centrifugal pumps can handle max 600 cst ,if up,pumps must be positive deplasman

the single biggest disadvantage of the

centrifugal pump is its lowered efficiency in handling viscous
liquids. It should be noted that the hydraulic losses
and thereby hydraulic inefficiencies that occur in all
pumps are due in large part to the viscosity of the fluid
.being handled
Use of centrifugal pumps for a viscosity over 300 centistokes
generally is not recommended because the pump efficiency
is so poor. In some cases however, the high reliability of a centrifugal pump may make
this type of pump the best overall economic choice even when the viscosity exceeds 300
.centistokes
A mentor told me that if we put pencil in a glass of liquid, and the pencil falls down, the liquid
.can be pumped by centrifugal pump
I use this rule for years, when the viscosity data is not available, and need to have prompt
.judgement. So far, the rule works
. for a centrifugal pump to get energy efficiency recommmended viscosity is 250 cps max

Heavy fuel oil tanks may need heating of their content to be pumpable.
Viscosity limit for centrifugal pumps may reportedly be about 3000 cSt ,
however maximum viscosity in suction lines can be assumed as more or
less 220 cSt for API 650 tanks within dikes. So e.g. No 6 fuel oil (bunkers C)
.needs heating. http://www.engineeri...ils-d_1143.html
There are cases when fuel oil is only locally heated in tank around .2
suction connection. This will be neglected here. Impression is that this is
.applicable for tanks of capacity bigger than 1000 m3. Advice welcomed
Consequently tank latera walls should be insulated and fuel oil lines .3
.heat traced
Steam coils are commonly applied for heating, despite the risk of roll over
(see below) in case of leakage into the oil. For instance, if coil gets holes,
steam will locally condensate into the tank and heat its content. Over here
fuel oil daily tanks for boilers (30-40 m3) were externally "heat traced" to
avoid this risk (once a ceiling blew up), but this steam pipe "winding" is
.not practical for 1000 m3 tanks
At any case steam heated tanks are generally acceptable as standard
practice, take care of the measures / precautions adopted for the coil in
design and applied in construction (e.g. "generous" corrosion allowance,
extent of inspected coil radiographies, robust construction, frequent
.inspection after start up)
Usually two steam coils are installed near tank bottom; one operating, .4
.the other standby
Since fuel oil contains a small amount of water, it must not approach .5
water boiling point, which would cause boil over. According to local
practice, fuel oil temperature should not be higher than 93 oC. A steam
cut off vave should automatically stop steam supply, as soon as fuel oil
.measured temperature approaches this limit
Representative fuel oil temperature is hard to obtain in a fuel oil tank, .5

even of 1000 m3. Four probes of ~ 1.0 m depth from wall could be located
along a tank perimeter, at a height lower than tank low low liquid level
(LLLL). Vertical multi-measuring proble (for level indication, etc) can also
include temperature indication along tank height. Instrument Dept could
.help on this matter
If fuel oil needs to be heated above its flash point (or close to it, withing .6
.(say) 4 oC) , inert gas blanketing has to be applied
If fuel oil is heated below flash point, no blanketing is necessary. .7
However heating steam temperature had better be below 200 oC, to avoid
fuel autoignition in case that liquid level is low enough to emerge heating
coils from liquid (http://www.engineeri...ures-d_171.html). If this is not
practically possible, intall low level alarm (LLA) and low level cut off (LLLS),
.to stop steam supply before the coils are emerged
.Hope above is useful, comments / additions welcomed .8
.A relevant design practice would give additional information

.1

:The most common types of hot tank insulation, in order of increasing cost, are as follows
Sprayed-on polyurethane, spray coated for weather protection, with a maximum service temperature of about 107C (225F). This is not recommended due to maintenance
.problems
Fiberglass blanket or board covered by metal jacketing, with maximum service temperature .between 121C (250F) and 232C (450F), depending on materials and design
Mineral wool blanket covered by metal jacketing, with maximum service temperature as high .as 538C (1,000F)
Panel systems of polyurethane or isocyanurate foam bonded to metal jacketing with a .maximum service temperature of 121C (250F), or 232C (450F) if faced with fiberglass
Calcium silicate or other block insulation covered by metal jacketing may be used. However, .these are usually so labor-intensive as to be uneconomical
Extent and Minimum Thickness
Where insulation is required, 25 mm (1 in) is the minimum thickness for practical installation.
For liquid temperatures below approximately 77C (170F), insulating the roof of cone roof
tanks cannot normally be justified economically. Insulating the roof of a floating roof tank is not
usually done because of the difficulty of preventing water ponding and leakage into the
.insulation

