Mixing crude oil while it is being stored in tanks is a typical part of the production process. Additives are critical to getting the oil in a marketable format, but so much can go wrong at this stage, causing loss of profits and product. Fortunately, solving issues with crude oil storage and mixing really just comes down to innovative design.
Avoiding issues with oil sludge and storage comes down to a matter of good design guidelines. Achieving good process performance and reliability is critical for oil and gas mixing systems, particularly since most products of refineries must be blended with additives before going to market. Additives are introduced and then mixed in a variety of ways into the tank with the base oil. Getting the mixture just right and consistent in testing is a profit maker (or breaker). The temperature, the agitation and the formula all have to be right.
With crude oil storage of course comes the issue of sludge. Typically, sludge settles at the bottom of the tank, and mixing can make a tremendous difference. If not mixed properly, the sludge settles and solidifies in the tank, making the oil extremely difficult to pump out of the tank, and at its worst, leading to a maintenance and cleaning situation with serious production downtime. The mixer also has to be just right.
The right mixer can greatly reduce or even eliminate these issues by providing the right suspension velocity, flexible mixing for sludge control, static mixing to reduce moving parts and sludge buildup or other customized options for maximum performance. Komax has deep experience with crude oil and the mixing needs of the industry. Why not find out why we are the preferred choice for customized solutions?