CA2745857A1 - No-entry bulk oil storage tank cleaning system when tank is full - Google Patents
No-entry bulk oil storage tank cleaning system when tank is full Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2745857A1 CA2745857A1 CA 2745857 CA2745857A CA2745857A1 CA 2745857 A1 CA2745857 A1 CA 2745857A1 CA 2745857 CA2745857 CA 2745857 CA 2745857 A CA2745857 A CA 2745857A CA 2745857 A1 CA2745857 A1 CA 2745857A1
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- Prior art keywords
- tank
- vacuum
- sediment
- pressure
- cleaning
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- Abandoned
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B08—CLEANING
- B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto
- B08B9/08—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
- B08B9/093—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by the force of jets or sprays
- B08B9/0933—Removing sludge or the like from tank bottoms
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Cleaning In General (AREA)
Abstract
A tank cleaning system used to clean sediment within large storage tanks, particularly crude oil tank bottoms, when the tanks are full by way of entering any of several valves located near the bottom of every tank.
The cleaning system utilizes a large vacuum source delivered through a vacuum conduit containing internally a medium pressure hose with nozzle at the suction point delivering hot water downward to dislodge conglomerate sediment in tank bottoms for easy vacuuming to a vacuum truck. The guide box includes a sealing and bushing guiding arrangement to allow access to the tank with a vacuum conduit pipe without leakage to the ground.
The guide box with self contained vacuum pipe sealing system and pressure equalizer system and leakage control system screws into the tank valve orifice and allows a vacuum conduit to penetrate the tanks remote bottom areas through the access valves raising cleaning efficiency dramatically and reducing cleaning events by up to 8 times.
The guide box screwed into an access valve allows the operator to push and pull the vacuum conduit to engage the sediment in the bottom of the storage tank. The vacuum conduit is connected to a vacuum truck and is pushed in and out of the tank by the operator to affect the cleaning process.
The cleaning system utilizes a large vacuum source delivered through a vacuum conduit containing internally a medium pressure hose with nozzle at the suction point delivering hot water downward to dislodge conglomerate sediment in tank bottoms for easy vacuuming to a vacuum truck. The guide box includes a sealing and bushing guiding arrangement to allow access to the tank with a vacuum conduit pipe without leakage to the ground.
The guide box with self contained vacuum pipe sealing system and pressure equalizer system and leakage control system screws into the tank valve orifice and allows a vacuum conduit to penetrate the tanks remote bottom areas through the access valves raising cleaning efficiency dramatically and reducing cleaning events by up to 8 times.
The guide box screwed into an access valve allows the operator to push and pull the vacuum conduit to engage the sediment in the bottom of the storage tank. The vacuum conduit is connected to a vacuum truck and is pushed in and out of the tank by the operator to affect the cleaning process.
Description
NO-ENTRY BULK OIL STORAGE TANK CLEANING SYSTEM WHEN TANK IS
FULL
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(A) Field of the Invention This invention relates to the cleaning of large storage tanks, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to the no man entry cleaning of a bulk oil storage tank and removing sediments from the bottom of the tank when the tank is partially full or full.
(B) Discussion of Prior Art Heretofore, large bulk oil storage tanks, ranging in size from 400 to 40,000 plus barrels of crude oil, have been cleaned periodically to maintain the capacity of the tank and remove sediments from the tank such as, sand, clay, water, heavy oil, and asphaltic sludge. Also, the buildup of the sediments in the tank can plug up the oil discharge valves in the tank incapacitating the efficient removal of tank fluids.
Currently during the bulk tank cleaning process, one or two workman insert a small pipe of approximately one inch in diameter with nozzle through a sealing arrangement through a tank bottom unloading valve. A vacuum hose is attached to the unloading valve at the face of the tank to suck out sediment dislodged by the pressure pipe which can extend across the tank in a straight line. No measures are now taken to bend the pressure pipe so as to jet water into corners of the tank.
