4.2) Asphalt tank heater
Asphalt is the most dense and viscous part of petroleum. Its main application is on road paving,
bonding stone particles. Above 120ºC, it presents a relatively low viscosity which makes it
possible to transport through pumps, pipes, and tanks. At room temperature asphalt is practically
solid and mechanically resistant.
In order to avoid solidification, asphalt tanks must be maintained above 120°C by vapor coils at
their bottom. The 11 bar saturated water vapor flows keeps the coils at approximately 180ºC. This
water vapor is usually generated a few hundred meters away from the tanks, which causes the problem
of vapor condensation in the long pipe lines.
In order to avoid steam waste, as well as to increase the tank temperature, LABTUCAL is
developing two asphalt tank heaters. One is a a
loop thermosyphon with the condenser
being the existing steam coils, and the other is based on a conventional thermosyphon
array. In both cases, the evaporators are placed next to the asphalt tank, and are heated
by natural gas combustion. The systems are are indepentend of the plant steam supply
system, which means they are more powerful and more efficient than the traditional
heater, and with better temperature control.
Publications:
COSTA, C.; BORGES, T.; MILANEZ, F. H.; MANTELLI, M. B. H. Uso da Tecnologia de Tubos de Calor para Aquecimento de Tanques de Armazenamento de Asfalto Através do Gás Natural. In: 4º Edição Prêmio Petrobrás de Tecnologia, 2008, Rio de Janeiro.
MILANEZ, F. H.; MANTELLI, M. B. H. A Loop Thermosyphon for Asphalt Tank Heating. In: 8th International Heat Pipe Symposium, 2006, Kumamoto - Japão, 2006.
MANTELLI, M. B. H.; MILANEZ, F. H.; COSTA, C. Aquecimento de Tanques de Cimento Asfáltico de Petróleo Através da Tecnologia de Termossifões Bifásicos. In: 1º Seminário da Rede Gás & Energia, 2006, Rio de Janeiro.
