Pumpability of heavy oil
Pumpability of heavy oil
(OP)
Hi,
I have an non-insulated and non-heated tank and want to store heavy oil with API-5 degree, pour 60 F, viscosity 10 CST. How do I determine what temperature is suitable for storing that in this weather. ITs about freezing here and getting low. How low can I let the temperature fall before I start pumping out of that tank.
thank you for your help in advance.
kirnsi
I have an non-insulated and non-heated tank and want to store heavy oil with API-5 degree, pour 60 F, viscosity 10 CST. How do I determine what temperature is suitable for storing that in this weather. ITs about freezing here and getting low. How low can I let the temperature fall before I start pumping out of that tank.
thank you for your help in advance.
kirnsi





RE: Pumpability of heavy oil
How are we supposed to know your pumping limitations if you don't even tell us the the type, model, size, NPSH, etc. of your pump?
As a Chem Eng you know that the viscosity of a liquid determines, to a large degree whether the stuff will flow enough to be pumpable, and that the manufacturer of your pump is who has the information on the pump's pumping limitations.
You should contact your pump's manufacturer or obtain the specifications for the pump in order to determine whether or not the pump will handle the viscosity at the temperatures you will have the oil at. If it can't, then heat it until it get to the viscosity where it will pump.
RE: Pumpability of heavy oil
i would rather not pumping below the oil pour point due to below that temperature the fluid viscosity will raise rapidly and make it harder to pump.
However as Art already said that your pumping temperature will depend on your pump capability (it may able to pump at high visc.)
After you got your pumping temperature, don't forget that your liquid can be more cooled along the piping during pumping. you may need a help of heat tracing.
-rayz-
RE: Pumpability of heavy oil
RE: Pumpability of heavy oil
At its pour point, it just doesn't move very well. Makes me nervous trying to pump something like that. Now, stuff does get pumped at pretty high viscosity but I don't think you want to get into that area for this service.
RE: Pumpability of heavy oil
RE: Pumpability of heavy oil
1. You are measuring the temperature near/at the suction line. Otherwise, it might be hot inside the tank but congealed near the periphery and in the suction line.
2. Suction line is steam traced and insulated - otherwise, the internal dia of the pipe might not be same as what you think it is due to again congealed oil at the periphery.
3. The flow in the suction line is mainly by the head available in the tank ( minus the suction created by pump)- Nrmally you cannot expect much help from the pump to push it upto the pump suction, if the suction line dia is already reduced by congealed oil.
4. The tank has a mixer/circulating line to maintain uniform temperature so that you are not misled into believing the temperature is high.
Best wishes
RE: Pumpability of heavy oil
When you say kin. visc. of the heavy fuel is 10 cSt you should add the temperature at which this viscosity is measured, or even better two or three values at various temperatures, all of them, of course, above the pour point as indicated above.
You may need to adjust the viscosity not only for pumping purposes but for actual burning -atomization, etc.- characteristics.
RE: Pumpability of heavy oil
we are thinking about doing the line wash with diesel first into the tank and then start pumping the heavy oil out of tank.Hopefully that should take care of that. thank you all for the information. It was very helpful.
RE: Pumpability of heavy oil
BigInch
-born in the trenches.
http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com