The water pressure guide unit mounted on the tank's surface valve vacuums sediments, water, and clean oil, relying only on gravity to carry sediments across the tank bottom initiated by water flooding from the water injection process. A
large volume of water is used which must be disposed of later at significant cost and only a small portion of the water aided sediment gravitates from across the tank to the surface valve where the vacuum hose is attached.
in addition, if the pressure and volume of water is not regulated exactly in the intrusive water injection pipe, the sediment is stirred up into the clean oil causing major problems in the clean oil carry over tank or tank transfer valves.
The subject no-entry, tank cleaning system eliminates large volumes of uncontrolled water to be injected into the tank, no erratic stirring of sediment is initiated, and the vacuum source actually enters and crosses the tank to the far side and corners cleaning most of the tank bottom without stirring up sediment with a 6-8 to one reduction in reoccurring costly cleaning events. Sediments are removed without using large amounts of pressure water initiated by the intrusive pressure wand, and without drawing down large amounts of clean crude oil from the above oil layer which must be disposed of at high cost. Disposal companies do not usually give credit for good crude delivered to their cleaning plant while charging for the number of cubes in the delivery vacuum truck.
FULL
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(A) Field of the Invention This invention relates to the cleaning of large storage tanks, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to the no man entry cleaning of a bulk oil storage tank and removing sediments from the bottom of the tank when the tank is partially full or full.
(B) Discussion of Prior Art Heretofore, large bulk oil storage tanks, ranging in size from 400 to 40,000 plus barrels of crude oil, have been cleaned periodically to maintain the capacity of the tank and remove sediments from the tank such as, sand, clay, water, heavy oil, and asphaltic sludge. Also, the buildup of the sediments in the tank can plug up the oil discharge valves in the tank incapacitating the efficient removal of tank fluids.
Currently during the bulk tank cleaning process, one or two workman insert a small pipe of approximately one inch in diameter with nozzle through a sealing arrangement through a tank bottom unloading valve. A vacuum hose is attached to the unloading valve at the face of the tank to suck out sediment dislodged by the pressure pipe which can extend across the tank in a straight line. No measures are now taken to bend the pressure pipe so as to jet water into corners of the tank.
The water pressure guide unit mounted on the tank's surface valve vacuums sediments, water, and clean oil, relying only on gravity to carry sediments across the tank bottom initiated by water flooding from the water injection process. A
large volume of water is used which must be disposed of later at significant cost and only a small portion of the water aided sediment gravitates from across the tank to the surface valve where the vacuum hose is attached.
in addition, if the pressure and volume of water is not regulated exactly in the intrusive water injection pipe, the sediment is stirred up into the clean oil causing major problems in the clean oil carry over tank or tank transfer valves.
The subject no-entry, tank cleaning system eliminates large volumes of uncontrolled water to be injected into the tank, no erratic stirring of sediment is initiated, and the vacuum source actually enters and crosses the tank to the far side and corners cleaning most of the tank bottom without stirring up sediment with a 6-8 to one reduction in reoccurring costly cleaning events. Sediments are removed without using large amounts of pressure water initiated by the intrusive pressure wand, and without drawing down large amounts of clean crude oil from the above oil layer which must be disposed of at high cost. Disposal companies do not usually give credit for good crude delivered to their cleaning plant while charging for the number of cubes in the delivery vacuum truck.
SUMMARRY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is a primary objective of the subject invention to provide a tank cleaning system which reduces cleaning events by 6-8 times or in other words extends tank cleaning events up to eight times longer.
Another key object of the invention is the cleaning of tank bottoms with minimal water usage which minimizes disposal cost.
Still another objective of the invention is to eliminate the disturbance of sediment up into the clean oil layer above the sediment layer.
Another objective is to remove sediment and not clean crude that is lost to the cleaning facility while being charged for the delivery.
The subject tank cleaning system includes several configurations of vacuum conduits with an inner medium pressure hose with nozzle jet and related sealing apparatus so as to allow the actual vacuum pipe source to enter the tank through the clean out valves and protrude across the tank and into all areas of the tank for complete bottom sediment removal when the tank is full. The pressure hose inside the vacuum conduit has a nozzle located in the usnout" of the protruding vacuum pipe and jets low pressure hot water down into the sediment dislodging it for vacuum removal.
