METHOD FOR HEATING AND DISPENSING ASPHALT IN AN ABOVEGROUND ASPHALT STORAGE FACILITY

Abstract

A method of heating and dispensing bitumen in an above-ground bitumen storage tank and bitumen terminal is that bitumen is heated. Bitumen is heated in the storage tank. Bitumen is heated in a casing installed in the tank with an intake and drainage pipe. Heated to a temperature of in-plant transportation at least 80? C. In the main storage tank volume bitumen is heated and maintained by heaters. This takes place outside the shell with the intake and drain pipe. Heating takes place at a temperature not lower than the flow temperature of 60? C.

Feed bitumen from the volume under the casing with the intake and drain pipe of the storage tank to the main volume of the working tank is carried out as the bitumen is discharged from the working tank. Bitumen in the working tank is heated in a casing installed in it with the intake and drain pipe. Bitumen is heated to a working temperature of not less than 140? C. Bitumen is heated with subsequent release to external transport or in the technological process. In the main volume of the working tank, outside the housing with the intake and drainage tube, bitumen is heated to a temperature not lower than 80? C. for in-plant transportation of bitumen. Bitumen heating is maintained by heaters.

Claims

1. The method of heating and dispensing bitumen in the above-ground bitumen storage and bitumen terminal is that bitumen is heated in the storage tank in a casing installed in it with the intake-drain pipe. Bitumen is heated to a temperature of in-plant transportation at least 80? C. wherein in the main storage tank volume outside the housing with the intake- drain pipe bitumen is heated and maintained by heaters and heated at a temperature not lower than the flow temperature 60? C. wherein in this case the bitumen supply from the volume under the storage tank shell with the intake and drain pipe in the main volume of the working tank is carried out as the bitumen is dispensed from the working tank wherein heating of bitumen in the working tank is carried out in a casing installed in it with the intake and drain pipe wherein heating to a working temperature of not less than 140? C. Heating with subsequent release to an external transport or in the technological process wherein in the main volume of the working tank, outside the housing preferably comprising the suction and drainage pipe, bitumen is heated to a temperature not lower than 80? C. for in-plant transportation of bitumen wherein Bitumen heating is maintained by heaters and bitumen in the storage tank is also heated and supported by heaters throughout the storage tank wherein bitumen is transported at a temperature not lower than 80? C. and bitumen is also fed into the main volume of the working tank. Bitumen is fed as used bitumen from the working tank wherein heating is maintained by heaters and bitumen in the working tank is also heated under the housing with the suction and drainage pipe and heating is carried out to a working temperature of not less than 140? C. wherein heating is conducted with subsequent release on an external transport or in the technological process and wherein in the main volume of the working tank, outside the housing with the suction and drainage pipe, bitumen is heated and maintained by heaters. This takes place at a temperature of in-plant transportation of bitumen not lower than 80? C.

Description

[0022] The essence of the invention is explained in the drawings:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a flowchart of the method;

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a scheme of implementing the method. Schematic without the hood with the intake and drain pipe in the storage tank;

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a schematic of the method for a terminal without a storage tank.

[0026] Technological equipment for the implementation of the method includes: [0027] storage tank 1; [0028] working tank 2 with heaters 3 in the main volume of the tank, casing 4 with the intake-drain pipe and heaters 5 under the casing.

[0029] The method is carried out as follows.

[0030] For a terminal with a storage tank and a working tank, the method is carried out according to the scheme in FIG. 1. The tanks are equipped with casings with intake and drain pipes. Filled with bitumen working tank 2 is a preparatory operation. Operations prior to the release of bitumen to external transport or in the process: [0031] bitumen in the main volume of the working tank 2 is heated to the temperature of in-plant transportation. It is heated outside the shell 4 with the intake and drain pipe. Heating by heaters 3 in the main volume of the working tank 2 at least 80? C. [0032] bitumen in the local volume is heated in the shell 4 with the intake and drain pipe. Bitumen is heated by heaters 5 under the housing 4 with the intake and drain pipe of the working tank 2. Heated to a shipment temperature of not less than 140? C.

[0033] Bitumen is taken by pumps and fed to external transport or to the technological process. As bitumen is taken from under the shell 4 with the intake and drain pipe of the working tank 2, bitumen flows by gravity to its place. Bitumen comes from the main volume outside the casing of the working tank 2. When the level of bitumen in the working tank 2 to the top mark of the housing 4 with the intake and drainage tube, bitumen in the main volume of the working tank 2 is replenished from the local volume of the housing 4 with the intake and drainage tube of the storage tank 1. This is to ensure the equal delivery of bitumen to external transportation or technological process. For this purpose, bitumen is preheated in the storage tank 1. Warmed up by heaters 3 the main volume of the storage tank 1. Bitumen is heated outside the housing 4 with the intake-drainage pipe. It is heated to a flow temperature not lower than 60? C. This ensures that the bitumen flows by gravity under the housing 4 with the intake and drainage pipe of the storage tank 1. Bitumen is also heated to the temperature of in-plant transportation (not lower than 80? C.). Bitumen is heated in the housing 4 with the intake and discharge pipe of the storage tank 1. It is heated by heaters 5 under the housing 4 with the intake-drainage pipe of the storage tank 1.

