At the 16th annual convention, held at the Pick-Congress Hotel in Chicago in 1966, the board of directors recommended to the membership that this new status be recognized. The board proposed that the name and structure of the association be altered. The recommendations were approved. NAOEJ became the Petroleum Equipment Institute. Manufacturer members were admitted to voting membership, and the board, which previously had been composed exclusively of distributors, was restructured to provide for nine distributor members and four manufacturer members. A new affiliate division was created to permit membership by non-distributor and non-manufacturer equipment firms. Although NAOEJ had been converted to PEI, it was still considered to be primarily a distributor-oriented organization, and the purposes of the association, as set forth in the original 1951 constitution, were retained. In 1970 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was created by Congress, heralding the beginning of almost four decades of regulation in petroleum marketing operations. The years that followed marked the introduction of unleaded gasoline, gasoline vapor recovery, spill control legislation, underground storage tank standards, and scores of other regulations which had great impact on petroleum equipment suppliers and their customers. Primarily because PEI has become an authoritative source of information on regulations, membership increased dramatically in the 1970s--from 336 companies to 800. In addition to the United States and Canada, countries represented in PEI at the end of the decade included Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Peru, Sweden, Switzerland, Venezuela, and West Germany. In 1976, PEI purchased and occupied its first headquarters building at 3739 East 31st Street in Tulsa. Staff occupied this nine-room, 2,400 square foot building until July 1989. At that time PEI purchased a 6,400 square foot building located at 6514 East 69th Street, about six miles from the previous headquarters. At that time, the PEI staff consisted of 9 employees with an average tenure at PEI of 15 years. With the advent of the "underground storage tank" regulations in the mid-1980s, PEI saw an above-average rate of growth, particularly with the publication of Recommended Practices for Installation of Underground Liquid Storage Systems which placed the association in the position of representing storage system installers, since no other group existed at that time to speak for their interests. Now, with published recommended practices on proper aboveground tank installation and installation and testing of vapor recovery systems, PEI has achieved some notoriety with regard to these issues. As a result, installation contractors and environmental firms have joined PEI in record numbers, quantitatively strengthening an affiliate division membership which now exceeds that of the distributor division. In August 1999, membership peaked at 1,644 companies located in 68 countries. Once tank owners complied with the 1998 regulatory deadline, members' business began to fall off and so did membership in the association. As of July 31, 2008, corporate membership totaled 1,558 companies. PEI established an Operations and Engineering Division in 2001. Membership in the O&E Division is available to people employed by a company that owns and/or operates facilities that store, transport, meter, and/or dispense petroleum products. Memberships are by individual, not company, and include such people as oil company operations and engineering executives. There are 109 members in the O&E Division as of July 31, 2008. In 2008, as the number of members in the Affiliate Division exceeded the Distributor Division due to the number of service and installation companies becoming members, PEI established a Service and Construction Division. The division was populated by transferring members from the Affiliate Division based on their descriptive paragraph in the current PEI Directory or their original application. Currently, there are 360 members in the Service & Construction Division and 269 in the Affiliate Division. External link "www.pei.org"

Interstitial Space

The interstice or area between the inner and outer walls of a "double wall tank", double wall "containment sump" or "double wall piping".

Safe Fill

The maximum amount of liquid that can be safely contained in a UST. Most safe fill amounts are set at 90% some areas will allow 95%. Safe Fills are set to allow for expansion of product during temperature changes. As products warm up they will expand in volume. A typical safe fill for 10,000 gallon (nominal size) would be 10030 (actual capacity) x .90 (90%) = 9027 (safe fill).

Separation Distance

The minimum acceptable distance that must separate storage tanks from property lines, nearby buildings and other tanks. "Fire codes" require that both underground and aboveground tanks be positioned in accordance with minimum separation distances. In addition to public-safety considerations, the fire code requirements are intended to reduce the fire exposure of tanks and to ensure adequate space for fighting a fire, should one occur. Industry recommended practices, such as "PEI/RP100", Recommended Practices for Installation of Underground Liquid Storage Systems, also stipulate minimum separation distances between "tanks", and between tanks and nearby buildings.

Integrated Oil Company

The more formal term for the type of firm usually referred to as a major oil company. An integrated oil company is one engaged in all phases of petroleum operations, from finding the oil to selling petroleum products at retail outlets. Such a company is involved in exploration, production (drilling wells), transportation (moving product), refining (converting crude) and marketing (selling refined products through retail stations and aircraft fueling systems). In a large company, all of these areas work together. The company is thus said to be integrated.

Gravity Flow

The movement of liquid caused by the force of gravity. Gravity flow provides the primary method of delivering product to an "underground storage tank". Liquid in a hose or pipe that is tilted in a "downhill" direction will, of course, move in that direction, even without any external power source. The pressure that gravity imposes on liquid in a pipe is referred to as the static head.

