Tank Cleaning - Fcc Main Bottom Product Storage Tank

[chemengineerjunior]

Hi all,
We have a tank used to store FCC main bottom product . The tank contains thick, high viscos & heavy sludge including catalyst fines. Tank is having a diameter of 24 m .
As the bottom product will be highly viscous tar like substance ( assumption - around 4000 cp ) , its very hard to remove it using vaccum truck, there is a chance of getting solidifying or semi solid state inside the vaccum truck.

My question ..

>>>Is there any chemicals we can use to decrease the viscosity of the material ?

if some one have experience please help me

 

[Latexman]

Warning - No experience in this specifically, but I've done plenty of this with other applications.

"Like dissolves like", so look to other, refinery products you have readily on hand. I would try non-flammables first, like #2 fuel oil or kerosene. Go into the lab with a sizeable sample and figure it out. Another approach - what did they do last time they cleaned this tank? Its probably not the first time this has been done. If not at your refinery, at a sister refinery.


Good luck,
Latexman

To a ChE, the glass is always full - 1/2 air and 1/2 water.