Procedures for handling crude oil during the removal of sludge collections at the bottom of a storage tank

摘要

A machine (1) suitable for removing sludge from the bottom of a storage tank which comprises a central body (15) rotatable about which is a casing (2, 3) provided with two substantially diametric nozzles (4, 5) arranged so that liquid emerging therefrom sweeps substantially only in one plane, a turbine (12) rotating the casing about the central body (15) and means (18) ensuring that when the casing (2, 3) is continuously rotated, alternately one nozzle is closed for substantially 180 DEG rotation whilst the other nozzle is open. Such machines may be suspended above the floor of the tank adjacent to a wall thereof.