The purging issue after oil is received or sent into storage tanks
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The company’s storage and transportation operations are also handled by the plant operators, who have not received any specialized training; therefore, when transferring oil, they simply open and close the valves in the tank area, without performing any purging after the operation is complete. No one understands what pipes and tanks are, nor steam and air ducts? The current situation is that the oil is present in the pipeline between the tank outlet and the plant boundary area. In the future, the company’s main products will be lubricating oils, light oils, heavy oils, and asphalt; it is likely that continuing in this manner will be very risky. I would like to ask everyone what should be done with the rear covers of the tanks I listed, after oil is transferred in and out – should they be kept or removed?
The issue raised by the poster is a common phenomenon at present, and it is worth discussing in depth. . . . . . :victory:
Let me briefly explain our approach: Lubricant: It generally does not solidify, and there is no need to treat the pipelines after collecting the oil; it can be collected again in the future. Light oil: It does not solidify, so no treatment is required; however, the pipelines need to have their pressure relieved during summer or when there are large temperature differences between day and night. Heavy oil and asphalt: If insulation and heat tracing are in place, and the heat tracing system is properly functioning, they will not solidify and no action is required. However, if it is not used for a long time, pressure release is required. In all the above methods, the same medium flows through a single pipeline; if different media are used, it may be necessary to purge the pipeline before allowing higher-grade oils to flow through it after lower-grade oils have passed through.
Okay, thank you for your answer. I checked our pipelines and it seems there are no pipelines designed for venting; there is only a purging line at the inlet of the tank that leads up to the top, and the gas supply point is also quite far away
The OP has raised a very profound question! However, our two companies have different natures; we are petrochemical enterprises, and our operations generally involve more products such as gasoline and diesel! So it must be purged! As for your purging, there’s definitely no problem with it; if purging isn’t done, it will depend on the relevant regulations.
There is no need to purge dedicated lines; just pay attention to releasing pressure from the pipelines and ensuring proper insulation
I don’t know much about lubricants. For light oils, nitrogen is generally used for purging, while steam is used for heavy oils. If the pipelines and equipment are in continuous use, there is no need for purging; it is sufficient to ensure pressure relief in summer and to take measures to prevent freezing and condensation in winter. If they are not in use, then purging is possible.