Crude oil in storage does not stay uniform. Water, sediment, wax and heavy ends tend to settle and build up on the floor as sludge, and the crude itself can stratify, so its quality changes from one level to another. Sludge takes up working capacity and makes tank cleaning longer and more expensive.
A side entry mixer drives a jet across the tank floor that sets the whole tank circulating. That helps keep the contents uniform, evens out temperature in heated tanks, and limits local settling. How much it achieves depends on the crude, the tank and the installed power, so we size each installation for its duty.
Typical applications
- Crude oil storage tanks
- Tank farms and terminals
- Fuel oil and intermediate-product storage tanks
- Blending tanks for compatible products
Mixing objectives
- Better bulk circulation of the tank contents
- Uniform quality of compatible stored products
- Temperature equalisation in heated tanks
- Less local stratification and settling on the floor
FMT configuration for Oil & Gas
| Drive | Gear or single-stage belt |
|---|---|
| Mechanical seal | Single or double mechanical seal |
| Motor | FLP or NFLP* |
| Wetted parts | SS 304 / SS 316 |
| Non-wetted parts | MS |
| Motor ratings | 2.2 to 37 kW |
| Mixer shaft speed | 280 or 450 rpm |
| Impeller | Hydrofoil or propeller |
* A flameproof (FLP) motor is supplied where the site's hazardous-area classification requires it. A non-flameproof motor is offered only where the area allows it.
Every unit is made to order for your tank. See the full side entry mixer range and specifications.
What we look at when sizing
- Axial-flow impeller (hydrofoil or propeller) sized for the tank
- Viscosity of the crude across its operating temperature range
- Seal arrangement and the consequences of a leak: single or double mechanical seal
- Hazardous-area classification of the site (FLP motor where required)
- Nozzle loads, tank internals and floating-roof clearances at low level
- Access for maintenance