NL2025948B1

NL2025948B1 - Storage installation for storing flammable or combustible liquid and method for providing such storage installation

Info

Publication number: NL2025948B1
Application number: NL2025948A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Adrianus Maria Van Geffen Rob; Jean Paul Sloof René
Original assignee: Antea Nederland B V
Priority date: 2020-06-29
Filing date: 2020-06-29
Publication date: 2022-02-22
Also published as: WO2022005278A1

Abstract

The application presents a storage installation for storing a ﬂammable or combustible liquid. The liquid is one chosen from a group comprising the national fire protection association, 5 ‘NFPA’, 30 ﬂammable liquids, classes IA, IB, IC, and NFPA 30 class II combustible liquids. Said installation comprises a bund wall that delimits a first area, one or more above-ground storage tanks, ‘ASTs’, arranged within the first area and configured to store said ﬂammable or combustible liquid. The bund wall is configured to contain the ﬂammable or combustible liquid within the first area in case of a leakage of the ﬂammable or combustible liquid from the one or more ASTs into 10 the first area. Said installation is characterized by the first area being at least partially covered by a layer of substantially spherical bodies, each of the spherical bodies having a weight that is less than a weight of the ﬂammable or combustible liquid that would be displaced by said spherical body when fully submerged in said ﬂammable or combustible liquid, and having a sufficiently high melting temperature, such that when the bodies (41) are at least partially submerged in the 15 ﬂammable or combustible liquid and when said liquid is on fire, the bodies (41) do not substantially melt. The installation is further characterized by the layer of substantially spherical bodies comprising a plurality of sublayers, each sublayer having a thickness that substantially equals an outer diameter of the spherical bodies. Such an installation provides, when leakage of the liquid occurs, a reduced change of said liquid igniting, and/or when a minor fire does occur, an 20 improvised fire-suppressant effect.

Description

STORAGE INSTALLATION FOR STORING FLAMMABLE OR COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID

AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING SUCH STORAGE INSTALLATION The application concerns a storage installation for storing a flammable or combustible liquid. The liquid is chosen from a group comprising the national fire protection association, ‘NFPA’ 30 flammable liquids, classes 1A, IB, IC or NFPA 30 combustible liquids, class IL Said storage installation comprises a bund wall that delimits a first area and one or more above-ground storage tanks ‘ASTSs’ arranged within said area. These ASTs are configured to store said flammable or combustible liquid. The bund wall is configured to contain the flammable or combustible liquid within the first area in case of a leakage of the flammable or combustible liquid from the one or more ASTs into the first area. Such installations, also called bulk storage installations, are commonly used to store industrial amounts of liquids. Above-ground storage tanks commonly have diameters ranging from 5 meter up to 95 meter and heights ranging from 6 meter up to 40 meter. Tanks in a single installation can together commonly store volumes up to 400.000.000 litres or more. Although numerous measures are already in place to prevent leakage, secondary containment is provided in case one of the tanks leaks. In the present case, such secondary containment is embodied by a bund wall delimiting a first area in which the tanks are arranged. Bund walls commonly have heights ranging from half a meter, up to nine meter, and delimit areas ranging from 100 square meters, up to 15.000 square meters or more. On said first area, commonly, somewhere between two and eight above-ground storage tanks may be provided. The bund wall prevents the liquid from spreading into the environment to avoid generally known undesirable environmental effects. Further risks arise since the liquid in question is particularly flammable or combustible. Spreading into the surrounding environment also puts the flammable or combustible liquid at risk of igniting. For example, parts of nearby installations may be very hot, or the liquid may cause a short in an electrical installation. Alternatively, other fires may already exist outside of the storage installation. However, even if the main volume of the flammable or combustible liquid is contained by the bund wall, in secondary containment as described above, the volume of leaked liquid is still exposed to open air. Inevitably, part of the liquid will evaporate and spread beyond the bund wall. This scenario is referred to as an open pit scenario. It is commonly known in the art that trails of this vapour are the main cause of volumes of liquid in secondary containment catching fire. It is known in the art to provide means that are configured to avoid that an ignited vapour trail, and through it, perhaps an ignited main volume of (leaked) liquid, becomes a raging fire. Known from the prior art is for example a pool fire suppressant comprising an elevated metal grate and arranged thereon an at least one package high layer of cubic packages. Said packages comprise a polyethylene bag and a number of cubic pieces of cellular glass insulation in said bag. This installation has to be arranged in a concrete pit or pool. The bag is required to keep the cubic pieces of insulation in one place and protect the porous insulation from being saturated with dirt and/or dust which is inevitably present in and around the storage installation.