These and other unique apparatus and methods of the present invention will become apparent to those familiar with the cleaning of sediment in large bulk oil storage tanks when reviewing the following detailed descriptions, showing novel construction, combination, and elements as herein described, and more particularly defined by the claims, it being understood that changes in the embodiments of the disclosed invention are meant to be included as coming within the scope of the claims, except insofar as they may precluded by the prior art.
In view of the foregoing, it is a primary objective of the subject invention to provide a tank cleaning system which reduces cleaning events by 6-8 times or in other words extends tank cleaning events up to eight times longer.
Another key object of the invention is the cleaning of tank bottoms with minimal water usage which minimizes disposal cost.
Still another objective of the invention is to eliminate the disturbance of sediment up into the clean oil layer above the sediment layer.
Another objective is to remove sediment and not clean crude that is lost to the cleaning facility while being charged for the delivery.
The subject tank cleaning system includes several configurations of vacuum conduits with an inner medium pressure hose with nozzle jet and related sealing apparatus so as to allow the actual vacuum pipe source to enter the tank through the clean out valves and protrude across the tank and into all areas of the tank for complete bottom sediment removal when the tank is full. The pressure hose inside the vacuum conduit has a nozzle located in the usnout" of the protruding vacuum pipe and jets low pressure hot water down into the sediment dislodging it for vacuum removal.
These and other unique apparatus and methods of the present invention will become apparent to those familiar with the cleaning of sediment in large bulk oil storage tanks when reviewing the following detailed descriptions, showing novel construction, combination, and elements as herein described, and more particularly defined by the claims, it being understood that changes in the embodiments of the disclosed invention are meant to be included as coming within the scope of the claims, except insofar as they may precluded by the prior art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PICTURES
The accompanying pictures illustrate complete preferred embodiments in the present invention according to the best modes presently devised for the practical application of subject tank cleaning system, and in which Picture 1. is a perspective view of subject tank cleaning apparatus threaded into a tank plug opening on the side of a large bulk oil tank. The gate valve is inside the vault valve closet. When the valve is opened and all vacuum hoses are hooked up, the cleaning flex-hose is pushed into the tank body even when it is full of fluid to remove tank bottom sediment.
Picture 2. Is a perspective view of the subject tank cleaning apparatus showing a solid pipe that can extend across the diameter of a full tank through a ball valve or gate valve to remove tank bottom sediment. A curved pipe is incorporated in the system as well to access the right and left tank quadrants.
Picture 3. is a perspective view of the inside the vacuum pipe low pressure hose installation and water spray nozzle located in the "snout" of the vacuum cleaning pipe.
Picture 4. Is a perspective view of the water jet input system with pressure gauge and pressure control valve to limit over stirring of tank sludge. Note also the flexible vacuum hose connected to the tank vacuum pipe leading to the vacuum truck.
The accompanying pictures illustrate complete preferred embodiments in the present invention according to the best modes presently devised for the practical application of subject tank cleaning system, and in which Picture 1. is a perspective view of subject tank cleaning apparatus threaded into a tank plug opening on the side of a large bulk oil tank. The gate valve is inside the vault valve closet. When the valve is opened and all vacuum hoses are hooked up, the cleaning flex-hose is pushed into the tank body even when it is full of fluid to remove tank bottom sediment.
Picture 2. Is a perspective view of the subject tank cleaning apparatus showing a solid pipe that can extend across the diameter of a full tank through a ball valve or gate valve to remove tank bottom sediment. A curved pipe is incorporated in the system as well to access the right and left tank quadrants.
Picture 3. is a perspective view of the inside the vacuum pipe low pressure hose installation and water spray nozzle located in the "snout" of the vacuum cleaning pipe.
