Design of heating coils for asphalt tanks
Thread Content
Asphalt tanks used for commercial storage do not provide insulation; the asphalt is allowed to cool down naturally, and heating is applied only when it is time to load it onto a ship. Heat transfer is achieved using heat transfer oil. I’ve seen many experienced experts say that a \"safety tube\" for heating is needed – one that runs along the tank wall from bottom to top and extends above the highest level of the liquid. I agree that this is indeed necessary; otherwise, if heating takes place below the solidified asphalt, local expansion may occur while the upper part of the asphalt remains stuck to the tank wall, which could lead to accidents. The question now is: does such a \"safety tube\" require only one? Is it still necessary to make it into a coiled tube and arrange it evenly around the tank wall?
It depends on the size of the tank; if the tank is small, there’s no need for this pipe at all
This post was last edited by *onghr on 2015-12-2 19:26: 10,000 cubic tank. If this tube is not installed, heating at the bottom of the tank creates a layer of molten material due to the high temperature; the volume expansion resulting from this high temperature pushes the solidified asphalt in the upper layers upward. Since the upper asphalt sticks to the tank wall, the force exerted by the upper asphalt acts on the tank wall; is it possible that this could cause cracks in the welds of the tank’s walls and bottom plate?
It’s equivalent to a drain pipe that needs to be installed.
The asphalt in this pipe is also solidified; how can air be introduced?
My understanding is that since this pipe is used for heating, once it is heated, the asphalt surrounding the pipe becomes highly fluid very quickly. Since this pipe runs through the entire asphalt layer from top to bottom, when the lower layer of asphalt melts due to heating while the upper layer remains in a solid state, the internal pressure generated by the expansion of the lower layer’s asphalt can be released as the liquid asphalt surrounding this pipe flows upward. without causing localized pressure buildup in the molten asphalt layer below. I just don’t know how many of these pipes should be installed?
Just install the heat transfer oil pipe above the liquid level and then lower it.
I don’t understand what it means. Could someone explain it in more detail?
Has this issue been discussed yet? If the level of asphalt in the tank during loading drops, will the asphalt adhering to the heat transfer oil heating tubes that are not exposed not start to smoke? There might be safety risks, right?/