Pipe Dope

The name commonly applied to the chemical compound used to ensure a tight seal on threaded joints between lengths of pipe, or lengths of pipe and valves or tanks, when they are assembled for use in a pump-and-tank system. Pipe dopes are compounded of various chemical substances. The pipefitter spreads the paste-like dope completely over the threaded ends of a section of pipe before screwing it into place. Soon, the dope cures and provides a tight seal. Many pipe dopes do not set up hard. As a result, they permit the joint to be undone in the future. It is important that the dope be compatible with the product stored. A different compound should be used, for example, if the system is to handle alcohol blends instead of straight "gasoline".

Reid Vapor Pressure

The name given to readings that measure the "volatility" of "gasoline" and other liquid hydrocarbons. Not all gasoline is exactly alike and in some formulations, a sizable mixture of "light ends" is blended into the gasoline at the "refinery". This makes the gasoline vaporize more easily, a characteristic desirable in cold weather. In hot weather, however, gasoline with an excess of volatility tends to emit more vapors during transfer operations. This, in turn, can contribute to air pollution and can also cause vapor lock in engines during the summer months. Environmental regulators have adopted rules which limit the degree of volatility present in gasoline in certain regions at certain times of the year. The accepted method for determining the volatility of a batch of gasoline is a laboratory procedure that measures the pressure of the gasoline's vapors. The procedure, named for its originator, produces a numerical value called Reid vapor pressure (RVP). One batch of gasoline might show an RVP rating of 8.37; another might show a rating of 7.49, etc. The higher the number, the higher the volatility. Environmental regulations in some states prohibit the sale of gasoline with an RVP in excess of a specified number, particularly during the summer months.

Tankwagon

The name used by oil people to identify small fuel delivery trucks, particularly those capable of transporting less than 5,000 gallons. Tankwagons are primarily used for delivering home heating oil and small quantities of gasoline and "diesel" fuel. Larger quantities are transported by vehicles referred to as tankers or transports. Tankwagon price is the wholesale price of fuel delivered to a "gasoline" station.

Dispensing Pump

The original gasoline station pumps were truly pumps. By working a hand lever on the side, the operator created a vacuum in the interior pumping unit and this, in turn, "pulled" product up from the storage tank below. Later, electric motors operated "suction pumps", with the pumping unit located inside the dispensing device on the "pump island". In most modern gasoline stations, the actual pumping unit is not located in the dispenser. Rather, it is located in a remote position, within the storage tank. The mechanism located on the pump island, therefore, is not really a pump. It is, rather, a "dispenser". It contains a meter, electronic controls, a length of hose with a nozzle on the end, and quite probably a filtering element. However, the piece of equipment on the pump island continues to be referred to by many people as a "pump" or a "gas pump." To accommodate this usage, it has become common, within the industry, to speak of the dispenser as a "dispensing pump," although "dispenser" is more accurate.

Hand Guard

The part of the fueling "nozzle" that surrounds the operating lever. The hand guard helps prevent the lever from being operated accidentally and allows the nozzle to be hung in the nozzle cradle. See also "PEI/RP500".

Duty Cycle

The percentage of time that a piece of equipment is designed to operate. For example, a pump designed to operate for 30 minutes out of every hour has a 50 percent duty cycle. See also "PEI/RP700."

Conduit

The pipe or tubing into which electric wires are inserted. In a "gasoline" station, the electric lines which transport power to the "pump islands", or to liquid-level monitors and submersible pumps in the storage tanks, are placed in conduit that runs beneath the station driveway. Industry codes recommend that conduit not be placed in the same trenches which carry product piping.

Fill Pipe

The pipe used for delivering liquid into a "tank". In an "underground storage tank", this pipe is often referred to as a riser. Typically, the fill pipe or "riser" is equipped with a tight-fill connector that mates with a "cam and groove coupling". See also "Fill cap", "Fill adapter".

Fluid Side

The portion of a centralized vehicle-fluid-distribution system that handles fluid. This typically includes a pump and the piping and ancillary equipment used to connect the product pump outlet to the tip of the "dispense point". Also called "liquid side." See also "PEI/RP700".

Switch Loading

The practice of loading one type of petroleum product into a tank truck compartment that has previously carried a different type of product. The practice is generally discouraged and is, in fact, banned by fire regulations in many jurisdictions. The problem created by switch loading is that a relatively safe fuel like home heating oil, with a high flash point, can become contaminated with an easily ignited fuel like "gasoline". The accumulation of static electricity is also accelerated in a switch-loading operation. This, in turn, can increase the likelihood of a static electricity discharge, capable of igniting vapors in the tank compartment. If switch loading is unavoidable, there are techniques that can be used to reduce generation of static electricity. These techniques include use of reduced fill rates.