Picture 4. Is a perspective view of the water jet input system with pressure gauge and pressure control valve to limit over stirring of tank sludge. Note also the flexible vacuum hose connected to the tank vacuum pipe leading to the vacuum truck.
Picture 5. Is a perspective view of three features of this apparatus. Note pressure gage and valve to regulate a counter pressure against the tank's static crude oil pressure.
Note the vertical valve designed to regulate the amount of vacuum input air so as to not suck oil from tank into the leakage reservoir shown below with the "clear"
joint of pipe but solely to keep the leakage compartment dry. Note the vacuum hose connected to the leakage chamber such that any tank oil leakage past seals around the vacuum pipe will be vacuumed into the vacuum truck. Not visible are 3 seals and guide bushings arranged in front and back of the pressure equalizer chamber and one seal at the rear of the leakage chamber to keep leakage from contacting the ground.
Picture 6. Is a perspective view of my proprietary designed sliding mechanical seal to accommodate a bowed vacuum pipe such that as the bowed pipe is pushed into the tank the seal moves side ways so the vacuum pipe does not bind on the rear and front guide bushings and seals. Also, note the long extension on the end of the pipe guide apparatus. It is designed to keep the flex-tubing straight through the vault valve entry pipe 24 inches within the valve vault of the tank.
While the invention has been particularly shown, described and illustrated in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments and modifications thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit an scope of the invention as claimed except as precluded by the prior art.
DETAILED DECRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In picture 1, a perspective view of subject tank cleaning system is shown having a general reference numeral 10. The cleaning system 10, in this embodiment, is shown connected to the tank plug opening by way of the vacuum tube guide apparatus 5A. The tube guide 5A is screwed into the tank with threaded portion9. The guide pressure equalizer compartment) I is then connected to the large bulk crude at the base of the tank as an element of the tube guide5A.
The pressure equalizer compartment 11 has bushings and seals forward and aft and maintains an equalizing pressure by allowing water under pressure to enter the equalizer chamber via the valve 15 and the internal pressure is adjusted to the oil static pressure by observing the pressure gage6 and estimating the pressure in the tank by observing the tank fluid level indicator. So, if the tank has 20 feet of static pressure the equalizer pressure is adjusted to approximately 20'x .4psi = 12psi.. At this point, the oil does not enter the equalizer compartment and water slowly enters the tank oil side of the seals. In the event some oil and sediment enters the equalizer and then passes to the vacuum"T"l2 it is readily vacuumed up and carried to the vacuum truck via.
the down spout with clear view pipe 14 connected to the vacuum"T"12 compartment. A seal and mechanical guide is placed aft of the "T" 12 compartment to avoid sediment leaking onto the ground. Hose 19 is under vacuum by the vacuum truck so the tank valve is opened and the vacuum tube/ hose is pushed into the tank through the bushings and seals.
Vacuum hose 17 has a pressure line inside and a nozzle to pressure dislodge the tank bottom sediment and the vacuum generated by the vacuum truck sucks up the sediment.
In picture 2 we have an almost identical vacuum pipe guide5B to perform the tank bottom cleaning process 10 except it has smaller seals and bushings as the pipe vacuum tube is smaller than theflex hose style of vacuum tube and hence the guides and seals are designed for each style of vacuum tube. Cleaning processl0 is accomplished by initiating a suction from the vacuum truck and the vacuum pipe 17 is pushed into the tank through the guide apparatus5B until it engages the sediment. A water pressure line is attached to the outside truck end of the vacuum pipel7described under a different picture and plumbed inside the vacuum pipe with a nozzle on the tank end designed to dislodge sediment with medium pressure and 150 degree water. 6 A vacuum relief valve 13 mounted on the leakage"T"12 compartment is designed to relieve too much vacuum suction if sediment is sucked over into the leakage compartment12 from the equalizer compartment. An operator then performs the tank cleaning proceedure 10 by pushing the vacuum hose/pipe into the tank until it engages the sediment which is vacuumed into the vacuum truck.