When during a fire the bag is consumed, the individual cubic pieces of insulation are released and very locally form a patch of insulating material. To ensure that the respective patches come together to form a layer, packages have to be arranged very close to each other. Furthermore to ensure that the resulting layer covers a substantial part of the area of secondary containment, a very large number of packages is required thereby effectively covering the entire surface area within the bund wall other than the surface on which the ASTs are arranged.

Furthermore, because the polyethylene bags first have to be consumed by the fire, the pieces of insulation do not provide their fire-suppressant effect immediately. Upon initial ignition, fire can therefore freely spread over the volume of leaked liquid. Furthermore, as the bag is consumed, these packages are not re-useable after a fire has occurred.

Furthermore, because the layer is arranged on an elevated metal grate, liquids will not immediately come into contact with the packages or the cubic pieces of insulation. As a result, vapour can escape freely.

An object of the present invention is to provide a storage installation in which the abovementioned problems do not occur or at least to a lesser extent.

According to the present invention, this object has been achieved using a storage installation as defined in claim 1 that is characterized in that the first area is at least partially covered by a layer of substantially spherical bodies, each of the spherical bodies having a weight that is less than a weight of the flammable or combustible liquid that would be displaced by said spherical body when fully submerged in said flammable or combustible liquid, and having a sufficiently high melting temperature such that when vapour, given off by flammable or combustible liquid that has leaked from the one or more ASTs into the first area, is burning, the temperature associated therewith will not cause the spherical bodies that are arranged at least partially in or above the leaked flammable or combustible liquid to substantially melt.

Furthermore, the layer of substantially spherical bodies comprises a plurality of sublayers, each sublayer having a thickness that substantially equals an outer diameter of the spherical bodies.

This layer immediately provides its fire-supressing function, giving emergency services more time to arrive on site and providing a larger time window in which relatively minor extinguishing agents can be employed to extinguish the fire.

Furthermore, the self-rearranging properties of the spherical bodies ensure that the spherical bodies will re-distribute themselves to substantially entirely cover the leaked flammable or combustible liquid. In this manner, it is not required to cover the entire first area with spherical bodies. It is sufficient to partially arrange a layer having multiple sublayers of spherical bodies so that the total number spherical bodies would be sufficient to cover the leaked liquid.

Furthermore, because the installation does not require an elevated floor, the bodies also reduce the effective surface of the volume of liquid regardless of the level, thereby reducing the chances of the liquid catching fire in the first place. Also, due to the shape of the bodies, rain water or other foreign liquids can still be drained from the secondary containment easily. In addition, the spherical bodies may be reused after a fire has occurred.

Finally, installation costs are greatly reduced for a storage installation according to the invention and the mentioned layer can be applied to existing installations with basically any floor material.

Many safety regulations require that paths are provided to inspect tanks and their associated installations. The storage installation may therefore further comprise, for at least one AST, a path leading up to said AST for maintenance and/or inspection, which, provided no {5 flammable or combustible liquid has leaked into the first area, is devoid of said spherical bodies.

The abovementioned packages according to the prior art cannot be provided on such a path as they are not suitable to walk on. Furthermore, because the insulation material of the prior art lacks self-rearranging properties, when such packages are not arranged on the path, this will result in insufficient coverage of the leaked liquid.

The storage installation of the present invention may therefore further comprise barriers that delimit said path, the barriers having a height that is more than or substantially equal to a thickness of the layer of spherical bodies thereby allowing the barriers to block the spherical bodies trom reaching the path when no flammable or combustible liquid has leaked in the first area, and to allow some of the spherical bodies to cross the barrier for the purpose of covering the path as a result of an upward buoyant force exerted by the flammable or combustible liquid onto the spherical bodies when flammable or combustible liquid has leaked in the first area.

In this embodiment, (re-)positioning of the spherical bodies is coupled to an ‘emergency situation’ as a rising level of the leaked liquid is considered a strong indicator of such an emergency. The self-rearranging properties of the bodies ensure that the path initially devoid of bodies — as is required by said safety regulations — will, under emergency situations, fill with spherical bodies thereby forming a preferably continuous layer covering the entire surface of the leaked liquid.