Refining Process

The process by which "crude oil" is converted into "gasoline", "kerosene", "diesel", heating oil, lubricants, and other petroleum-based products. Crude oil consists of a complex arrangement of hydrogen and carbon atoms (hydrocarbon). To be converted into useful products, these atoms must be chemically rearranged. This was originally accomplished by heating the crude in a vat until it boiled. Vapor rising from the boiling oil was allowed to condense. The product, resulting from this condensation, turned out to be a liquid somewhat like heating oil or kerosene. Oilmen soon discovered they could control the process better if the crude oil was heated at the bottom of a distillation tower. As the vapor rose inside the tower and condensed, different products appeared at different levels in the tower. There, the products were drained off into their own storage tanks. Gasoline would show up at the top of the distillation tower. But the middle of the tower produced the greatest amount of condensed liquid, mainly heating oil and kerosene. These middle-range products were called distillates, and the oil industry continues to refer to them by that term today. Early in this century, when automobile usage began to increase, it became clear to petroleum refiners that they were going to have to figure out a way to wring more gasoline out of each barrel of crude. They have managed to accomplish this through development of a series of advanced refining processes: thermal cracking, polymerization, alkylation, catalytic cracking, hydrogenation, reforming, and fluid catalytic cracking. In each of these processes, refiners continue to use towers in which vapors rising from heated crude oil condense at varying levels. But the processes are far more complex than the original distillation method. In catalytic cracking (cat cracking), the petroleum vapors are passed over catalysts of alumina-silica or other mixtures. This rearranges the hydrocarbon atoms and greatly increases the proportion of gasoline produced, as compared to the original distillation method. In fluid cat cracking, powdered catalysts are allowed to flow through the crude vapors like a liquid. This process increases the proportion of gasoline even more. The reforming process, which came into wide usage during World War II, produces important chemicals that enhance the quality of motor fuel. These chemicals are the so-called aromatics: benzene, toluene, and xylene. See also "Refinery".

Calibration

The process of adjusting a metering device in a fuel "dispenser" so that the volume of fuel actually dispensed and the volume indicated by the meter is within tolerances set by the "authority having jurisdiction". Also known as Meter calibration. See also "Meter calibration seal", "PEI/RP500".

Corrosion Ratep

The rate of material degradation caused by chemical or electrolytic reactions with the environment. The rate of corrosion is determined by the maximum shell-thickness loss divided by the operational service time. See also "PEI/RP800."

Pump Ratio

The ratio of the area of the air piston to the area of the fluid piston in an air-powered pump. The pump ratio determines the multiplication factor between the air-input pressure of the air motor and the fluid-output pressure of the pump. For example, if the air-input pressure is 100 psi, a pump ratio of 2:1 will yield a fluid-output pressure of 200 psi. For a pump ratio of 3:1, the same input pressure of 100 psi will yield a fluid-output pressure of 300 psi. See also "PEI/RP700".

Phase Separation

The separation of "gasoline" and alcohol in a storage "tank", caused by the presence of water or by the addition of warm gasoline to a cold storage tank-particularly in humid coastal areas. Many modern motor fuels consist of a mixture of gasoline and alcohol. Care must be exercised in the handling of some of these products to ensure that phase separation does not occur.

Keypad

The set of control buttons on a pump console, commercial pump, or similar control instrument. If the requirement for operating a commercial pump, for example, is for the user to punch in his ID number, his vehicle number, and the odometer reading on his vehicle, this data is punched in on the keypad.

Splashback

The splashing of liquid from a vehicle fuel tank during fueling operations. "Gasoline " and other products sometimes splash out through the vehicle's fill pipe, and get on the hands or clothes of the person engaged in fueling the vehicle. To prevent this, many gasoline station "nozzles" are equipped with a "splash guard" : a plastic device that fits around the "nozzle spout".

Curb Fascia

The steel facing used to form the perimeters of concrete "pump islands" and other curbing in a "gasoline" station.

Misfueling

The term applied to a situation in which the incorrect fuel is dispensed into the fuel tanks of a vehicle or aircraft, for example, jet fuel dispensed into the tanks of a piston-type aircraft.

Aromatics

The term applied to certain hydrocarbon chemicals present in, or blended into, "gasoline". The principal ones are benzene, toluene, and xylene: the so-called BTX chemicals.

Secondary Containment

The term applied to devices used in storage-tank systems to contain the liquid that might accidentally escape from the primary storage vessel. One common secondary-containment system is represented by "double wall tanks" or "double wall piping". If the interior (primary tank or pipe) fails, the released liquid will be contained by the outer wall until the situation can be remedied. A secondary-containment system may also consist of an impervious liner, installed in the tank earthen excavation, or an "impervious liner" installed in the piping trench. Impervious geosynthetic liner systems can use various types of material for the walls of the secondary containment system. These include but are not limited to concrete walls, galvanized steel walls, stainless steel walls and earthen berm walls all with an earthen subgrade. Some jurisdictions allow compacted clay liners (CCLs) for secondary containment system floors and walls but this normally is not a viable choice when fuel is being stored since gasoline can penetrate the CCL.

