Crude storage tank w/ internal floating roof, radar stilling well design issue
Crude storage tank w/ internal floating roof, radar stilling well design issue
(OP)
We have a crude storage tank with internal floating roof that was recently constructed with a stilling well for the radar. The stilling well was installed without slots along its length like a gauge pole has (it is just open near bottom of the tank and has a small vent hole near where it meets the roof). Needless to say, without the ability for the crude to enter and exit the stilling well along the length of the well, as the level in the tank rises and falls with crude existing and new crude coming in, the gravity variations between what is in the stilling well and what is in the rest of the tank are starting to cause significant variations between true tank level and what is read by the radar in the stilling well (up to 1' difference). Simple solution might be to move the radar to another nozzle and just shoot the internal floating roof (but it is a cable suspended roof and this also wouldn't allow us to verify / alarm if the level goes below the IFR low leg position). Thinking the only option to correct the stilling well is take the tank back out of service, clean and cut slots in the stilling well. Anyone dealt with this before? Any off the wall ideas?





RE: Crude storage tank w/ internal floating roof, radar stilling well design issue
2. You can install the radar unit to shoot the roof surface.
3. You can also install a pressure transmitter on the side of the tank.
RE: Crude storage tank w/ internal floating roof, radar stilling well design issue
RE: Crude storage tank w/ internal floating roof, radar stilling well design issue
Brain storming...wonder if there is some way to 'hot tap' or slice the sides of the pipe in place??? Hydrocutting? Fill it full of water and freeze / burst it open? (ok, I'm getting silly now).
RE: Crude storage tank w/ internal floating roof, radar stilling well design issue
RE: Crude storage tank w/ internal floating roof, radar stilling well design issue
RE: Crude storage tank w/ internal floating roof, radar stilling well design issue
Get a small dual acting hydraulic cylinder - think Enerpac
Put tapered pointy things on the cylinder and the piston.
Lower it down
Energize it and let it poke holes on both ends
Reverse the pressure and hope the pointy end things do not get stuck
Lower and repeat
The holes will flare outward, must not bind up on the IFR seal plate
Try it first!
RE: Crude storage tank w/ internal floating roof, radar stilling well design issue
RE: Crude storage tank w/ internal floating roof, radar stilling well design issue