The first area may comprise a preferably planar surface on which the path is provided and from which the barriers extend, and on which the layer of spherical bodies is arranged.

The barriers may have a melting temperature that exceeds a temperature associated with the flammable or combustible liquid being on fire. Such barriers can be reused after a (minor) fire has occurred in the storage installation. Alternatively, the storage installation may comprise an elevation relative to a preferably planar surface within the first area on which surface the spherical bodies are arranged, and wherein the path is arranged on said elevation, wherein the elevation has a height that is more than or substantially equal to a thickness of the layer of spherical bodies thereby blocking the spherical bodies from reaching the path when no flammable or combustible liquid has leaked into the first area, and allowing some of the spherical bodies to rise above the elevation for the purpose of covering the path as a result of an upward buoyant force exerted by the flammable or combustible liquid onto the spherical bodies when flammable or combustible liquid has leaked in the first area. The elevation may be formed by a dam, preferably manufactured of concrete, brick, clay or polymer, or the elevation may be formed by a frame, preferably manufactured from steel. A surface of the first area, other than the path and an area occupied by the one or more AST, may be substantially fully covered by said layer of spherical bodies. When liquid has leaked from the ASTs, the spherical bodies will float on top of the liquid and, due to the self-rearranging properties, will re-distribute themselves to form a preferably essentially continuous layer covering the leaked liquid. The average thickness of the layer may lie in a range from 10 to 30 cm, more preferably from 15 to 25cm. The layer may comprise two or three sublayers. A second sublayer creates pockets between the first and second sublayer that are above the leaked liquid and in which vapour can be collected. The formation of a limited amount of pockets reduces the amount of vapour that can be given off by the leaked liquid. A third sublayer provides an additional barrier for vapour release by introducing further pockets that may only receive vapour from the earlier mentioned pockets.

The spherical bodies may have buoyancy relative to the flammable or combustible liquid such that, in case a level of leaked flammable or combustible liquid exceeds the outer diameter of the spherical bodies, only the spherical bodies in a lowest sublayer are at least partially submerged in said flammable or combustible liquid. This ensures that said bottom layer contributes to reducing the surface of liquid exposed to open air and that all other layers contribute to creating vapour pockets. The spherical bodies arranged in the first area may be exposed to the open air, further reducing cost and effort related to installation of the layer of bodies. The spherical bodies may have an equal diameter ranging from 2 to 15 cm, and more preferably from 5 to 8 cm.

The spherical bodies may have a substantially smooth surface, making it easier for them to rearrange inside of the layer, even when there is no leakage present.

The spherical bodies may be hollow. The spherical bodies can be made from one or more of the materials in the group consisting of aluminium oxide, aluminium alloy, stainless steel, brass, 5 and/or the spherical bodies are fire proof coated and made from one or more of foamed ceramic, foamed glass, or polymers.

The band wall may be configured to contain at least 110% of the volume of flammable or combustible liquid of the largest AST among the one or more ASTs. Alternatively, the bund wall may be configured to contain at least 25% of the total volume of flammable or combustible liquid IO of the one or more ASTs.

The first area may comprise a floor, for example a concrete floor, a brick floor, clay floor or polymer floor. The bund wall may comprise a dam and/or wall, preferably made of concrete, earth and clay, steel or bricks. The level of the first area may normally be lower than a level of a surrounding area directly adjacent the bund wall.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided that is characterised by the further steps of at least partially covering the first area by a layer of substantially spherical bodies, each of the spherical bodies having a weight that is less than a weight of the flammable or combustible liquid that would be displaced by said spherical body when fully submerged in said flammable or combustible liquid, and having a sufficiently high melting temperature such that when vapour, given off by flammable or combustible liquid that has leaked from the one or more ASTs into the first area, is burning, the temperature associated therewith will not cause the spherical bodies that are arranged at least partially in or above the leaked flammable or combustible liquid to substantially melt, and wherein the layer of substantially spherical bodies comprises a plurality of sublayers, each sublayer having a thickness that substantially equals an outer diameter of the spherical bodies.

Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will be elucidated on the basis of the following descriptions of serval embodiments thereof. Reference is made in the description to the figures, in which: fig. 1 shows a schematic, top down view of a storage installation according to the invention, figs. 2a-b show schematic side views of two storage location according to the invention, figs. 3a-b show a further schematic top view of a storage installation in which the layer of bodies is shown in a first (3a) and second (3b) configuration, and figs. 4a-b shows side views of two embodiments of a layer and path according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a top view of a schematic representation of a storage installation according to the invention. Said embodiment in particular shows a storage installation 1 comprising one or more above-ground storage tanks ‘ASTs’ 2 arranged within bund wall 3, and that a layer 4 is provided within said bund wall, in particular on the area delimited by said bund wall 3 on which tanks 2 are not present, and wherein for each storage tank 2, a path 5 is provided to reach storage tank 2.

The liquid that the storage installation is configured to store is chosen from a group comprising the national fire protection association, ‘NFPA’, 30 flammable liquids, classes 1A, 1B, IC, and NFPA 30 combustible liquids, class Il. The group can further comprise other flammable IO and/or combustible liquids presently part of NFPA 30, any liquids part of previous NFPA guidelines and/or liquids which are added to NFPA guidelines in later editions. Furthermore, the group may further comprise flammable or combustible liquids for which in general it is considered prudent to store them with extra caution.

Above-ground storage tanks ‘ASTs’ 2 are commonly well equipped to contain the liquid in question. Although most are configured to store one particular liquid, it is also possible that such storage tanks 2 are designed keeping multiple liquids in mind. If, regardless of all precautionary measures, a leak does occur in a tank or a burst occurs in a transport pipe leading to or from a storage tank 2, a secondary containment is provided to act as a backup. Said secondary containment is a volume configured to contain at least 110% of the volume of flammable or combustible liquid of the largest AST among the one or more ASTs. Alternatively, the volume may be configured to contain at least 25% of the total volume of flammable or combustible liquid of the one or more AST.

For said secondary containment, further safety measures are taken into account. For example, the amount of radiation and heat coming off the installation or liquid when on fire, and/or the effect of an explosion of the installation may result in said secondary containment requiring a significant area to arrange storage tanks 2 sufficiently far for the surroundings.

Layer 4, covering at least part of the area delimited by bund wall 3, provides a passive ignition-reducing and fire-supressing effect. This effect is therefore always and immediately provided whenever a leak occurs. These effects are considered by the skilled person separately because, especially when working with large quantities of flammable or combustible liquids, there are significant differences between the liquid or vapour thereof igniting and causing a minor fire, and said minor fire spreading to cause a raging fire. Minor fires may be extinguished using much less water or extinguishing agents in general. And, when using extinguishing agents, less heavy agents may be sufficient. For example, extinguishing a fire when it is relatively minor, using certain heavy duty, Fluor-comprising extinguishing agents can be avoided. This is considered advantageous as said heavy duty agents can also be damaging to the surrounding environment.

It is preferred that layer 4 covers a substantial part of the area delimited by bund wall 3. However, the self rearranging properties of layer 4 do allow for some parts to remain uncovered, for example near band wall 3 or ASTs 2, while still providing the desired effect when leakage occurs. Such an uncovered area can for example be a path 5. This allows for engineers performing maintenance and/or construction work to walk up to the tanks without themselves being hindered by layer 4 in the secondary confinement. Path 5 may for example just be a clear portion of the ground or floor of area 31, or a raised path around which layer 4 is present. Furthermore, it is preferred that the path stretches completely from the bund wall up to the storage tanks, although it may be sufficient for a path to at least lead up to the AST in question.

Although one or more above-ground storage tanks ‘ASTS’ 2 are shown as circular, and the secondary containment is shown as square, other shapes and forms are possible. Furthermore, although four above-ground storage tanks ‘ASTs’ 2 are shown, other amounts are also possible.

Figures 2a and 2b show side views of two embodiments of a storage location according to the invention. In particular, these figures show a bund wall 30 that delimits an area 31 on which {5 one or more above-ground storage tanks ‘ASTSs’ 20 are arranged and that said area 31 is covered by layer 40.

Furthermore, figure 2a shows that bund wall 30 may be embodied by a dike or dam. Figure 2b shows that area 31 may be below ground level, or at least at a level below the directly surrounding environment and that bund wall 30 in this case may be embodied by a slope, from the level of area 31 up to the level of the surrounding environment. Further embodiments are possible in which these embodiments are combined, for example when said slope extends into an adjacent dam.

