Diesel Fuel Skid enables Tanker Unloading in under 30 minutes
PUMPS ANGOLA CASE STUDY
NORTH RIDGE PUMPS
Diesel Fuel Skid enables Tanker Unloading in under 30 minutes
Our latest case study focuses on a project we recently carried out for a power station in Angola in central Africa . They were looking to improve tanker unloading at the site , and wanted a diesel fuel skid to help achieve an unloading rate of 1800L a minute , or US 480 gallons a minute .
What is a diesel fuel unloading skid ?
Bulk deliveries of fuels , chemicals and liquid food products are usually transported by either road or rail . These are the most cost-effective and seamless ways to bulk deliver essential chemicals needed as part of a process or as raw materials for production .
When tankers arrive on site or at a main depot for filling or refuelling there needs to be an efficient way to load and unload these liquids in bulk – quickly , safely and with little wastage ensuring containers delivering raw materials are stripped of all fluid .
This is where loading or unloading pumps come in . When these pumps are mounted on a common baseplate along with other accessories such as flowmeters , pressure transducers or switches and a control panel , the whole unit is called a pump skid .
The client in Angola wanted a new diesel unloading pump skid with an unloading rate of 1800L every minute , or US 480 gallons a minute . A diesel tanker can hold anywhere between 20,000 to 44,000 litres of liquid , or 5,500 to 11,600 gallons meaning our new diesel fuel skid would have to be able to empty a tanker in a timeframe of 11 to 25 minutes .
Key factors when specifying a diesel unloading pump skid
A number of different technologies can be used to unload diesel from road tankers . There are critical requirements to consider and these will determine which type of pump technology is best for each particular application .
• Self priming
This is important if the unit is to be located above the tanker , and helps to ensure that the tanker ’ s contents are fully stripped .
• UKCA ‘ EX ’ and ATEX rated
The ATEX rating system is a set of safety regulations established by the European Union . They ensure the safe use of equipment in areas where there ’ s a risk of explosion due to the presence of flammable gases , vapours , dusts or powders .
The UKCA ‘ EX ’ Certification is essentially the same as ATEX with the major difference that the products are certified to ‘ UK Designated Standards ’ by a UK government-appointed body for the ‘ EPS Regulations ’ ( Equipment and Protective Systems ).
Therefore when chemicals or fuels are pumped , the equipment specified needs to be correctly rated for the location for use and if it is to be located in an ATEX Zoned area , it must be able to contain any explosion , or not ignite any fluids or gases that may be present in that area .
• Viscosity handling
A fluid ’ s viscosity is affected by increases and decreases in temperature . Viscosity decreases with an increase in temperature , and the more viscous the fluid , the more sensitive it is to the temperature change . More viscous fluids will be more difficult to handle , reducing both flow and pressure . This makes it crucial that any pump specified can easily handle the liquid ’ s viscosity range without any loss of performance in both summer and winter or should changes occur to the fluids blend .
• Centrifugal pump or positive displacement pump
There are advantages and disadvantages to both types of technology . Centrifugal pumps have a lower initial investment cost and can produce high flows at a specified discharge pressure . Their power performance curves are generally a half-moon shape , with the highest pressure producing the lowest flow , and the highest flow giving the lowest pressure .
However , performance will reduce if pressure loss calculations are
74 PECM Issue 66