Purging

The term applied to the process of removing potentially explosive vapors and product from tanks or piping. The term is also used when new dispensing equipment is placed in operation. Product lines serving the equipment must be purged of air by continually running fuel through the lines until the air is eliminated.

Biofuel

The term biofuel applies to any solid, liquid, or gaseous fuel produced from organic matter. The word biofuel covers a wide range of products, some of which are commercially available today, and some of which are still in research and development.

Drive Off

The term drive off carries a dual meaning in the petroleum marketing industry, with the first being a customer who drives away from a "gasoline" station without paying for the motor fuel he has dispensed into his or her vehicle. The term also means a fueling incident where a vehicle is driven away from a dispenser with the fueling "nozzle spout" still in the vehicle fill pipe.

Inert

The term inert is used to describe something that is not chemically active. The noble gases were described as being inert because they did not react with the other elements or themselves. It is now understood that the reason that inert gases are completely inert to basic chemical reactions is that their outer valence shell is completely filled with electrons. With a filled outer valence shell, an inert atom is not easily able to acquire or lose an electron, and is therefore not able to participate in any chemical reactions. For inert substances, a lot of energy is required before they can combine with other elements to form compounds. High temperatures and pressure are usually necessary, sometimes requiring the presence of a catalyst. In petroleum marketing operations, another use of the term inert has to do with the testing of a "tank" or piping for leaks. Some tightness-testing methods call for introduction of inert gases, under pressure, into a closed tank or piping system. Elemental nitrogen is inert under standard room conditions and exists as a diatomic molecule, N2. The inertness of nitrogen is due to the presence of the very strong triple covalent bond in the N2 molecule; nitrogen gas can, however, react to form compounds such as lithium nitride under vigorous conditions. Inert atmospheres of gases such as dinitrogen and argon are routinely used in chemical reactions where air sensitive and water sensitive compounds are handled.

Hazardous Substance

The term used in environmental regulations to classify material which, because of certain properties, is considered to be a threat to human or animal health, or to the environment. Not all industrial chemicals are classified as "hazardous." Environmental regulations, for example, do not generally classify gasoline as a hazardous substance, although several of the compounds present in "gasoline" are so classified.

Holiday

The term used to describe an abrasion or flaw in a protective coating. Even a pinhole-size defect (holiday) in the protective coating of an "underground storage tank" can expose the steel surface to electrolytes, and become a focal point for corrosion.

Flash Point

The term used to identify the minimum temperature at which a liquid gives off vapor in sufficient concentration to form an air-vapor mixture at the surface of the liquid that can be ignited by a small ignition source. Class I flammable liquids have flash points below 100ºF. The flash point of motor and aviation fuels ranges from -36ºF down to -50ºF. Such fuels are easily ignited at almost all ambient conditions likely to be encountered. The minimum flash point for diesel fuel ranges from 100ºF to 130ºF, although some states require diesel fuels to have higher flash points. Liquids with a flash point above 100ºF are classified as combustible liquids. Flash point is established through use of a precise laboratory procedure by passing a flame over a cup of the liquid as the liquid is slowly heated. See also "Flammable liquid".

Sludge

The thick substance that tends to collect in the bottom of motor fuel tanks. It consists of residual oil, dirt, scale, and other foreign material that settles out of "gasoline" and "diesel " fuel. Sludge must be removed and properly disposed of when tanks are taken out of service.

Bunghole

The threaded opening created when a "bung" is removed. See also "PEI/RP700".

Bottom Loading

The traditional method of adding "gasoline" to, or withdrawing gasoline from, an aboveground "tank" or a compartment of a tank truck is through an opening in the top of the tank. With a highly volatile liquid like gasoline, however, the splashing and turbulence which accompanied the loading procedure created an excess of vapors, vapors that escaped into the atmosphere, creating an environmental problem. Confronted with the problem, engineers determined that one way to deal with it was to load gasoline into an aboveground tank or tank vehicle through an opening in the sidewall, near the bottom. In the loading process, the gasoline would thus enter below the usual level of the liquid already in the tank. This, in turn, would materially reduce the volume of vapors generated in the filling process. Although the bottom loading principle is easy to understand, creation of a coupling and valve system that would permit a tight connection between the delivery hose and the tank required a sophisticated design. The tank portion of the bottom loading valve had to be built so that it would not open until the delivery hose was securely in place, and so that it would close before the delivery hose was disconnected. Bottom loading of aboveground tanks and tank vehicles is commonplace today. To minimize problems in the use of bottom-loading systems, "API" has adopted a recommended practice that specifies the location of bottom loading valves, as well as the configuration of connective hardware to be used in a bottom-loading hookup. See also "Top loading".