Figures 3a and 3b show part of a storage installation, for example the one shown in figure I, according to the invention, comprising AST 2, bund wall 30, of which only part is shown, layer 40, and path 50. Figure 3a shows layer 40 according to a first configuration, in which no significant teakage has occurred. The bodies making up layer 40 are not present on and do not move onto path

50. Figure 3b shows layer 40 according to a second configuration, in which significant leakage has occurred and wherein due to buoyance and self-rearranging properties of the spherical bodies in layer 40, the spherical bodies making cover substantially the entire area including path 50.

Figures 4a-d show side views of two embodiments of a layer 40 and path 50. In particular, these figures show that layer 40 comprises substantially spherical bodies 41 and that path 50 is kept free from such bodies 41 by either barriers 51 or an elevation 52 on which a path 50 is defined. In other embodiments, a frame is arranged on area 31 on top of which a path 50 is defined.

Bodies 41, when a sufficient number is provided, will natarally arrange themselves in layer 40, substantially covering area 31. Increasing the number of bodies 41 will allow for multiple sublayers, for example two or three. Bodies 41 are preferably all approximately the same size and identical in material composition. It is considered advantageous if bodies 41 may have relatively smooth surfaces since this helps bodies 41 settle in layer 40. In particular, bodies may be hollow and made of aluminium oxide or stainless steel. In case that either of those or any metal in general, is used, one or more earth-pins may be arranged on area 31 which protrude above layer 40. When no leakage has occurred and no liquid is present, bodies 41 rest directly on the floor of secondary containment, directly on area 31.

Liquid which leaks onto the area 31 will naturally fill pockets of space existing between bodies 41 and then will have a very limited surface exposed to the outside air. Bodies 41 therefore significantly reduce how much liquid will evaporate. Sublayers of bodies above the liquid, the IO exact amount of which may vary depending on where in layer 40 this is regarded, provide pockets that trap vapour given off by the leaked liquid thereby limiting the spread thereof into the surrounding area.

Bodies 41 are buoyant in the liquid in question, meaning each body 41 has a weight that is less than a weight of the flammable or combustible liquid that would be displaced by said body 41 when fully submerged in said flammable or combustible liquid, so that when the liquid level is above a certain level, said liquid will lift bodies 41 and therefore layer 40, thereby ensuring that bodies 41 still reduce the surface of the liquid and provide pockets directly above the level of said liquid, effectively maintaining the ignition-reducing and fire-supressing effects provided by layer

40. How deep layer 40 is submerged depends on the buoyancy of bodies 41.

Bodies 41 also have a sufficiently high melting temperature. For the present application, it is important that bodies 41, when at least partially submerged in the flammable or combustible liquid do not melt when the liquid or vapour thereof is on fire. Bodies 41 not melting, in the context of the application, can also be understood as bodies 41 not losing their shape and/or form, as this would reduce the liquid-surface-reducing effect that bodies 41 provide. Furthermore, bodies 41 not melting can also be understood as bodies 41 not becoming soft therefore avoiding that bodies 41 cluster together, as this would reduce the self-rearranging properties of bodies 41.

Temperatures to consider are for example those reached during a fire in an open pit scenario — i.e. when leaked liquid has ignited and no fire-supressing installation is present. These temperatures can be considerable and bodies 41 appropriate for such temperatures can be expensive to design and manufacture. As mentioned earlier, the fire-supressing capabilities of the prior art installation take some time to activate and therefore temperatures reached during a fire in an area provided with said prior art installation can still be considerable, having similar requirements for bodies 41 as a result. However in a storage installation according to the invention, the temperatures that will be reached in case of a fire are significantly reduced. Therefore, bodies 41 appropriate for use in such a storage installation can be more easily designed and manufactured. Furthermore, in an embodiment, manufacturing bodies 41 of a material with a minimum heat-

transfer can also be considered advantageous. This allows bodies 41, when at least partially submerged, to transfer heat into the liquid and therefore withstand higher temperatures reach during a fire for longer, decreasing requirements for bodies 41 even further.

Sublayers of bodies 41 which are completely submerged in the liquid do not contribute to reducing the surface of the liquid or trapping vapour. It is therefore considered advantageous to use bodies 41 which, in the liquid in question, are buoyant to a degree so that only a lowest sublayer of bodies 41 is at least partially submerged, and it is considered even more advantageous when bodies are buoyant to a degree that the lowest sublayer of layer 40 is half submerged, or alternatively, it is generally preferred that the sublayer of bodies which breaks through the surface of the liquid is about half-way submerged as then each body maximally reduces the surface of the liquid.