In picture3 the view is of the "snout"tank end of the vacuum pipe 17 that engages the tank sediment with minimal water/sediment disturbance. There is a water pressure line20 inside the vacuum hose/pipel7 with a water jet nozzle21 attached. The jet spray is in a fan shape pointing downward to cut the sediment sufficiently with hot water to dislodge and cause the material to vacuum up speedily without stirring the sediment up into the clean oil layer above the vacuum pipe 17. The hooked snout22 is on top as the tube enters the tank and is designed to direct the water jet flow fan shape and down to avoid stirring the sediment into the clean oil layer above.
In picture4 the view recognizes the water jetting input system consisting of pressure gauge-23, 90degree elbow26 connected to the internal pressure line, pressure adjusting valve24 and input fitting25. The pressure line is internal to the vacuum hose and water at 60-100psi is jetted out through the vacuum cleaning pipe snout as shown in picture 3. Hot water atl50degress is jetted against the snout downward from a small oval shaped orifice dislodging conglomerate sediment without excessive water use and without stirring the sediment into the clean oil layer. Sediment contamination of valves can be very costly if the sediment is carried to a pipe line or over into a clean oil tank.
In picture5 the pressure equalizerl I compartment of the vacuum pipe guide5A
or 5B is designed to counter balance the intrusion of semi-fluid sediment from the static oil pressure exerted by the full or partially full crude oil tank. Every foot of static pressure for heavy oil is approximately 0.4psi. per vertical foot so by observing the tank float gauge height the pressure needed to counterbalance the intrusion of sediment into the equalizerl 1 chamber is calculated and a slight over pressure is regulated by adjusting the input valvel5on the pressure line from the truck pressure system to one plus psi allowing some minimal amounts of water to enter the tank.
The leakage catcher chamber "T"l2 is designed with seals for and aft and with a continuos vacuum exerted sucking any leakage of sediment that gets past the counterbalance chamber. Any sediment is readily vacuumed to the vacuum truck. So as to not over suck the equalizer compartment and needlessly cause sediment to inter the leakage compartment a vacuum control valve 13 is threaded into the leakage chamber for easy adjustment to allow free air to enter the leakage chamber reducing the vacuum suction when needed. The 90 degree down fittingl4 is designed to be removed when the guideunit5A is screwed into the tank's valve as the height of the valve will not allow the guide5A to be threaded into the tank valve. When the guide unit is upside down the down tube 14 is installed and afterward rolled over to the side.
In picture-6 there is a proprietary sliding mechanical seal 18 designed to shift sideways in the guide units 5A and 5B allowing a curved vacuum pipe to pass through the vacuum pipe guide units 5A or 5B without binding in the seals. The need for a curved vacuum pipe with internal pressure hose and nozzle is needed to access the right and left quadrant of the tank bottom for quick cleaning, Picture6 also shows an extension27 to fitting9 to be used when the flex vacuum hose is used at the vault valve which is recessed 24inches and it is necessary to keep the flex hose straight so as not to bind and jam at the internal (24`+) gate valve in the tank vault compartment.
While the invention has been particularly shown, described and pictured in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments and modifications thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art of tank cleaning that an equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as claimed except as precluded by the prior art. 8
Note the vertical valve designed to regulate the amount of vacuum input air so as to not suck oil from tank into the leakage reservoir shown below with the "clear"
joint of pipe but solely to keep the leakage compartment dry. Note the vacuum hose connected to the leakage chamber such that any tank oil leakage past seals around the vacuum pipe will be vacuumed into the vacuum truck. Not visible are 3 seals and guide bushings arranged in front and back of the pressure equalizer chamber and one seal at the rear of the leakage chamber to keep leakage from contacting the ground.
Picture 6. Is a perspective view of my proprietary designed sliding mechanical seal to accommodate a bowed vacuum pipe such that as the bowed pipe is pushed into the tank the seal moves side ways so the vacuum pipe does not bind on the rear and front guide bushings and seals. Also, note the long extension on the end of the pipe guide apparatus. It is designed to keep the flex-tubing straight through the vault valve entry pipe 24 inches within the valve vault of the tank.