Pumped Delivery

The transfer of fuel under pressure from a wheeled vehicle to a "tank". See also "PEI/RP600".

Nozzle Spout

The tube at the end of a "nozzle" which is inserted into the fill pipe of a tank during fueling operations.

Spout

The tube at the end of a fuel dispensing "nozzle" that is inserted into the fill pipe of a vehicle tank during fueling operations. See also "PEI/RP500".

Water Table

The water table is the level at which the "groundwater" pressure is equal to atmospheric pressure. It may be conveniently visualized as the 'surface' of the groundwater in a given vicinity. It usually coincides with the phreatic surface, but can be many feet above it. As water infiltrates through pore spaces in the soil, it first passes through the zone of aeration, where the soil is unsaturated. At increasing depths water fills in more spaces, until the zone of saturation is reached. The form of a water table may change and vary due to seasonal changes, topography and structural geology. In undeveloped regions, or areas with high amounts of precipitation, the water table roughly follows the contour of the overlying land surface, and rises and falls with increases or decreases in infiltration. Springs and oases occur when the water table reaches the surface. Springs commonly form on hillsides, where the earth's slanting surface may "intersect" with the water table. Other, unseen springs are found under rivers and lakes, and account for the base-flow water levels in water bodies.

Thermite Welding

Thermite welding is the process of igniting a mix of high energy materials, (also called thermite), that produce a molten metal that is poured between the working pieces of metal to form a welded joint. It was developed by "Hans Goldschmidt" around 1895. For non-ferrous welding, or other uses of the thermite-type reactions, see the main thermite article. Commonly the reacting composition is 5 parts iron oxide red (rust) powder and 3 parts aluminium powder by weight, ignited at high temperatures. A strongly exothermic (heat-generating) reaction occurs that produces through reduction and oxidation a white hot mass of molten iron and a slag of refractory aluminium oxide. The molten iron is the actual welding material; the aluminium oxide is much less dense than the liquid iron and so floats to the top of the reaction, so the set-up for welding must take into account that the actual welding material is on the bottom and covered by floating slag. Thermite welding is widely used to weld railroad rails. The weld quality of chemically pure thermite is low due to the low heat penetration into the joining metals and the very low carbon and alloy content in the nearly pure molten iron. To obtain high-quality railroad welds, the ends of the rail being thermite welded is usually preheated with a torch to induce a good fusion with the working pieces of metal. Because the thermite reaction yields relatively pure iron, not the much stronger steel, some small pellets or rods of high-carbon alloying metal are included in the thermite mix; these alloying materials melt from the heat of the thermite reaction and mix into the weld metal. The method was patented by John H. Deppeler Jr. in 1928 while working for the Metal and Thermit Corporation. See also "PEI/RP800".

PEI/RP500

This 36-page document published provides a basic reference that consolidates published and unpublished information from equipment manufacturers, installers, and end users concerning the proper inspection and maintenance of motor-vehicle fuel-dispensing equipment. The recommended practice applies to fueling equipment intended to dispense "gasoline", "diesel", and related petroleum products into motor vehicles at commercial and retail-fueling facilities. Equipment covered includes all above-grade, liquid- and vapor-handling components, from the base of the "dispenser" cabinet to the "nozzle spout".PEI has written this recommended practice to minimize the possibility of fuel-dispensing system failure, reduce fire hazards, promote fueling safety, and minimize environmental problems. The book includes chapters covering definitions, dispenser inspection, documentation, safety and fueling incident response. Chapters are also dedicated to daily, monthly, annual, and post-incident fueling system inspections. Six sample forms that can be used for recording inspection and maintenance data are included. External link "The Sims 4 download"

PEI/RP900

This 52-page document published by the "Petroleum Equipment Institute" provides a basic reference that consolidates published and unpublished information from equipment manufacturers, service and installation contractors, petroleum marketers as well as regulatory agencies concerning the proper inspection and maintenance of "underground storage tank" systems. The recommended practice applies to underground storage tanks and associated equipment intended to store and dispense "gasoline", "diesel", and related petroleum products at vehicle-fueling facilities. The equipment covered includes all below-grade, liquid- and vapor-handling components accessible from grade over or near the top of the storage tank and below the "emergency shutoff valve" at the fuel "dispensers". PEI has written this recommended practice to promote proper inspection, operation, and maintenance of underground storage systems, enhance the longevity and trouble-free performance of underground storage tank equipment, promote fire prevention and storage system safety, promote protection of human health and the environment, promote regulatory compliance and reduce liability associated with the operation of underground storage systems and promote early identification of potential problems with equipment. External link "PEI/RP900"

