closed condensate drain drum

[thalathb]

Hi,

There is a closed drain drum for condensate system which is an underground vessel and covered by concrete. This vessel is buried with sand and under cathodic protection (CP).

Question: What do we need the sand for? Can I remove the sand?

Thanks in Advance for all of you.

 

[quark]

Was the sand used to support expansion of vessel material during high temperatures? Just a wild guess.

 

[thalathb]

Quark,

Thanks for your reply. I dont think the sand is there to support the expansion as this vessel is underground. If that the case they would desgin it above ground.

Thanks again

 

[ione]

Just a shot. Was the sand used instead of thermal insulation?

 

[thalathb]

Ione,

The answer is no.

 

[Chance17]

Wild Guess - was it used as a sand filter to remove irom & particulates??

 

[thalathb]

Chance17,

This sand is located outside of the vessel, covered the entire vessel. I dont see any filteration process going on here.

 

[thalathb]

Do you think the sand is used as a medium for cathodic protection electrons to move throw??

 

[MJCronin]

I think that the sand is there to ensure uniform external loading on the vessel. Civil engineers would know about this...

Dry sand is commonly used in buried piping situations

 

[maddocks]

I'm with MJC - we used to use sand backfill to ensure no lumps in the backfill and to prevent damage to underground tanks during the backfill operation and if there was any settling of the backfill, it wouldn't leave any voids in the tank fill cover.