While the invention has been particularly shown, described and illustrated in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments and modifications thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit an scope of the invention as claimed except as precluded by the prior art.
DETAILED DECRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In picture 1, a perspective view of subject tank cleaning system is shown having a general reference numeral 10. The cleaning system 10, in this embodiment, is shown connected to the tank plug opening by way of the vacuum tube guide apparatus 5A. The tube guide 5A is screwed into the tank with threaded portion9. The guide pressure equalizer compartment) I is then connected to the large bulk crude at the base of the tank as an element of the tube guide5A.
The pressure equalizer compartment 11 has bushings and seals forward and aft and maintains an equalizing pressure by allowing water under pressure to enter the equalizer chamber via the valve 15 and the internal pressure is adjusted to the oil static pressure by observing the pressure gage6 and estimating the pressure in the tank by observing the tank fluid level indicator. So, if the tank has 20 feet of static pressure the equalizer pressure is adjusted to approximately 20'x .4psi = 12psi.. At this point, the oil does not enter the equalizer compartment and water slowly enters the tank oil side of the seals. In the event some oil and sediment enters the equalizer and then passes to the vacuum"T"l2 it is readily vacuumed up and carried to the vacuum truck via.
the down spout with clear view pipe 14 connected to the vacuum"T"12 compartment. A seal and mechanical guide is placed aft of the "T" 12 compartment to avoid sediment leaking onto the ground. Hose 19 is under vacuum by the vacuum truck so the tank valve is opened and the vacuum tube/ hose is pushed into the tank through the bushings and seals.
Vacuum hose 17 has a pressure line inside and a nozzle to pressure dislodge the tank bottom sediment and the vacuum generated by the vacuum truck sucks up the sediment.
In picture 2 we have an almost identical vacuum pipe guide5B to perform the tank bottom cleaning process 10 except it has smaller seals and bushings as the pipe vacuum tube is smaller than theflex hose style of vacuum tube and hence the guides and seals are designed for each style of vacuum tube. Cleaning processl0 is accomplished by initiating a suction from the vacuum truck and the vacuum pipe 17 is pushed into the tank through the guide apparatus5B until it engages the sediment. A water pressure line is attached to the outside truck end of the vacuum pipel7described under a different picture and plumbed inside the vacuum pipe with a nozzle on the tank end designed to dislodge sediment with medium pressure and 150 degree water. 6 A vacuum relief valve 13 mounted on the leakage"T"12 compartment is designed to relieve too much vacuum suction if sediment is sucked over into the leakage compartment12 from the equalizer compartment. An operator then performs the tank cleaning proceedure 10 by pushing the vacuum hose/pipe into the tank until it engages the sediment which is vacuumed into the vacuum truck.
In picture3 the view is of the "snout"tank end of the vacuum pipe 17 that engages the tank sediment with minimal water/sediment disturbance. There is a water pressure line20 inside the vacuum hose/pipel7 with a water jet nozzle21 attached. The jet spray is in a fan shape pointing downward to cut the sediment sufficiently with hot water to dislodge and cause the material to vacuum up speedily without stirring the sediment up into the clean oil layer above the vacuum pipe 17. The hooked snout22 is on top as the tube enters the tank and is designed to direct the water jet flow fan shape and down to avoid stirring the sediment into the clean oil layer above.
In picture4 the view recognizes the water jetting input system consisting of pressure gauge-23, 90degree elbow26 connected to the internal pressure line, pressure adjusting valve24 and input fitting25. The pressure line is internal to the vacuum hose and water at 60-100psi is jetted out through the vacuum cleaning pipe snout as shown in picture 3. Hot water atl50degress is jetted against the snout downward from a small oval shaped orifice dislodging conglomerate sediment without excessive water use and without stirring the sediment into the clean oil layer. Sediment contamination of valves can be very costly if the sediment is carried to a pipe line or over into a clean oil tank.