[0034] As bitumen is dispensed into the main volume of the working tank 2, bitumen from the main volume of the storage tank 1 flows by gravity to its place. Bitumen is dispensed from under the casing 4 with the intake and drainage pipe of the storage tank 1. For the particular case of the bitumen terminal, with the storage tank without the casing with the intake and drain pipe, the method is carried out according to the scheme in FIG. 2. And for the working tank, the method is carried out according to the diagram in FIG. 2. The tank is installed in a casing with the intake and drain pipe. Filled with bitumen working tank 2 undergoes preparatory operations. Operations before the release of bitumen to external transport or in the process: [0035] bitumen in the main volume of the working tank 2 is heated to the temperature of in-plant transportation. It is heated outside the shell 4 with the intake and drain pipe. Heated at least 80? C. by heaters 3 in the main volume of the working tank 2. [0036] bitumen in the local volume is heated in the shell 4 with the intake and drain pipe. Bitumen is heated by heaters 5 under the housing 4 with the intake and drain pipe of the working tank 2. Heated to a shipment temperature of not less than 140? C.

[0037] Bitumen is taken by pumps and fed to external transport or to the technological process. As bitumen is taken from under the shell 4 with the intake and drain pipe of the working tank 2, bitumen flows by gravity to its place. Bitumen comes from the main volume outside the casing of the working tank 2. When the level of bitumen in the working tank 2 to the top mark of the housing 4 with the intake and drainage tube, bitumen in the main volume of the working tank 2 is replenished from the local volume of the housing 4 with the intake and drainage tube of the storage tank 1. This is to ensure the equal delivery of bitumen to external transportation or technological process. For this purpose, bitumen is preheated in the storage tank 1. Heated by heaters 3 the main volume of the storage tank 1. It is heated to a flow temperature of not less than 80? C. This temperature provides pumping or gravity feed of bitumen into the main volume of the working tank 2.

[0038] For the particular case of bitumen terminal applies the scheme of implementation of the method according to FIG. 3. Terminal with one tank or with the number of tanks corresponding to the number of stored bitumen grades. According to the scheme, each tank of the terminal is a working tank. A casing with an intake and discharge pipe is installed in the tank. Filled with bitumen, the working tank 2 undergoes preparatory operations. Operations before the beginning of the release of bitumen to external transport or in the process: [0039] bitumen in the main volume of the working tank 2 is heated to the temperature of in-plant transportation. It is heated outside the shell 4 with the intake and drain pipe. Heated at least 80? C. by heaters 3 in the main volume of the working tank 2. [0040] bitumen in the local volume is heated in the shell 4 with the intake and drain pipe. Bitumen is heated by heaters 5 under the housing 4 with the intake and drain pipe of the working tank 2. Heated to a shipment temperature of not less than 140? C.

[0041] Bitumen is taken by pumps and fed to external transport or to the technological process. As bitumen is taken from under the shell 4 with the intake and drain pipe of the working tank 2, bitumen flows by gravity to its place. Bitumen comes from the main volume outside the casing of the working tank 2.

[0042] Introduction of the shell with the intake and drain pipe in the working tank and bringing bitumen in it to the temperatures of shipment to external transport or in the process allows to exclude horizontal or vertical tanks of intensive heating. The introduction of the shell allows for a reduction in energy consumption. Reducing at the expense of useful use of heat loss from the shell with the intake-discharge pipe for heating bitumen in the main storage volume. The introduction of the shell allows to ensure the preservation of bitumen quality. Preservation of quality due to the use of the shell with the intake and drain pipe. Use at the high-temperature stage of preparation. The pipe has a much smaller bitumen mirror area (oxidation area) than in horizontal or vertical tanks of intensive heating.

[0043] Introduction of the shell with the intake and drain pipe into the storage tank and heating to the temperature of in-plant bitumen transportation provides a reduction of energy costs. Heating only the local volume of bitumen under the shell with the intake and drainage pipe. The heat loss from the shell with the drainpipe is useful. The heat loss ensures that the bitumen in the main volume of the storage tank is warmed up and maintains its temperature.