Tank Cleaning

Crude oil sludge (sediment) collects at the bottom of oil tanks, which reduces your storage capacity, as well as causes blockages and accelerates corrosion unnecessarily. Regular oil tank cleaning and sludge removal are essential.

Tank Cleaning Stages

1. Tank degassing

2. Oil sludge pump-out from the tank

3. Oil sludge disposal

4. Final cleaning of the tank (walls and bottom)

NEE’s patented chemical dissolves heavy sludge from crude oil, reducing its viscosity without losing valuable hydrocarbon fluids, which helps to recover as much oil as possible.  The cleaning treatment is solvent-based, so it’s environmentally-friendly and biodegradable. It eases the removal of hard deposits, while reducing the costs associated with your waste management operations.

Scrapers and other non-sparking safe tools are used to clean the sediments and residues of dirt and oil sludge found at the bottom of the tank as well as on its walls. The oil film is processed by the solvent for degreasing and removal. The internal surface of the tanks is then treated by steam supplied by a mobile steam-generating unit.

Safety provisions:

An experienced desludging and cleaning crew makes sure there is no humidity or heat built up inside the Tank. A gas tester tests for O2, H2S and hydrocarbon to make sure the readings of all the gases are within the allowable limit. The cleaning crew follow a checklist to confirm that all the necessary safety measures have been completed in preparation for tank entry. Firefighting equipment will be available at the tank site before cleaning commences. Eye washing, as well as First Aid, facilities are provided.

AC Vacuum-Pressure Truck:

• High pressure pump package 50L/120bar:

The installed industrial high pressure pump is driven by the hydraulic PTO mounted on the truck’s gearbox. A manually operated hose storage reel at the rear side of the chassis is equipped with 20 meter ½ “ high pressure hose.

Max. flow approx. 50 L/min

Max. pressure approx. 120 bar

Max. drive power approx. 10 kW

Content water tank 3500 L

• Industrial safety provisions according SIR guidelines:

The package is composed by a continues earthing monitor including green lamp, an extendable chimney exhaust with max height of 6 meters, 2 hand operation for opening rear door + locks.

• MAN TGS 6X2 320 HP Truck Chassis:

Manual gearbox

Short cabin

Vacuuming ADR liquids in a product tank large 12 m3

E liquid ring pump, 3200 m³/hr, 95% continuous vacuum

Stainless steel liquid ring water tank 1000L with chimney exhaust

Compressor 2 bar and nitrogen connection for pressure unloading.

BENEFITS

• Reliability, ease of operation, long life, and economical efficiency

• Machine is suitable for handling goods according to ADR, S4AH and L4AH

• AC installations are suitable for pneumatic transport of hazardous liquid products, such  as sewage sludge, chemical liquids, crude oil, petrol, slurry, etc.

• The product can be discharged out of the tank by means of pressure

• Hydraulically operated rear tank door – tank can be tipped and discharged in the traditional manner

• Best quality pump – suitable for the toughest work!

• AC liquid ring pump is protected from overflow of  product

• Discharge high viscosity products out of the product tank without any problems

• Complies to all CE/EU pressure-vacuum equipment regulations

Oil Sludge Disposal:

The standard vacuum unit capacity is 3200 m³ / hour, in case heavy residue is in the tank with a thick consistency, vacuum pumps of 6000 m³ / hour capacity are used with volumes of up to 24 m³. Pumping out the content of the vacuum tank is carried out by hoses with diameters ranging from 100 to 250 mm. During the suction of bottom sediments, the contents of the vacuum truck are simultaneously pumped into the dedicated oil sludge barrels and/or trucks for disposal. These dedicated barrels and/or trucks, are then transported to a specialised recycling site for further disposal.

The high-tech equipment can pump out the contents of any density and viscosity, without being hindered by the size of mechanical impurities (sediments / oil sludge) found at the bottom of the tanks. To reach and remove bottom sediments and/or oil sludge found deeper in the tank, inaccessible directly from the standard hose, an extension is installed and placed deeper into the tank. If necessary for difficult to reach places, the operator moves the sediments collected at the tank bottom closer to the waste hole via spades made of an alloy of copper, aluminium and titanium (non-sparking tool) by simultaneous wetting of the cleaned surface with water to prevent sparking.

Final Cleaning of the Tank:

The first layer of final stripping of the tank’s inner wall is carried out manually by the operators up to a height of about two meters. Scrapers and other non-sparking safe tools are used to clean the sediments/residues of dirt and oil sludge found at the bottom of the tank as well as on its walls. Then, the oil film is processed by a special Solvent product for degreasing and removal. The internal surface of the tanks is then treated by steam supplied by a mobile or stationary steam generating unit.

The bottom of the tank sediments and residues are transported to a specialised solution, where they are disposed of in compliance with all rules and regulations pursuant to the Environmental Code. At the completion of the tank cleaning operation/process, all materials, chemicals and other wastes from the operations and the working area is removed. The site location, is restored to its original condition.