Automated tank cleaning machine

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Butterworth machine nozzle
Butterworth machine nozzle
Another nozzle
Another nozzle

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.[1] Genericized trademarks such as Butterworth machine and Gamajet are often used to refer to automatic tank cleaning machines regardless of their manufacturer.[2]

Contents

[edit] Operation

Butterworth machines function similarly to lawn sprinklers.
Butterworth machines function similarly to lawn sprinklers.

Tanks must be cleaned from time to time for various reasons. One reason is to change the type of product carried inside a tank.[3] Another is to allow the tank to be inspected or for maintenance to be performed within a tank.[3]

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.[1] As the water sprays, the liquid is pumped out of the tank.[3] Portable water washing systems are widely used, but tanks that are cleaned frequently may have a fixed system installed.[3]

The Butterworth Type K machine is widely used.[1] This model can clean a tank of up to 10,000,000 US gallons (38,000 m³).[1] It uses water with a pressure up to 250 pounds per square inch (1,700 kPa) and a temperature of up to 250 °F (121 °C).[1] The water jet reaches up to 115 feet (35 m).[1] Depending on the pressure used, a cleaning cycle can take from about 10 to 50 minutes and the machine uses between 15 US gallons (56.8 L/12.5 imp gal) and 350 US gallons (1,324.9 L/291.4 imp gal) per minute.[1]

On most crude-oil tankers, a special crude oil washing system, or COW system, is part of the cleaning process.[3] The COW system circulates hot crude oil through the fixed tank-cleaning system to remove wax and asphaltic deposits.[3]

Although machines are often used to wash tanks, a final stage of manual cleaning known as mucking, is usually performed.[2] Mucking requires protocols for entry into confined spaces and the use of airline respirators, protective clothing and safety observers.[2]

Tank cleaning is dangerous in a number of ways. While tank barges can be cleaned in port, shipboard tanks are generally cleaned at sea.[2] This is largely due to risks of fire and explosion inside the tanks.[2]

[edit] History

The first automated tank cleaning machine was invented by Arthur Butterworth and patented in 1920.[4] 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.[4] In 1925, Butterworth established a company to market the machine.[4] Standard Oil New Jersey bought the company in 1930, and it later became a subsidiary of the Exxon Corporation.[4]

In 1986, as part of an internal restructuring at Exxon, the Butterworth company was sold to Exxon management.[4] Today the company is privately held, and headquartered in Houston, Texas.[4]

[edit] See also

Nautical Portal

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Butterworth, Inc., 2007
  2. ^ a b c d e OSHA, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Hayler and Keever, 2003:14-12.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Butterworth, Inc., 2001, About Us.

[edit] References

[edit] External links