GB724174A - Improvements in the heating of oil or the like stored on a water-bed in a storing container - Google Patents

Abstract

724,174. Raising liquids by liquid pressure. EDHOLM, H. July 27, 1950. [July 27, 1949 ; Jan. 26, 1950] No. 18844/50. Class 102 (2). [Also in Group XIII] A method of heating oil and withdrawing the heated oil from a container in which a column of oil rests on a water bed having a variable upper level comprises the steps of supplying heat mainly to at least a portion (preferably the lower part) of the oil column while it is resting on the water bed, drawing heated oil from the upper part of the oil column and raising the interface between the oil and the water bed by supplying to the lower portion of the water bed, water of a temperature which is lower than that of the heated oil. In the preferred arrangements a central zone 11 of heated oil is maintained in the mass of oil and heated oil from the lower part 10 of the oil mass is withdrawn upwardly through this zone by way of a pipe 5 which serves also for passing oil into the container for storing when required. At the same time cold water is added to the water bed through pipe 6 so that the oil level at the surface (2) remains constant. The heating may be effected by heating the upper layers of the water bed (e.g. above the level 9) indirectly by the insertion of an electric, steam or hot-water-heated heat exchanger 8, or directly by adding hot water to the top of the water bed and simultaneously withdrawing cold water from the bottom of the water bed. The main bulk of the water bed may be salt water so that any added hot fresh water remains at the top of the water bed adjacent the lower layers of the oil. Alternatively the lower layers of the oil may be heated by the insertion of a heating unit into the oil and in this form the heater may extend into the upper zone of the water bed for further heating of the oil. The heating unit may be movable vertically so that its position may be adjusted to correspond to the position of the lower layers of the oil. Alternatively the heating unit may be in sections arranged one above the other (Fig. 13 not shown) and so coupled, together that the heating unit conveniently nearest to the lower layers of the oil mass may be brought into operation when required. An auxiliary heater may be incorporated near the top of the container adjacent the outlet to heat up and liquefy the sediment and sludge left floating on the water bed when all the usable oil has been withdrawn.