Oil, Gas and Industrial

Heat and Thaw Industrial Fluids in Tank

Challenge
Provide reliable and independent heat source during the entire winter season to assist in the separation of a variety of fluid mixtures contained in a large industrial tank (approx 20 feet in diameter / 50 feet high)

Objective
Determine the capacity of the heating required plus a system for separating the various types of fluids.

Solution
  • Calculations were performed to determine a system design comprising of a diesel portable Central Heating Unit (CHU) connected to a plate heat exchanger outside the tank.
  • The diesel fired CHU of appropriate size runs a closed loop of glycol to the supply side of the heat exchanger. A closed loop of the fluid from the tank runs across the process side of the heat exchanger. As more heat is dissipated through the fluid in the tank, more of the material is thawed – and in turn more heat is distributed in the tank. Eventually all of the fluid in the tank was thawed. The variety of fluids were then allowed to settle and separate into their various strata-levels, as a function of their specific gravity. The separated fluids were then tapped or drained off.
  • A series of tarps placed over the tank provided insulation. Tarps over the tank-exterior kept the heat in and accelerated the thawing process of the fluids inside the tank.
Result
  • The client reports success using heat to separate the fluids in the tank under all weather conditions planned for.
  • The portable system design allows it to be used on various tanks as required.

Additional Resources