In picture5 the pressure equalizerl I compartment of the vacuum pipe guide5A
or 5B is designed to counter balance the intrusion of semi-fluid sediment from the static oil pressure exerted by the full or partially full crude oil tank. Every foot of static pressure for heavy oil is approximately 0.4psi. per vertical foot so by observing the tank float gauge height the pressure needed to counterbalance the intrusion of sediment into the equalizerl 1 chamber is calculated and a slight over pressure is regulated by adjusting the input valvel5on the pressure line from the truck pressure system to one plus psi allowing some minimal amounts of water to enter the tank.
The leakage catcher chamber "T"l2 is designed with seals for and aft and with a continuos vacuum exerted sucking any leakage of sediment that gets past the counterbalance chamber. Any sediment is readily vacuumed to the vacuum truck. So as to not over suck the equalizer compartment and needlessly cause sediment to inter the leakage compartment a vacuum control valve 13 is threaded into the leakage chamber for easy adjustment to allow free air to enter the leakage chamber reducing the vacuum suction when needed. The 90 degree down fittingl4 is designed to be removed when the guideunit5A is screwed into the tank's valve as the height of the valve will not allow the guide5A to be threaded into the tank valve. When the guide unit is upside down the down tube 14 is installed and afterward rolled over to the side.
In picture-6 there is a proprietary sliding mechanical seal 18 designed to shift sideways in the guide units 5A and 5B allowing a curved vacuum pipe to pass through the vacuum pipe guide units 5A or 5B without binding in the seals. The need for a curved vacuum pipe with internal pressure hose and nozzle is needed to access the right and left quadrant of the tank bottom for quick cleaning, Picture6 also shows an extension27 to fitting9 to be used when the flex vacuum hose is used at the vault valve which is recessed 24inches and it is necessary to keep the flex hose straight so as not to bind and jam at the internal (24`+) gate valve in the tank vault compartment.
While the invention has been particularly shown, described and pictured in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments and modifications thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art of tank cleaning that an equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as claimed except as precluded by the prior art. 8
Claims (9)
1. A no entry crude oil tank or any other type fluid container cleaning system adapted for receipt through container/tank valves when the tank is full or partially full for removing tank bottom sediment. The operator of the cleaning system accesses any of several valves that may allow entry through a proprietary sealing system and remains outside the tank in a safe environment.
A key advatage of the complete system is the adaptability of cleaning a bulk tank that is in a close retainer wherein the flex vacuum hose is used in a coil configuration requiring five feet of clearance to the tank valve.
The system comprising of:
A vacuum tube or hose adapted for delivering a large CFM vacuum inside the tank bottom, a sealing system and apparatus which maintains the content of the tank not to leak on the ground outside the tank, a vacuum tube internal water jetting system; whereby, when the hot water under pressure fan jets minimum water flow through a small orifice at moderate pressure downward into the sediment engaging, dissolving bitumen, and loosening the sediment without stirring up sediment into the clean oil layer, whence the vacuum pipe delivers the sediment to the vacuum truck.
A key advatage of the complete system is the adaptability of cleaning a bulk tank that is in a close retainer wherein the flex vacuum hose is used in a coil configuration requiring five feet of clearance to the tank valve.
The system comprising of:
A vacuum tube or hose adapted for delivering a large CFM vacuum inside the tank bottom, a sealing system and apparatus which maintains the content of the tank not to leak on the ground outside the tank, a vacuum tube internal water jetting system; whereby, when the hot water under pressure fan jets minimum water flow through a small orifice at moderate pressure downward into the sediment engaging, dissolving bitumen, and loosening the sediment without stirring up sediment into the clean oil layer, whence the vacuum pipe delivers the sediment to the vacuum truck.
2. The cleaning system as described in claim 1 wherein the vacuum pipe with internal pressure hose and nozzle guide apparatus which seals out leakage from the tank and guides the vacuum pipe or flex hose through the tank valve for engagement and receiving the loosened sediment.
