Mesa ETP Announces FlexCore™ Liquid Mounted Seal meets requirements in the new EPA 98 percent emissions efficiency regulation. On October 15th 2024, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), published its final rule revising 40 CFR 60 subpart Kc. This is the first revision of EPA’s New Source Performance Standards for volatile organic liquid storage vessels (including petroleum liquid storage vessels) since the 1980’s.
Kc introduces targeted emission control efficiency of 98 percent compared to 95 percent in Kb. This more stringent standard requires important changes in certain floating roof seal configuration and deployments.
Importantly, there is a path to 98 percent efficiency for both internal and external floating roof tanks. External floating roof configurations remain an option, with the requirement they use a liquid mounted primary seal when slotted guide poles are present. Slotted guide poles are found in over 80 percent of external floating roof tanks.
The ideal solution to address the new regulation is to deploy a liquid mounted seal that will surpass the reliability and lifespan of mechanical shoe seals while delivering the superior emission control performance of liquid mounted seals as cited by the EPA in AP-42.
That’s where Mesa ETP’s FlexCore™ comes in. FlexCore™ is the latest patent-pending innovation in AST floating roof primary seals from Mesa ETP. With the breakthrough laminate, Armor Fabric™, the FlexCore™ liquid mounted seal outperforms AND outlasts mechanical shoe seals. FlexCore™ is the most efficient and durable primary seal available in the above ground storage tank market.
Performance durability is achieved because Armor Fabric™ is engineered from a material that’s tougher than Kevlar. Comprehensive abrasion testing demonstrated over 40 times the abrasion resistance of a typical urethane seal and even 15 times more abrasion resistance than carbon steel. FlexCore™ with Armor Fabric™ stood up to 15 years of simulated travel in durability and longevity testing that simulated harsh tank conditions. FlexCore™ also features a patent-pending fabric splicing installation method to ensure seal integrity and durability throughout the life of the seal.
Armor Fabric is compatible with virtually all tank products and exhibits an extremely low coefficient of friction to help protect the tank wall, and ensure smooth tank operation.
“Tank owners can confidently rely on FlexCore™ for lower emissions over the entire maintenance cycle with no vapor barrier failure or reduction in emission control,” says Adam Vance, general manager of Mesa ETP. “Mesa ETP’s FlexCore™ seal is already deployed and operating successfully at terminals and refineries in the United States.”
In a research report published by Trinity Consultants, Harold Laurence, P.E. analyzed routine emission reductions attainable with a liquid-mounted seal, and their potential value. In the report, Laurence states “Liquid-mounted seals reduce seal emissions by up to 80% compared to rim-mounted mechanical shoe seals according to EPA factors.” Notably, these benefits are magnified when new innovation provides a liquid-mounted seal with service life comparable to, or surpassing that of a mechanical shoe seal. With this extended service life, Trinity found that “Routine emission reductions from liquid-mounted seals, compared with mechanical shoe seals, could be worth thousands or tens of thousands of dollars per tank in Emission Reduction Credits in sensitive airsheds.”
For more information visit www.mesaetp.com
