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Tank Heating Problem

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n00by

Mechanical
Sep 4, 2008
1
We currently have a 150' x 56' fixed roof tank with 2" of shell insulation (mineral wool) and two manway heaters.  I have estimated that the existing heaters provide 5,000 ft² of surface. The tank will be entering a new service and we need to determine if additional heating is required.  Our internal calculations have shown that in order to maintain 300°F, the required duty is around 3.5 million Btu/hour. The product enters the tank at around 310F. We approached two heater vendors for their analysis.

Our Calcs: 3,500,000 Btu/hr required
Vendor 1: 2,666,800 Btu/hr required (using only 1-1/2" insulation) and 4,774.5 ft² required.
Vendor 2: 3,567,000 Btu/hr and 2,028 ft² required.

Although both vendors have calculated widely different duties, I am concluding that the tank already has sufficient heating for the new service.  Am I correct?

 
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Sure, you might be correct, as you say.

However, wouldn't it be far easier if you tell us what the product is and, maybe, a few relevant properties of it?

<<A good friend will bail you out of jail, but a true friend
will be sitting beside you saying ” Damn that was fun!” - Unknown>>
 
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