Analysis of the mixing time applied in the homogenization of oil storage tanks

• Grant number: 23/08520-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2023
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Industrial Operations and Equipment for Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Guilherme José de Castilho
• Grantee: Maria Estela Oliveira da Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The stirred and mixing tank approach to large scale storage of hydrocarbons is commonly used in industry, for example in the petroleum industry. Thus, the process consists of depositing the oil in storage tanks which contain lateral impellers, since the homogenization of the fluid is important, so that the formation of sludge is avoided. The sludge is made up of hydrocarbons, organic compounds persistent in the environment that can bioaccumulate in organisms and the formation of this product demands exacerbated costs in the industry since the tanks are unusable due to the formation of the sludge, requiring washing or constant agitation, to avoid it consumes energy that could be saved. This study is based on the analysis of the minimum mixing time required for the homogenization of a tank with lateral impellers using water as the study fluid, evaluating different parameters such as: tank level, horizontal inclination of the impeller and number of impellers. For the determinationof the mixing time, a saline solution will be added, in addition, voltmeters are arranged in different positions in the tank - located in coordinates in which the mixture is more inhospitable due to fluid dynamic effects - with the purpose of measuring the electrical conductivity of the mixture. solution, in this way, when the solution is homogeneous, that is, the conductivity is the same at all points, the necessary mixing time will be obtained.