Secondary Containment

According to the Department of Transportation (USDT), the United States has the largest network of fuel pipelines in the world. Many facilities utilize pipelines to transport oil, oil-related products or other substances. Over time, these pipelines can become damaged due to prolonged use, corrosion or weathering. To protect your facility from leaks and spills, it is essential to ensure that pipelines are properly repaired and maintained.

Secondary containment equipment is designed to help prevent leaks and spills from primary containment units from entering navigable waterways, harming personnel or damaging assets. A wide range of secondary containment options can provide regulatory compliance and help keep your facility protected. In addition to reliable spill containment, many of the secondary containment solutions offered by Basic Concepts feature a drive-over design.

Transformers are used in a variety of industries to facilitate the transfer of power from a source to the point of consumption. Perhaps more than in any other industry, transformers are widely employed in the electric utility industry to disperse and transfer electricity in large-scale power grids. Transformers are also considered oil-filled equipment since they utilize oil to insulate and cool internal components.

Transformers are used in a variety of industries to facilitate the transfer of power from a source to the point of consumption. Perhaps more than in any other industry, transformers are widely employed in the electric utility industry to disperse and transfer electricity in large-scale power grids. Transformers are also considered oil-filled equipment since they utilize oil to insulate and cool internal components.

An electric utility in metropolitan New York City utilizes concrete secondary containment moats in substations throughout its vast network. Following storms with heavy rain fall, the moats filled with large volumes of water. This water needed to be evacuated. Strict SPCC guidelines and state and city regulations require discharged water to be completely free of hydrocarbon contamination.

Secondary oil containment around transformers is critical for capturing oil spills and protecting the environment. SPCC regulations provide guidance for containing oil-filled equipment. The rule specifies sizing oil containment systems to contain the contents of the largest vessel - or in this case, the transformer inside the containment area. Add 10 percent to the volume of oil to accommodate precipitation or snow.

SPCC plans cover general containment of the entire facility, including specific measures taken for individual pieces of oil filled equipment. The regulations provide numerous alternatives and methods for secondary oil containment.

By the end of 2018, the total installed capacity of wind power in the United States reached more than 96,000 MW. Wind power is now a major segment of the sustainable power sector with the ability to supply the needs of 24 million homes.

Currently, there are more than 56,000 utility scale wind turbines operating in the US. Each wind turbine connects to its own step-up transformer. From there, power transfers to the grid through an additional step-up transformer called a "collector" in a substation. Generally small in MVA rating, wind turbine step-up transformers are in the base of the turbine itself.

The United States solar industry is booming. According to the Solar Energy Industry Association, it boasts an annual average growth rate of 59 percent over the last decade. Utility scale projects accounted for 59 percent of new solar installations in 2017, and should continue at that rate or higher through 2021. Like wind, water and other renewable energy sources, solar energy relies on transformers to connect to the power grid.