In figure 4a and c, in particular it is shown how barrier 51 keeps layer 40 at bay during regular, non-emergency use. Path 50, as indicated earlier, should be devoid of bodies 41, or any object in general according to safety regulations. When a volume of leaked liquid 60 on area 31 rises above a certain level, bodies 41 will be lifted up by said liquid 60 and then naturally move beyond barrier 51 to ensure layer 40 is also formed on path 50. In the prior art, patches of insulating material which are lifted up by a rising liquid level do not cover such path.

In figure 4b and 4d in particular in is shown how alternatively, the storage installation may comprise an elevation 52 on which a path 50 is defined above the surface of area 31 on which layer 40 is arranged. Path 50 may be at a height equal to or larger than the thickness of layer 40. When there is no liquid present in area 31, bodies 41 will not move onto path 50. When the level of leaked liquid 60 rises in area 31, said liquid 60 raises layer 40 above path 50 and said layer 40 will naturally rearrange on and/or above said path. Hence, layer 40 present in a storage installation according to the invention provides a reduced risk of ignition and an improved fire-supressing effect in particular for such storage installations.

Such an elevation may for example be embodied by a dam manufactured of concrete, brick, clay or polymer. Alternatively, the elevation is a frame, manufactured, for example, from steel and wherein leaked liquid can flow through said frame and/or underneath path 50. Embodiments can also be envisioned in which these forms are combined.

In an alternative embodiment comprising an elevated path, elevation can have a base by which it is arranged on area 31. Said base can be narrower than a top of the elevation on which path is arranged. Furthermore, said base and top may be connected by a middle section configured to facilitate, or at least not obstructing, bodies 41 when moving upward with the raising liquid level, along said middle section of the elevation. Such an embodiment allows for more surface area of area 31 to be covered when there is no leakage yet present.

The skilled person will appreciate that the abovementioned embodiment are merely exemplary and not in any way intended to be limiting to the scope of the application. The rights sought are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which numerous modifications can be envisaged.

Claims

CONCLUSIONS i. Storage installation (1) for storing a flammable or combustible liquid, the liquid being selected from a group comprising the National Fire Protection Association, 'NFPA', 30 flammable liquids, classes IA, IB, IC, and NFPA 30 flammable liquids, class II, the storage installation (1) comprising: a sheet pile wall ("bund wall") (3, 30) delimiting a first area (31); one or more above-ground storage tanks (“Above-ground Storage Tanks”), “AST”, (2, 20) arranged within the first area (31) and arranged to store the flammable or combustible liquid; wherein the sheet pile is adapted to retain the flammable or combustible liquid within the first region (31) in the event of leakage of the flammable or combustible liquid from the one or more ASTs into the first region; characterized in that the first region (31) is at least partially covered by a layer (4, 40) of substantially spherical bodies {41), each of the spherical bodies having a weight less than a weight of the flammable or combustible liquid which would be displaced through the spherical body when fully immersed in the flammable or combustible liquid, and which has a sufficiently high melting point such that when vapor given off by the flammable or combustible liquid leaked into the first region from the one or more ASTs., burns, the temperature associated therewith does not cause the spherical bodies (41) arranged at least partially in or above the leaked flammable or combustible liquid to melt substantially; wherein the layer of substantially spherical bodies (41) comprises a plurality of sub-layers, each sub-layer having a thickness substantially equal to an outer diameter of the spherical bodies (41).

Storage installation (1) according to claim 1, further comprising, for at least one AST (2, 20), a path (5, 50) leading to the AST (2, 20), for maintenance and/or inspection, which, given that no flammable or combustible liquid has leaked into the first region, is devoid of the spherical bodies (41).

Storage installation (1) according to claim 2, further comprising barriers (51) delimiting the path, the barriers having a height greater than or substantially equal to a thickness of the layer of spherical bodies, allowing this that the barriers block the spherical bodies from reaching the path when no flammable or combustible liquid has leaked into the first area, and to allow some of the spherical bodies to pass through the barriers for the purpose of covering the path due to an upward buoyancy force exerted by the flammable or combustible liquid on the spherical bodies when flammable or combustible liquid has leaked into the first region.

