An apparatus and method for cleaning the interior of an above ground storage tank includes a nozzle assembly mounted to a cover on the storage tank sidewall having a horizontally extending wash pipe fixedly and a suction pipe for recirculation of spent fluids. The wash pipe has an interior segment which can be extended to a tank floor and is configured with a bend to extend along the tank sides all to which is attached a submersible swivel joint fitted with a choked nozzle. A control assembly is provided to direct from the nozzle from the exterior of the storage tank. The nozzle vibrates in response to flow of wash fluid from the wash pipe.

A method for maintaining solids and heavy liquids in fluid suspension within a bulk storage tank includes providing a nozzle and suction assembly mounted to a storage tank sidewall having a horizontally extending discharge pipe and a suction pipe for recirculation of the emulsion of fluids within the storage tank. The discharge pipe and suction pipe can be extended to the tank floor and configured with a bend to extend along the tank sidewall to which is attached a submersible swivel joint fitted with a choked nozzle. The nozzle and suction assembly produce positive and vacuum pressure, respectively, for causing the simultaneous discharge and suction of contained tank fluids to cause recirculation. The nozzle may be adjusted so the direction of flow may follow the angle of the tank floor.

A tank, such as a fermentation tank, includes a scraper blade assembly slideably coupled to a bottom surface of the tank. The scraper blade assembly includes a blade arranged to displace solids deposited on the bottom surface of the tank out through an aperture arranged flush with the bottom surface of the tank.

Embodiments of the present invention include systems for storing large quantities of chemicals at a remote site. A controlled blending system balances the inflow of dry material and liquids into the blender based on a predetermined solid/fluid ratio. The blending system further balances the inflow and outflow of material from the blender.

According to a first aspect of the present application, a self-cleaning sectional panel tank is provided. The tank comprises at least one side wall for joining other side walls in forming the sectional panel tank. The at least one side wall comprises: a first unit panel having a first extension at its edge for supporting the first unit panel; and a second unit panel having a second extension at its edge. The first unit panel and the second unit panel are joined together contiguously at the first extension and the second extension by at least one fastener; and at least one directional sprinkler nozzle connected to the at least one side wall configured to discharge a cleaning and/or disinfectant solution onto interior surfaces of the self-cleaning sectional panel tank.

A tank, such as a fermentation tank, includes a scraper blade assembly slideably coupled to a bottom surface of the tank. The scraper blade assembly includes a blade arranged to displace solids deposited on the bottom surface of the tank out through an aperture arranged flush with the bottom surface of the tank.

A method for removing sludge from a crude oil storage tank comprising a bottom and a moveable roof configured to float on the top of a quantity of crude oil disposed in said storage tank, where the method includes reducing a volume of crude oil in the storage tank to about a level of a sludge sediment in the storage tank, measuring a topology of the sludge disposed on said bottom, reliquefying asphaltene deposits, pumping the reliquefying asphaltene deposits out of the storage tank, wherein the method is performed without the entry of one or more persons into said storage tank.

A dual tank structure includes first and second tanks with a common secondary containment structure which are all integrally supported on a common base frame. The common base frame includes longitudinal skids so as to be suitable for transport using a conventional winch truck. A passageway with an integral valve therein permits selective communication between the tanks. The common containment structure has a containment volume which is greater than a storage volume of a largest one of the first tank and the second tank and which is less than a combined storage volume of both the first tank and the second tank.

A modular hopper assembly is provided and includes a plurality of pre-fabricated upper hopper modular units, a plurality of pre-fabricated middle hopper modular units, a plurality of pre-fabricated lower hopper modular units and a plurality of support members configured as a base, where the upper hopper modular units, the middle hopper modular units and the lower hopper modular units are each assembled, and then the assembled upper hopper modular units, the assembled middle hopper modular units and the assembled lower hopper modular units are connected together to form a hopper, where the hopper is mounted on the base.

A tank, such as a fermentation tank, includes a scraper blade assembly slideably coupled to a bottom surface of the tank. The scraper blade assembly includes a blade arranged to displace solids deposited on the bottom surface of the tank out through an aperture arranged flush with the bottom surface of the tank.