Portable & Flameproof Electrical CBFS Heating System for Adani Ports


Hi-Therm has yet once again proven it's innovation capabilities by successfully designing, supplying & commissioning two sets of electrically operated CBFS (Carbon Black Feed Stock) heating system. The unit is mobile, flameproof and is designed to heat up 500 KL cargo at the bottom of a 5650 KL tank having a diameter of 20 m and a height of 18 m, filled with highly viscous CBFS up to a temperature of 60 deg C in a period of 36 hours at the rate of 20 mr3/hr. This will reduce the viscosity of the cargo enabling the user to effectively pump the cargo, mainly during winters and monsoon.

About the Idea


The equipment was designed to cater to a unique set of conditions at the site.

  1. The site is a A CLASS terminal (hazardous environment where less than 23 deg C flash point cargo is allowed to stored)
  2. Two sets of heaters were to heat 9 nos. of tanks, hence portability of the unit was needed
  3. The heater was to act as an external heating system, meaning the highly viscous cargo was to be pumped into the heater and the heated cargo was then to be recirculated back to the tank
  4. Power substation was outside the secured & flameproof cargo tanks area at a long distance, hence powering the heater was a challenge
  5. Long distance wired communications between the main power panel placed in the substation and the main control panel placed on the heater skid was to be secured

The Design


Keeping in mind the above conditions, the Adani engineering team ensured that each and every criteria was taken care of. Starting with the flameproof design of the unit, all the panels, heaters, motors & instruments provided on this equipment are flameproof for gas groups IIC. The pressure vessel is designed as per ASME Sec VIII Div. 1.

Secondly, the challenge for using 2 units to heat up 9 nos. of tanks was solved by mounting the complete packaged unit on to a trolley, enabling movement of the unit from one tank to the other by the means of a tractor.

For pumping the highly viscous CBFS into the heater from the tanks, Tushaco make screw pumps were used which are designed to pump pulp like material for various industrial applications.

For cabling at distant tanks, cable reeling drums were mounted on the skid to have ample amount of cable available to unreel and connect the unit to the site’s flameproof junction boxes.

All together, a packaged compact unit that provides all of the above along with ease of accessibility for inlet & outlet of the heater for connecting the hose pipes from & to the tank on the ground, and having all safeties, automations & controls in place was the crux of the design.

electric cbfs heater site image

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