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What type of heating can be used for the crude oil unloading tank (i.e., the zero-level tank)? If steam tracing is used, with the tracing pipes placed at the bottom of the tank, how can the condensate be removed?
Steam tracing is a good option; the condensate can be separated using a steam trap
Can a steam trap installed above the tank work? Most of the condensate is at the bottom of the tank
At first, I didn’t understand that by \"heating\" you meant heating that particular device; I thought it referred to devices above the ground. Heating can also be applied to underground devices as well – one can do that in valve chambers.
Let me explain it in light of our unit’s own circumstances. This facility has a large amount of high-viscosity oil; therefore, the dewatering tank does not require any heating equipment, as the oil separated from the water goes directly to the oil separation tank located nearby. As a result, movable and neatly arranged nozzles are placed next to the dewatering tank for using steam to clear blockages in cases when it is not in regular use. However, the heating pipelines installed in the oil separator are usually placed one meter above the ground level. Since high-viscosity oil tends to stay on the surface, it can be recovered promptly as long as appropriate arrangements are made. The poster’s question is about how a steam trap can discharge condensate; it’s sufficient as long as the liquid level in the oil separator is high.