P-13 Bulk Oil Storage Facility Practice Test

When tanks are filled from a pipeline, backflow or siphoning back into the pipeline must be prevented. A Brodie valve is a spring-loaded check-style device placed at the tank fill connection that opens to let product into the tank during filling, but automatically closes to stop any reverse flow when the filling stops or the line pressure drops. This keeps the pipeline from draining into the tank and protects both the line and the storage area from backflow, spills, or contamination. Gate and globe valves are manual or throttling and do not provide automatic backflow protection, and while a general check valve can prevent reverse flow, the Brodie valve is the standard device used at tanks designed for bulk oil storage fills because of its reliable, automatic sealing right at the fill point.