General WikiPEI Guidelines

To edit any portion of WikiPEI, you must agree to act civilly and respectfully toward other members and contributors of the website. Flaming and general rude behavior will not be tolerated. PEI reserves the right to remove any contributor that engages in such behavior. Goals of WikiPEI The goal of WikiPEI is to enhance and enlarge the body of knowledge contained within the petroleum equipment industry. This will be done by constructing an online encyclopedia that will be edited by registered members of the website under the supervision of PEI staff. WikiPEI content guidelines WikiPEI strives to build consensus among the petroleum equipment industry by adding to an already large body of industry knowledge. This consensus must be reached through cooperation and understanding among the many editors of WikiPEI. WikiPEI is not bound by paper size; there is no practical limit to the number of topics it can cover, or the total amount of content. Any relevant information relating to the petroleum equipment industry may be posted to WikiPEI so long as the information meets the following criteria: WikiPEI is not a publisher of original thought and does not support primary research such as proposing theories and solutions, original ideas, defining terms, or coining new words. If an editor has done primary research on a topic, the results must be published in other venues such as peer-reviewed journals or respected online sites, before WikiPEI will accept your work accepted knowledge. Citations of such reliable sources are needed to demonstrate that material is verifiable, and not merely the editor's opinion. WikiPEI is an encyclopedia incorporating elements of general and specialized encyclopedias, almanacs and dictionaries. All articles must strive for verifiable accuracy. WikiPEI is not the place to insert personal opinions, experiences, or arguments. Original ideas, interpretations, or research cannot be verified, and are thus inappropriate. WikiPEI is not a soapbox, an advertising platform, a vanity press, or an experiment in anarchy or democracy. WikiPEI is not an indiscriminate collection of information or a web directory. It is not a newspaper or a collection of source documents. WikiPEI has a neutral point of view, which means it strives for articles that advocate no single point of view. Sometimes this requires representing multiple points of view, presenting each point of view accurately, providing context for any given point of view, and presenting no one point of view as "the truth" or "the best view." Striving for a neutral point of view means citing verifiable, authoritative sources whenever possible, especially on controversial topics. When a conflict arises regarding neutrality, the final word will fall to the chief editor of WikiPEI. WikPEI is free content that anyone may edit.

Building Code

To ensure construction of buildings that are safe, local regulatory agencies adopt rules that specify the materials and construction techniques that must be used. These rules are referred to as building codes. Fire safety codes, published by the "National Fire Protection Association", provides model specifications for facilities where flammable and combustible liquids are stored and handled. See also "Fire code".

UDC

UDC stands for "Under Dispenser Containment" and is sometimes referred to as a "sump", as it is a collection point for "gasoline" leaks or drips from the piping or in-dispenser components. UDC's are installed flush with the "tank pad" or "pump island", and the fuel "dispenser" is installed to the frame of the UDC and/or the tank pad itself. All fuel piping, vapor piping ( "Stage II vapor recovery" ) and electrical conduit is installed to the UDC using penetration boots or penetration fittings. Models with Single Wall construction are generally not continuously monitored but can feature mechanical float trip mechanisms to automatically shut off a "double poppet" shear valve, or an electronic liquid sensor can be installed at the lowest point. These products may be made of fiberglass, steel or a form of polyethylene or other plastic. UDC models with "double wall" construction have an "interstice" that can be tested by either positive pressure or vacuum, and is "continuously monitored" by liquid paired with an electronic sensor to monitor the liquid level at the highest point, or vacuum monitoring. These products are typically only made of Fiberglass, due to the obvious advantages with no disadvantages. Unmatched corrosion resistance, fuel compatibility including various alcohol blends and overall strength. No elasticity, little to no flexibility and no deformations due to temperature changes.

Computer Wheels

Until the 1980s, gasoline station "dispensers" were generally equipped with mechanical computers that measured the amount of fuel flowing through to motorists' tanks. A gear system, inside a meter, was connected to a series of wheels. Each wheel, 4 inches or so in diameter and about an inch thick, had numbers embossed on its outer perimeter. As gasoline flowed through the meter, the wheels turned and displayed their numbers through small apertures in the face of the pump. Some wheels displayed the number of gallons dispensed. Other wheels displayed the dollar amount of the transaction. Today, most service station dispensers rely on electronic gallonage and price displays. However, many pumps with mechanical meters are still in operation. The wheels in these pumps, that display gallonage and price, are referred to as computer wheels.

Inches Water Column

Vapor recovery systems are designed for minimal operating pressures. As a result, integrity test for these systems such as pressure decay tests, must be conducted at very low pressures. These low pressures are typically measured in inches of water column, which is the pressure produced by a column of water, 1 inch square, with a specified height. One inch of water column is equal to a pressure of approximately 1/28 pound per square inch (psi). Stating this another way, a column water 28-inches high produces pressure that is equal to 1 psi. See also "PEI/RP300".

