Changing the Product Temperature - Heating up with Steam

[pradyzz]

I have an enquiry to fabricate a 100 BBL vertical surge Tank. I have the design and detail. But now the client required to heat the oil inside the tank by means of steam. Client specs are the steam passes through a pipe of size 2 inch sch 40 SS 316L material. There should be maximum of 4 turns and it is placed horizontally just above the shell tangent line. Tank size is 3048mm height and 2440mm dia with 2:1 ellipsoidal dish ends. I have already quoted for this enquiry. now they are about to give us the job. Now client is asking weather the design is safe or not. Now how can I ensure the it is safe to provide a SS 316L 2 inch SCH 40 pipe is enough to heat a 100 BBL Oil at 100 psi Pressure and steam pressure of 200 psi. Because the client have not given the Heat flow rate or the temperature of the steam required.

 

[fegenbush]

200 psi steam is 387°F which is obtained from any standard set of steam tables (assumed at sea level).

Whether the design is safe could be determined from ASME B31.3 calculations.

Whether there is enough surface area of coil to heat the oil is not as simple. It can depend on whether the oil is agitated, the specific makeup of the oil (varies by geography and geology), the flow rate of the steam, the quality of the steam, and many other factors.

 

[MJCronin]

The piping is acceptable for this service.

The level of oil should never go below that of the coil (plus about 6 inches)

Usually, a flat bottomed, vertical axis tank has heating coils

But, your safety evaluation should determine if the tank would survive an overpressure event should the steam piping leak.

Consider an emergency pressure relief device (rupture disc ?) mounted on the tank in this event.

The tank should have some means available for air pressure release/intake during normal operations.