3. The cleaning system and apparatus described in claim 1. Wherein the vacuum tubes are either straight or curved to access remote areas of the tank thereby improving cleaning efficiency dramatically over the current water wash gravity system.
4. The cleaning system and apparatus as described in claims I and 2 whereby the guide apparatus5A and 5B besides sealing and guiding is designed to collect leakage past the seals in the leakage "T" chamber after the pressure equalizer chamber of the guide units 5A and 5B.
5. The cleaning system as described in claim 1, in addition to straight and curved tubes to access remote tank bottom cleaning areas also utilizes a flex vacuum tube with internal water jet system and unique sealing system in guide5B. This vacuum flex tube is able to be used in close quarters requiring only 4 feet of free space and the vacuum hose can access remote areas of the tank adding to afore mentioned efficiency of the curved and straight vacuum tubes.
6.The cleaning system as described in claim 1. Wherein the vacuum pipe's internal pressure hose jets and loosens the sediment for vacuum truck removal has an access tube to a hot water pressure unit that is regulated by a valve with pressure gage -in series.
7. The cleaning system as described in claim 1 wherein the equalizer compartment of guides 5A
and5B have an adjustable valve and visual pressure gage so the operator can readily equalize the static pressure in the tank. The valve regulator unit is attached to the pressure truck via a pressure hose.
and5B have an adjustable valve and visual pressure gage so the operator can readily equalize the static pressure in the tank. The valve regulator unit is attached to the pressure truck via a pressure hose.
8. The cleaning system as described in claim 1. Wherein any leakage in the guide unit compartment equalizer to leakage compartment is collected through the down spout and leakage is continually vacuumed into the vacuum truck.
9. The cleaning system as described in claim 1 wherein the leakage compartment is under steady vacuum and must be regulated so as to not "over suck"(provide negative pressure) to the equalizer compartment of guides 5A and 5B. Therefore, the leakage compartment has plumbed in an adjustable air inlet valve to minimize the negative vacuum pressure.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2745857 CA2745857A1 (en) | 2011-07-22 | 2011-07-22 | No-entry bulk oil storage tank cleaning system when tank is full |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2745857 CA2745857A1 (en) | 2011-07-22 | 2011-07-22 | No-entry bulk oil storage tank cleaning system when tank is full |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2745857A1 true CA2745857A1 (en) | 2013-01-22 |
Family
ID=47599187
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2745857 Abandoned CA2745857A1 (en) | 2011-07-22 | 2011-07-22 | No-entry bulk oil storage tank cleaning system when tank is full |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2745857A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN103203345A (en) * | 2013-03-04 | 2013-07-17 | 中国十七冶集团有限公司 | Construction method of prefabricating and washing oil pipe |
| CN105499239A (en) * | 2015-12-17 | 2016-04-20 | 大庆市先科石油机械设备有限公司 | Oil tank and sewage tank mechanical automatic cleaning and recovery system and method |
| US11179754B2 (en) * | 2018-09-07 | 2021-11-23 | Warrior Technologies, LLC | Ground tank cleaning method and system |
-
2011
- 2011-07-22 CA CA 2745857 patent/CA2745857A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN103203345A (en) * | 2013-03-04 | 2013-07-17 | 中国十七冶集团有限公司 | Construction method of prefabricating and washing oil pipe |
| CN103203345B (en) * | 2013-03-04 | 2015-05-20 | 中国十七冶集团有限公司 | Construction method of prefabricating and washing oil pipe |
| CN105499239A (en) * | 2015-12-17 | 2016-04-20 | 大庆市先科石油机械设备有限公司 | Oil tank and sewage tank mechanical automatic cleaning and recovery system and method |
| CN105499239B (en) * | 2015-12-17 | 2017-11-03 | 大庆市先科石油机械设备有限公司 | Oil storage tank Water Tank machine automatization clearing and retrieving system and method |
| US11179754B2 (en) * | 2018-09-07 | 2021-11-23 | Warrior Technologies, LLC | Ground tank cleaning method and system |
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