Tank Tightness Testing

Various methods used to confirm the integrity of an underground storage tank. The most widely used method for testing the integrity of a tank was originally the standpipe method. The tank to be tested was filled to the top with product. Then a transparent cylinder (the standpipe) was fitted into the fill opening at the top of the tank. More product was dispensed into this standpipe, and it was possible to visually observe the liquid level inside. Over a period of hours, the level was monitored. During this period, temperature readings were also taken at various levels in the tank below, so allowance could be made for contraction or expansion of the liquid caused by temperature changes. The test also included procedures that compensated for tank-end deflection. Another tightness testing method involves use of acoustical sensing. A vacuum is created in the tank and sensitive instruments "listen" for the sound made by air bubbling in through tiny holes in the tank. Some tank-tightness test methods do not require that the tank be completely filled while the test is in progress. Electronic in-tank gauging devices, when set in a leak detection mode, are also capable of detecting tank leaks.

Viscosity

Viscosity is a measure of the resistance of a fluid which is being deformed by either shear stress or extensional stress. In general terms it is the resistance of a liquid to flow, or its "thickness". Viscosity describes a fluid's internal resistance to flow and may be thought of as a measure of fluid friction. Thus, water is "thin", having a lower viscosity, while vegetable oil is "thick" having a higher viscosity. All real fluids have some resistance to stress, but a fluid which has no resistance to shear stress is known as an ideal fluid or inviscid fluid. The study of viscosity is known as rheology. In designing piping and pumping systems, petroleum engineers begin with a determination of the viscosity of the fluid to be handled. A system that might work well for a highly viscous fluid, like "crude oil", might not work at all for a less viscous fluid like alcohol. See also "PEI/RP700".

Volatile Organic Compound

Volatile organic compounds are organic chemical compounds that have high enough vapor pressures under normal conditions to significantly vaporize and enter the atmosphere. A wide range of carbon-based molecules, such as aldehydes, ketones, and other light hydrocarbons are VOCs. The term often is used in a legal or regulatory context and in such cases the precise definition is a matter of law. These definitions can be contradictory and may contain "loopholes"; e.g. exceptions, exemptions, and exclusions. The United States "Environmental Protection Agency" defines a VOC as any organic compound that participates in a photoreaction; others believe this definition is very broad and vague as organics that are not volatile in the sense that they vaporize under normal conditions can be considered volatile by this EPA definition. The term may refer both to well characterized organic compounds and to mixtures of variable composition. The most common VOC is methane, a greenhouse gas sometimes excluded from analysis of other VOCs using the term non-methane VOCs. Major worldwide sources of atmospheric methane include wetlands, ruminants such as cows, energy use, rice agriculture, landfills, and burning biomass such as wood. Methane is the primary component of natural gas. Common artificial VOCs include paint thinners, dry cleaning solvents,semiconductor cleaner, and some constituents of "petroleum" fuels. Trees are also an important biological source of VOC; it is known that they emit large amounts of VOCs, especially isoprene and terpenes. Another significant source of VOC emission is "crude oil" tanking. Both during offloading and loading of crude oil tankers VOCs are released to the atmosphere. Recently, there has been an increase in environmental focus on this issue resulting in improved VOC handling on newer tankers, and crude oil loading "terminals".

Volatility

Volatility in the context of chemistry, physics and thermodynamics is a measure of the tendency of a substance to vaporize. It has also been defined as a measure of how readily a substance vaporizes. At a given temperature, substances with higher vapor pressures will vaporize more readily than substances with a lower vapor pressure. Although usually applying to liquids, volatility can apply to solid materials such as dry ice and ammonium chloride, which can change directly from solid to vapor without becoming liquid. The direct transition of a solid to a vapor is called sublimation. Vapor pressure is the pressure of a vapor which is in equilibrium with its non-vapor phases (i.e., liquid or solid). Most often the term is used to describe a liquid's tendency to evaporate. It is a measure of the tendency of molecules and atoms to escape from a liquid or a solid. A liquid's atmospheric pressure boiling point corresponds to the temperature at which its vapor pressure is equal to the surrounding atmospheric pressure and it is often called the normal boiling point. The higher the vapor pressure of a liquid at a given temperature, the higher the volatility and the lower the normal boiling point of the liquid. See also "Reid vapor pressure".

Potable Water

Water that is safe to drink and to use for cooking.