The Autoignition Temperature - or the minimum temperature required to ignite a gas

or vapor in air without a spark or flame being present - are indicated for some
common fuels below:

Autoignition Temperature
Fuel or Chemical
(oC)

(oF)

Acetaldehyde

175

347

Acetic acid

427

801

Acetone, propanone

465

869

Acetylene

305

581

Anthracite - glow point

600

1112

Benzene

560

1040

Bituminous coal - glow point

454

850

Butane

405

761

Butyl acetate

421

790

Butyl alcohol

345

653

Butyl methyl ketone

423

793

Carbon

700

1292

Carbon disulfide, CS2

90

194

Carbon monoxide

609

1128

Charcoal

349

660

Autoignition Temperature
Fuel or Chemical
(oC)

(oF)

Coal-tar oil

580

1076

Coke

700

1292

Cyclohexane

245

473

Cyclohexanol

300

572

Cyclohexanone

420

788

Dichloromethane

600

1112

Diethylamine

312

594

Diethylether

160

320

Diethanolamine

662

1224

Diesel, Jet A-1

210

410

Diisobutyl ketone

396

745

Diisopropyl ether

443

829

Dimethyl sulphoxide

215

419

Dodecane, dihexyl

203

397

Epichlorohydrin

416

781

Ethane

515

959

Ethylene. ethene

490

914

Autoignition Temperature
Fuel or Chemical
(oC)

(oF)

Ethyl acetate

410

770

Ethyl Alcohol, Ethanol

365

689

Fuel Oil No.1

210

410

Fuel Oil No.2

256

494

Fuel Oil No.4

262

505

Furfural

316

601

Heavy hydrocarbons

750

1382

Heptane

204

399

Hexane

223

433

Hexadecane, cetane

202

396

Hydrogen

500

932

Gas oil

336

637

Gasoline, Petrol

246 - 280

475 - 536

Glycerol

370

698

Gun Cotton

221

430

Kerosene

295

563

Isobutane

462

864

Autoignition Temperature
Fuel or Chemical
(oC)

(oF)

Isobutene

465

869

Isobutyl alcohol

426

799

Isooctane

447

837

Isopentane

420

788

Isopropyl alcohol

399

750

Isophorone

460

860

Isohexane

264

507

Isononane

227

440

Isopropyl Alcohol

399

750

Light gas

600

1112

Light hydrocarbons

650

1202

Lignite - glow point

526

979

Magnesium

473

883

Methane (Natural Gas)

580

1076

Methanol, Methyl Alcohol

470

878

Methyl acetate

455

851

Methyl ethyl ketone

516

961

Autoignition Temperature
Fuel or Chemical
(oC)

(oF)

Naphtha

225

437

Neoheaxane

425

797

Neopentane

450

842

Nitrobenzene

482

Nitro-glycerine

254

490

n-Butane

405

761

n-Heptane

215

419

n-Hexane

225

437

n-Octane

220

428

n-Pentane

260

500

n-Pentene

298

569

Oak Wood - dry

482

900

Paper

218 - 246

424 - 475

Peat

227

440

Petroleum

400

752

Pine Wood - dry

427

800

Phosphorus, amorphous

260

500

Autoignition Temperature
Fuel or Chemical
(oC)

(oF)

Phosphorus, transparent

49

120

Phosphorus, white

34

93

Production gas

750

1382

Propane

470

878

Propyl acetate

450

842

Propylene, propene

458

856

Pyridine

482

900

p-Xylene

530

986

Rifle Powder

288

550

Triethylborane

-20

-4

Toluene

535

995

Semi anthracite coal

400

752

Semi bituminous coal - glow point

527

980

Silane

< 21

< 70

Styrene

490

914

Sulphur

243

470

Tetrahydrofuran

321

610

Autoignition Temperature
Fuel or Chemical
(oC)

(oF)

Toluene

530

986

Trichloroethylene

420

788

Wood

300

572

Xylene

463

867

The flammable (explosive) range is the range of a gas or vapor concentration that will
burn or explode if an ignition source is introduced. Limiting concentrations are
commonly called the lower explosive or flammable limit (LEL/LFL) and the upper
explosive or flammable limit (UEL/UFL).
Below the explosive or flammable limit the mixture is too lean to burn. Above the
upper explosive or flammable limit the mixture is too rich to burn. TheAuto-Ignition
Temperature is not the same as Flash Point - The Flash Point indicates how easy a
chemical may burn.