Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-03-18-.26

Current through December 26, 2024

Section 1200-03-18-.26 - PETROLEUM REFINERY SOURCES

(1) Applicability of this rule is as follows:

(a) This rule applies to any vacuum-producing system, wastewater separator, and process unit turnaround at petroleum refinery sources. No exemptions are allowable based on size or throughput of a facility.

(b) This rule does not apply to segregated storm water run-off drain systems or to non-contact cooling water systems.

(2) For the purpose of this rule, the following definitions apply:

"Accumulator" means the reservoir of a condensing unit receiving the condensate from the condenser.

"Firebox" means the chamber or compartment of a boiler or furnace in which materials are burned but does not mean the combustion chamber of an incinerator.

"Forebays" means the primary sections of a wastewater separator.

"Hot well" means the reservoir of a condensing unit receiving the warm condensate from the condenser.

"Refinery fuel gas" means any gas that is generated by a petroleum refinery process unit and that is combusted, including any gaseous mixture of natural gas and fuel gas.

"Turnaround" means the procedure of shutting a refinery unit down after a run to perform necessary maintenance and repair work and returning the unit to operation.

"Vacuum producing system" means any reciprocating, rotary, or centrifugal blower or compressor, or any jet ejector or device that takes suction from a pressure below atmospheric and discharges against atmospheric pressure.

"Wastewater (oil/water) separator" means any device or piece of equipment that utilizes the difference in density between oil and water to remove oil and associated chemicals from water, or any device, such as a flocculation tank, clarifier, etc., that removes petroleum-derived compounds from wastewater.

(3) Standards as follow apply:

(a) No person shall permit the emission of any uncondensed volatile organic compound (VOC) from the condensers, hot wells, or accumulators of any vacuum producing system at a petroleum refinery. The standard shall be achieved by:

1. Piping the uncondensed vapors to a firebox or incinerator, or

2. Compressing the vapors and adding them to the refinery fuel gas.

(b) The owner or operator of any wastewater (oil/water) separator at a petroleum refinery shall:

1. Provide covers and seals on all separators and forebays, and

2. Equip all openings in covers, separators, and forebays with lids or seals and keep the lids or seals in the closed position at all times except when in actual use.

(c) The owner or operator of a petroleum refinery shall provide for the following during process unit turnaround:

1. Depressurization venting of the process unit or vessel to a vapor recovery system, flare, or firebox;

2. No emission of VOC from a process unit or vessel until its internal pressure is 136 kiloPascals (kPa) (19.7 pounds per square inch atmospheric [psia]) or less; and,

3. Recordkeeping of the following items:

(i) Date of every process unit or vessel turnaround; and

(ii) The internal pressure of the process unit or vessel immediately prior to venting to the atmosphere.

(4) The owner or operator of a petroleum refinery shall maintain the records required by Part (3)(c)3 of this rule for at least 3 years and shall make these records available to the Technical Secretary upon request.

(5) The owner or operator of any facility containing sources subject to this rule shall comply with the requirements in Paragraphs .04(1) and (2) of this chapter.

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-03-18-.26

Original rule filed May 15, 1979; effective July 10, 1979. Amendment filed March 23, 1981; effective May 7, 1981. Amendment filed April 23, 1992; effective June 7, 1992. Repeal and new rule filed March 8, 1993; effective April 22, 1993.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202 and 68-201-105.