TANK HEATING DESIGNED FOR A GREEN FUTURE

Enerquip’s custom engineered tank heating equipment is ideally suited for biofuels and bio-based feedstocks, explains Ron Herman. In 2008, Europe introduced laws requiring vehicle fuel suppliers to blend 5% biofuels into fuels, and in 2021 increased this to 10%. In the US, more and more states are now also mandating biofuel blending. This has led to an increase in demand for biofuels, and increased demand for equipment to handle them. For oil and gas companies used to handling self-lubricating, largely non-corrosive petroleum-based hydrocarbons, the storage and handling of biofuels and feedstocks generates new challenges. Such companies need to change infrastructure, equipment and processes to handle the new fuels, including converting and retrofitting old petroleum tanks to handle bio-based products, and building new facilities. Traditionally, tank equipment has been made from carbon steel. However, in more corrosive operations such as biofuels and chemical applications, carbon steel may not provide the longevity companies are looking for. Many companies are now choosing to switch to more corrosion-resistant materials. ‘Biofuels in their raw form often have acids,...