Bitumen Storage and Heating
Insulated horizontal and vertical bitumen tanks with thermal oil or electric heating, transfer pumps, jacketed lines and modifier blending. Bitumen handling is where most asphalt plant quality problems start.
Features
- Thermal oil heating holds bitumen at working temperature without local overheating; direct electric elements risk coking at the element surface.
- Jacketed and traced pipework prevents a set line, which is the most common cause of a lost morning.
- Tank insulation thickness is what decides standing heat loss overnight and therefore reheat energy in the morning.
- Separate tanks are needed for each grade or modified binder held, with clear labelling and dedicated lines.
- Polymer modification and blending units need agitation and residence time, so they are specified with the tank, not added afterwards.
Specifications
| Figure | Typical range | Unit | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tank capacity | 30 - 150 | t | Sets delivery frequency and the number of grades held. |
| Heating method | thermal oil / electric | Decides temperature uniformity and the risk of local overheating. | |
| Working temperature range | 140 - 180 | degrees C | Has to suit the binder grades actually being held. |