Storage installation (1) according to claim 3, further comprising, in the first region, a preferably flat surface on which the path is provided and from which the barriers extend, and on which the layer of spherical bodies is arranged.

Storage installation (1) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the barriers (51) have a melting point higher than a temperature associated with the flammable or combustible liquid when it is on fire.

Storage installation (1) according to claim 2, further comprising an elevation (52) relative to a preferably flat surface within the first region on which surface the spherical bodies are arranged, the path (50) being arranged on the elevation, the elevation having a height greater than or substantially equal to a thickness of the layer of spherical bodies thereby blocking the spherical bodies from reaching the path when no flammable or combustible liquid has leaked into the first region, and which that at least some of the spherical bodies rise above the elevation for the purpose of covering the path (50) as a result of an upward buoyancy force exerted by the flammable or combustible liquid on the spherical bodies when the flammable or combustible liquid is in the first area leaked.

Storage installation (1) according to claim 6, wherein the elevation (52) is formed by a dam, preferably made of concrete, brick, clay or polymer, or wherein the elevation (52) is formed by a frame, preferably made made of steel.

Storage installation (1) according to any one of claims 2-6, wherein a surface of the first region, other than the path and a region occupied by the one or more ASTs, is substantially completely covered by the layer of spherical bodies.

Storage installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the average thickness of the layer (4, 40) is in a range of 10 - 30 cm, more preferably of 15 - 25 cm.

Storage installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the layer (4, 40) comprises two or three partial layers.

Storage installation (1) according to claim 10, wherein the solid bodies (41) have a buoyancy relative to the flammable or combustible liquid such that, in case a level of leaked flammable or combustible liquid exceeds the outer diameter of the spherical bodies, only the spherical bodies in a lower sub-layer are at least partially immersed in the flammable or combustible liquid.

A storage installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spherical bodies (41) arranged in the first region (31) are exposed to the open force.

Storage installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spherical bodies (41) have a diameter of 2 - 15 cm, and more preferably of 5 - 8 cm.

A storage installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spherical bodies (41) have a substantially flat surface.

Storage installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spherical bodies are hollow.

Storage installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spherical bodies are made of one or more of the materials in the group consisting of aluminum oxide, aluminum alloy, stainless steel, brass, and/or wherein the spherical bodies are refractory coated are and are made of one or more of foamed ceramics, foamed glass, or polymers.

Storage installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more ASTS are adapted to collectively store a first volume of flammable or explosive liquid, wherein the sheet pile wall is adapted to contain within the first area at least the first volume of flammable or combustible liquid.

Storage installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first area comprises a floor, for instance a concrete floor, a brick floor, a clay floor, or a polymer floor.

Storage installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet pile wall comprises a sheet pile and/or wall, preferably made of concrete, earth and clay, steel or bricks.

A storage installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a level of the first region (41) is lower than a level of a surrounding region immediately adjacent to the sheet pile wall.

21. A method of providing a storage facility for storing a flammable or combustible liquid, the liquid being selected from a group comprising the National Fire Protection Association, 'NFPA', Flammable Liquids, Classes 1A, 1B, IC , and NFPA 30 flammable liquids, class II, wherein the storage installation (1), preferably the storage installation as defined in any one of the preceding claims, comprises: providing one or more above-ground storage tanks, { "Above-ground Storage Tanks") , 'ASTS, (2, 20) arranged within a first area (31) and arranged to store the flammable or combustible liquid, the first area being delimited by a sheet pile wall (3, 30), wherein the sheet pile is adapted to retain the flammable or combustible liquid within the first region (31) in the event of leakage of the flammable or combustible liquid from the one or more ASTs into the first region; characterized by at least partially covering the first region with a layer (4, 40) of substantially spherical bodies (41), each of the spherical bodies having a weight less than a weight of the flammable or combustible liquid which would be displaced through the spherical body when fully submerged in the flammable or combustible liquid, and which has a sufficiently high melting point such that when vapor given off by flammable or combustible liquid leaked into the first region from the one or more ASTs, burns, the temperature associated therewith does not cause the spherical bodies (41) arranged at least partially in or above the leaked flammable or combustible liquid to melt significantly; wherein the layer of substantially spherical bodies (41) comprises a plurality of sub-layers, each sub-layer having a thickness substantially equal to an outer diameter of the spherical bodies {41).