Automated tank cleaning machine

An automated tank cleaning machine is a machine used to clean cargo tanks such as those found in tank trucks, rail cars, barges, and oil tankers. Genericized trademarks such as Butterworth machine and Gamajet are often used to refer to automatic tank cleaning machines regardless of their manufacturer.

Operation

Tanks must be cleaned from time to time for various reasons. One reason is to change the type of product carried inside a tank. Another is to allow the tank to be inspected or for maintenance to be performed within a tank.Hayler and Keever, 2003:14-12.]

Automated tank cleaning machines work in a manner similar to an irrigation sprinkler. Hot water forced through a jet nozzle rotates the nozzle. The nozzle's rotation moves the machine through a cleaning pattern. As the water sprays, the liquid is pumped out of the tank. Portable water washing systems are widely used, but tanks that are cleaned frequently may have a fixed system installed.

The Butterworth Type K machine is widely used. This model can clean a tank of up to convert|10000000|usgal|m3.Butterworth, Inc., 2007] It uses water with a pressure up to convert|250|psi and a temperature of up to convert|250|F|C. The water jet reaches up to convert|115|ft. Depending on the pressure used, a cleaning cycle can take from about 10 to 50 minutes and the machine uses between Convert|15|usgal|L impgal|1 and Convert|350|usgal|L impgal|1 per minute.

On most crude-oil tankers, a special crude oil washing system, or COW system, is part of the cleaning process. The COW system circulates hot crude oil through the fixed tank-cleaning system to remove wax and asphaltic deposits.

Although machines are often used to wash tanks, a final stage of manual cleaning known as mucking, is usually performed. Mucking requires protocols for entry into confined spaces and the use of airline respirators, protective clothing and safety observers.

Tank cleaning is dangerous in a number of ways. While tank barges can be cleaned in port, shipboard tanks are generally cleaned at sea.OSHA, 2008.] This is largely due to risks of fire and explosion inside the tanks.

History

The first automated tank cleaning machine was invented by Arthur Butterworth and patented in 1920.Butterworth, Inc., 2001, About Us.] His goal was to limit the amount of time that workers had to spend inside tanks, and partially relieve them of a dangerous and laborious job. In 1925, Butterworth established a company to market the machine. Standard Oil New Jersey bought the company in 1930, and it later became a subsidiary of the Exxon Corporation.

In 1986, as part of an internal restructuring at Exxon, the Butterworth company was sold to Exxon management. Today the company is privately held, and headquartered in Houston, Texas.

ee also

*Oil tanker
*Chemical tanker

Notes

References

*
*cite book |first=Mark| last=Huber |title=Tanker operations: a handbook for the person-in-charge (PIC) |publisher=Cornell Maritime Press |location=Cambridge, MD |year=2001 |pages= |isbn=0-87033-528-6 |oclc= |doi=
*cite book |author=International Chamber of Shipping |title=International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals (ISGOTT) |publisher=Hyperion Books |location=New York |year=1996 |pages= |isbn=1-85609-081-7 |oclc= |doi=
*cite web |url=http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/shipbuildingrepair/tankcleaning.html |title= Process: Tank Cleaning|accessdate=2008-04-08 |author=Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)|authorlink=Occupational Safety & Health Administration |date=2008-01-30 |work=Shipbuilding and Ship Repair - Hazards and Solutions |publisher=Department of Labor
* cite book
last = Turpin
first = Edward A.
authorlink =
coauthors = McEwen, William A.
editor =
others =
title = Merchant Marine Officers' Handbook
origdate =
origyear =
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url =
format =
accessdate =
accessyear =
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edition = 4th
series =
date =
year = 1980
month =
publisher =Cornell Maritime Press
location = Centreville, MD
language =
isbn = 0-87038-056-X
oclc =
doi =
id =
pages =
chapter =
chapterurl =
quote =
*cite web |url=http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/shipbuildingrepair/tankcleaning.html |title= Process: Tank Cleaning|accessdate=2008-04-08 |author=Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)|authorlink=Occupational Safety & Health Administration |date=2008-01-30 |work=Shipbuilding and Ship Repair - Hazards and Solutions |publisher=Department of Labor
*cite web |url=http://www.butterworth.com/about.htm |title=About Us |accessdate=2008-04-09 |accessmonthday= |accessdaymonth= |accessyear= |author=Butterworth, Inc. |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2001 |month= |format= |work=Butterworth Tank Cleaning Systems |publisher=Butterworth, Inc. |pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote=
*cite web |url=http://www.butterworth.com/TCM.htm |title=Butterworth Tank Cleaning Machines |accessdate=2008-04-09 |accessmonthday= |accessdaymonth= |accessyear= |author=Butterworth, Inc. |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2001 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Butterworth, Inc. |pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote=
*cite web |url=http://www.butterworth.com/Literature/102.2007.01.14.pdf |title= Tank Cleaning Machine, Type K/SK/SSK |accessdate=2008-04-09 |accessmonthday= |accessdaymonth= |accessyear= |author=Butterworth, Inc.|authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2007-01-14 |year= |month= |format= |work=Product Data Sheets |publisher=Butterworth, Inc. |pages=1-2 |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote=
*cite journal |last=Savage |first=K. M. |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1973 |month=December |title=Marine Gas Hazards Control: Cleaning and Gas-Freeing Shipboard Tanks . National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Contract Report 099-74-0002 (NTIS PB-82-225-095)|journal=Proceedings of the International Shipyard Health Conference |volume= |issue= |pages= |id= |url= |accessdate= |quote=
*cite web |url=http://www.gamajet.com/faq/index.html |title=Frequently Asked Questions |accessdate=2008-04-09 |accessmonthday= |accessdaymonth= |accessyear= |author=Gamajet Cleaning Systems, Inc. |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2003-07-15 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Gamajet Cleaning Systems, Inc. |pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote=

External links

* [http://www.gamajet.com/faq/images/anagama.gifGamajet Animation]