Industrial steam generators

Steam heating of isotanks Captura 1. Giconmes industrial steam generators

Success stories

Steam heating of isotanks

Project Description

Installation of a 60 kW steam generator to increase the temperature inside an isotank carrying heavy fuel oil (or fuel oil) in order to improve the fluidity conditions in its extraction.

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Original situation:

Challenges posed by the client:

The objective of this project was to raise the temperature of a 22-tonne heavy fuel oil isotank from ambient temperature to 80°C in less than 16 hours.

Heavy fuel oil, also known as heavy fuel oil or fuel oil, is a type of residual hydrocarbon characterized by its high viscosity and density. Because of these physical properties, heating heavy fuel oil is necessary in order to extract it from an isotank for the following reasons:

  • At room temperature, heavy fuel oil is very viscous, which means that it flows with great difficulty. Heating it significantly reduces its viscosity, allowing it to become fluid enough to be extracted from the isotank.
  • Heavy fuel oil at low temperature tends to form deposits and sediments on tank walls and pipelines. Heating the fuel oil helps to maintain a homogeneous consistency, reducing the risk of deposit formation that could clog transfer lines.
  • By heating the heavy fuel oil, the pressure required to extract it is reduced, which in turn reduces stress on the isotank structures, such as valves and walls. This helps to extend the service life of the isotank and minimize the risk of mechanical failure.

Proposed solution:

Customized steam solution developed by Giconmes.

Proposed solution:

  • A system including a 60 kW steam generator and a 160 liter condensate tank has been installed.
  • The steam generated is transported to the isotank through a thermally insulated pipe, avoiding heat losses. Inside the isotank, the steam circulates through a coil that acts as a heat exchanger, allowing the fuel oil to be heated uniformly until the desired temperature is reached.
  • The condensate tank recovers the hot water generated during the process and feeds it into the generator boiler, reducing electricity consumption by 50%.
  • This system is capable of raising the temperature of heavy fuel oil to 80ºC (from ambient temperature) in approximately 12 hours (at a rate of about 5ºC per hour), ensuring a safe and efficient process.
  • Overall, this solution provides an efficient method for heating the isotank, optimizing energy consumption and meeting established time and environmental requirements.

Technology used:

Steam heating of isotanks CTA 3. Giconmes industrial steam generators

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Steam heating of isotanks dot. Giconmes industrial steam generatorsFAQs

We understand that many questions arise. Here are some of the most common ones.

There are no pollutant emissions beyond those produced in the electricity production process, therefore, they can become neutral depending on the electricity mix.
Electric steam boilers are the present and the future.

Perfectly.
It is even recommended for maximum efficiency.
There is no problem in remote control as long as the current regulations are respected.

A steam generator is a pressurized equipment that, together with the piping network it affects, is subject to regulatory control and complementary technical instructions, according to Regulation published in Royal Decree 809/2021, of September 21.
Its maintenance is divided into a part of simple compliance by the owner:

  1. Know and apply the manufacturer’s instructions regarding use, safety measures, and maintenance.
  2. Not to put the installation into service or prevent the operation of pressure equipment if the requirements of the Regulation are not met.
  3. Having at least the following documentation for the pressure equipment while they are installed: Declaration of conformity, manufacturer’s instructions (if applicable), and, if necessary, installation certificate, along with other supporting documentation (such as installation project, record of the last periodic inspection, certifications of equipment repairs or modifications, and any other documentation required by the relevant technical instruction complementary to this regulation). For detailed contents, refer to Annex IV of the regulation. Making this documentation available to the competent authority of the autonomous community and the companies responsible for maintenance, repair, or periodic inspections.
  4. Use the pressure equipment within its intended operating limits as specified by the manufacturer and take it out of service if it no longer meets the necessary safety requirements.
  5. Perform maintenance on the installations, pressure equipment, safety accessories, and control devices in accordance with the operating conditions and manufacturer’s instructions, and examine them at least once a year.
  6. Arranging for the necessary periodic inspections as required by Article 6 of the regulation.
  7. Having and maintaining an up-to-date record of pressure equipment categories I to IV, as defined in RD 709/2015, of July 24, or equipment similar to these categories according to Article 3.2 of the regulation, as well as their installations.

It is known that by applying a heat source to water, it is transformed into steam from the boiling point and at atmospheric pressure.
From this point on, depending on the required degree of saturation of the steam for its correct application, we will have to increase the pressure in order to obtain a higher temperature.
To change the temperature and degree of saturation of the steam, we must always modify the pressure.

It is a unit of pressure equivalent to 1 kg/cm2, 0.98 atmospheres, or 14.50 PSI.

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