a. Pipeline. The IPDS pipeline is a 6-inch aluminum pipeline with an inside diameter of 6.249 inches.
The pipeline system is designed to move over 960,000 gallons of fuel per day and it is configured in 5-mile
pipeline sets. The set includes enough pipes, valves, coupling, and accessories to setup 5 miles of pipeline. There
are two types of pipe sections in IPDS:
(1) The 19-foot variable wall thickness pipe has a thickness of 0.404-inches from each end and
narrows down to 0.188-inch toward the center. The pipe is used on the main run of the pipeline low pressure
areas. Because of its varying thickness, the pipe section cannot be cut. However, the ends can be cut and re-
grooved once if damaged.
(2) The 9.5 foot constant wall thickness pipe has a thickness of 0.404-inches from one end to the
other. Because of its constant thickness, the pipe can be cut to any length desired to close gaps in the pipeline as a
result of construction or damage and mostly installed at high pressure areas.
(3) The pipe sections are connected with a snap-lock coupling. The coupling is hinged on one side
and secured with a pin on the other. The gasket can be either a one-piece separate gasket or a two-piece integral
gasket. Engineer units are tasked with the design and construction of the pipeline; Quartermaster units operate
and maintain the pipeline once it is emplaced.
b. Pumping Stations. The IPDS pump station consists of two 6-inch, 3-stage 800-gallon-per-minute
centrifugal pumps with an operational output of 1800 feet of head when pumping liquids with specific gravity of
0.85. The station also has scraper launcher and receiver assemblies, a strainer assembly, and a floodlight set. The
pump station is designed to allow one pump to move the fuel in the pipeline while the other pump is kept in
reserve or is shut down for maintenance.
c. Tactical Petroleum Terminal. The TPT is the largest bulk fuel system in the Army. The TPT can be
established as a base, intermediate or head terminal. The basic storage capacity of a system is 3,780,000 gallons
stored in eighteen 5,000 barrel (210,000-gallon) collapsible fabric tanks. The TPT also has three 50K optional
tank configuration with two 50K tanks each, giving a total storage capacity of 4.08 million gallons.
(1) The TPT consists of three identical fuel units, each fuel unit has three tanks with six 210,000-
gallon tanks to allow each TPT to store up to three different fuels if required.
(2) Each fuel unit consists of three tank farm assemblies that consist of two 5,000 barrel tanks, a 600-
GPM hose line pump, and associated fittings and hoses to connect the system together.
(3) The primary mission of the TPT is to store bulk fuel both for operational use and a portion of the
theater's fuel reserves.
(4) The 1250 GPM Flood and Transfer Pump. This pump is a general purpose pump that is most
often found with the TPT. It is used to transfer fuel within the terminal. The pump is a skid-mounted, six-inch,
diesel engine-driven, centrifugal pump.
QM5200
18-2
Previous Page