Tank Water Bottoms

Water that may collect on the bottom of motor fuel storage tanks. Oil and water, as the old saying goes, don't mix. If water finds its way into a "gasoline" storage tank, the water will not combine with the gasoline. Instead, it will settle to the bottom of the tank. The presence of water on the tank bottom does not cause a serious problem so long as the intake port for the pumping unit is above the level of the water. Tank water bottoms should, however, be removed from storage tanks from time to time. Water bottoms in steel tanks can cause corrosion. A direct means for removing tank water bottoms is simply to lower a suction hose to the bottom of the tank and pump out the water. The pumping action should stop as soon as the presence of gasoline is detected in the liquid flowing from the discharge hose. Environmental regulations prohibit the discharge of pumped-out water bottoms into adjacent soil or storm sewers. Instead, the liquid should be discharged into drums and hauled away for proper disposal, or directed through a portable oil/water separator or other treatment method.

Western Fiberglass

Western Fiberglass, Inc. is a manufacturer of products for fluid and hazardous materials handling including piping systems, petroleum equipment, fluid containment devices and installation services. We have a background in high technology FRP fabrication and fluid systems handling design. Western Fiberglass, Inc. provides full design and fabrication capabilities, as well as installation, technical training and on-site supervision. Founded in 1982 and based in Santa Rosa, California, the company is a family owned and operated with additional manufacturing facilities located in Gloucester, Virginia. External Link "www.westernfg.com"

Backpressure

When a fluid pump pushes a fluid into a distribution network, frictional forces resist the flow and appear to push back against the fluid exiting the pump outlet. The frictional forces originate from the "viscosity" of the fluid and the movement of the fluid against the walls of the piping, tubing, and other components of the fluid distribution system. The pump output pressure must be greater than the backpressure of the fluid in the distribution network in order for the fluid to flow. See also "PEI/RP700".

Bedding

When an "underground storage tank " is being installed, industry recommended practices call for a layer of "backfill" to be placed on the bottom of the excavation, as well as on the bottom of pipe trenches. This layer of "pea gravel", crushed rock, or sand provides a uniform "bed" that cushions and supports the bottom of the tank and piping.

Cavitation

When fluid travels through a tube or hose, or is drawn into a fluid pump inlet by a vacuum, a void is created in the fluid if the negative pressure (vacuum) exerted by the pump exceeds the vapor pressure of the fluid. The fluid then "boils" in the tube, hose, or pump and the effectiveness of the pump in moving the fluid is seriously reduced. Cavitation is typically produced when a pump is cycling too fast or the tube or hose diameter is too small. See also "PEI/RP700".

Schedule 40 Pipe

When steel pipe is installed in a storage and dispensing system at a gasoline station, the most commonly used pipe is designated Schedule 40. This term primarily refers to the wall thickness of the pipe. Schedule 80 pipe has thicker walls and is typically specified for applications involving higher working pressure.

Color Code, API

Widely used recommendations developed by the American Petroleum Institute for the identification of different products in storage, and for identification of the storage equipment used for different fuels. The system involves use of different colors and distinctive markings to identify specific products. The color code is used at "terminals", "bulk plants", and retail motor fuel outlets. The purpose of using a uniform color code is to prevent mix-ups in the delivery of petroleum products - to prevent "diesel" fuel, for example, from being dropped into a "gasoline" storage tank, or to prevent gasoline from being dropped into a monitoring well. The color code is used for marking manhole covers in retail outlets.

National Conference on Weights and Measures

With more than 2,400 members, NCWM ensures uniformity, consistency and fairness in the marketplace. Weights and measures regulatory professionals set standards and enforce uniform procedures to verify weight, volume, length or count, ensuring that consumers get the quantity that they pay for, and that businesses sell the quantity that they intend and advertise. In partnership with the Office of Weights and Measures of the "National Institute of Standards and Technology", NCWM creates useable applications of those standards. Based in Lincoln, Nebraska, NCWM combines the regulatory expertise of government representatives with the "in-the-field" technical know-how of business members to create market-ready standards, testing and equipment evaluation, and training. External Links "www.ncwm.net"

Anchor

With regard to a fuel "dispenser", the term anchor usually means to use bolts to attach a component to a rigid base so that it cannot move. For example: Dispenser frames are anchored to a "pump island" or dispenser mounting box so that the dispenser will not tip over or move during normal operations. "Emergency shutoff valves" and "vapor shear valve" s are anchored to the "pump island" so that they will function properly. For more information, see "PEI/RP500".

Bond

Within petroleum marketing operations, bond has to do with electricity. A bond is an electrical conductor placed between two metal structures-between an aircraft refueler and an airplane, for instance-to prevent the build-up of static electricity. If you watch a fueling procedure at an airport, you will notice that the refueling operator, before he attaches the fueling nozzle into the wing of the aircraft, will unreel a small-diameter cable from the back of his vehicle. He then clips the end of this cable to the airplane itself. This connection between the truck and the plane serves as a bond, and prevents the accumulation of static electricity, often generated by the flow of fuel, at a high velocity, through the pump, hose, and nozzle. The bonding connection serves to prevent the build-up of electrical charges between the bonded components. See also "Grounding".