Viscous Product Trailer Tank Agitation and Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Viscous products in transportation trailers often result in significant waste (heel) during unloading, requiring time-consuming and hazardous manual cleaning, which is costly and poses risks to service personnel, especially when handling hazardous materials.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a heat-traced closed loop venting system and agitating devices within the cargo tank, allowing for unloading at ground level, reduces product heel by maintaining the viscous state of the material and promoting flow, thereby minimizing waste and enhancing safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual cleaning is used to remove heel from the tank, then the tank can be cleaned, but service personnel face safety risks and the process is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses automated heating and agitation mechanisms that operate without human intervention inside the tank. The heat trace system continuously maintains product temperature, and the agitation device automatically mixes residual product, allowing the tank to clean itself without personnel entering hazardous environments
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical cleaning by personnel is replaced with an automated system combining thermal energy (heating) and mechanical agitation. The agitation device uses rotating elements to mechanically disturb and move residual product toward the outlet, while heating reduces viscosity to facilitate flow
2Ease of operation
If manual cleaning is performed to remove heel, then the tank can be cleaned, but the process incurs high costs
Solution Approach 1:
The automated system performs cleaning functions without requiring manual labor, reducing labor costs and associated expenses. The system serves itself by using its own heating and agitation capabilities to manage residual product
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the residual product through heating, which reduces viscosity and facilitates easier removal. This parameter change makes the cleaning process more efficient and less costly
3Productivity
If the tank is left with heel after unloading, then unloading is simpler, but significant product waste occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the viscous product during unloading, heating it to reduce viscosity. This enables complete unloading without sacrificing speed, as the heated product flows more easily to the outlet
Solution Approach 2:
The heat trace system operates continuously to maintain product temperature before and during unloading. This preliminary heating action ensures the product remains in a flowable state, preventing heel formation in the first place
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces product heel by up to 50%, decreases unloading time and cleaning costs, improves driver safety, and results in significant annual savings, increased productivity, and energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The interior of the housing is heat-traced to maintain the material in a viscous state
Implementation Method 2
agitators positioned at the base of the housing promote material flow
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is a transport tank trailer having a tank that can be used to more completely and effectively transport, store, load and unload a viscous product, such as a viscous liquid product, or liquid with solid(s) in suspension. Materials for transport, storing, loading and unloading include both food-grade and non-food grade products. Exemplary products include chocolate, paint, wastes, and asphalt. The tank system involves: a) agitation means (e.g., vibration devices) to force viscous product to flow during unloading; b) a heat-traced closed loop venting and unloading system resulting in the elimination of opening of the manhole on the tanker, which results in the release of heat; c) use of enhanced insulating materials to reduce product solidification during product discharge; and d) reduction of thermal bridges to increase product heat retention. The invention also involves an inventive cargo tank shape that promotes viscous product discharge during unloading of the tank. The viscous product trailer can further comprise a heated make-up air system operably associated with the tank housing. The system can provide heat vented air and heated air into the tank interior containing viscous product so as to maintain tank, and consequently product, temperature.