MAINTENANCE: TANK CLEANING SYSTEM
Crude oil is usually
stored in floating roof
tanks with a capacity
of around 5,000 m2 to
100,000 m2. Over time, a
layer of paraffin, sand, rust
and heavy metals (inorganic
components of crude oil)
builds up on the bottom of
the tank through
sedimentation, along with
organic components of the
crude oil (this is referred to
as the formation of
“sludge”).
In some countries,
statutory regulations require
the operators of tanks for
storing flammable liquids to
have leak tests performed
every five years (every 10
years for double bottom
tanks). However, the tanks
need to be completely
emptied and cleaned before
they can be inspected, which
also involves removing the
sludge. In a tank with a
volume of 100,000 m2 and a
diameter of about 100m, the
area of the tank bottom that
needs cleaning is around
7,500 m2 - equivalent to the
size of a football field.
BTS tank cleaning
For over ten years, the
German company Buchen
has been using the
innovative BTS tank cleaning
system for cleaning crude oil
storage tanks. This is an
automated process suitable
for cleaning all types of
tanks (both fixed roof and
floating roof tanks with a
diameter of up to 100m)
without using personnel. The
main drawback of traditional
manual procedures is that
emission levels are too high
and safety standards too
low. Costs are also steeper,
since manual cleaning
requires more personnel and
takes longer. These negative
factors can be avoided using
the automated BTS system
where the tank is closed
during cleaning and
emissions are minimised. As
well as ensuring the
environmentally friendly
removal of residues, it allows
valuable crude oil (paraffin)
to be recovered
