ABOVE-GROUND STORAGE TANKS WITH INTERNAL HEAT SOURCE
An above-ground storage tank defining an interior volume includes an internal containment chamber and a flameless heat source within the containment chamber to heat the tank interior volume.
1 . A method of heating liquid contents of an above-ground fluid storage tank, said tank having an interior volume and a containment chamber formed by a containment wall separating the containment chamber from the tank interior volume, the method comprising the steps of heating the containment wall with a flameless heat source, and conducting heat into the tank interior volume from the containment wall.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the containment wall is heated by radiative heat directed at the containment wall from a catalytic heater.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the containment wall is heated by radiative heat directed at the containment wall from an electrical resistance heater.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the containment wall is heated by a magnetic induction heater.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the containment wall is a single metal wall.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the containment wall comprises a primary chamber wall and a secondary chamber wall, forming a chamber interstitial space therebetween.
7 . The method of claim 5 wherein the tank further comprises heat transfer elements disposed within the chamber interstitial space.
8 . The method of claim 6 wherein the heat transfer elements comprise a metal honeycomb or mesh in contact with both the secondary wall and the primary chamber wall.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the tank further comprises heat radiating fins mounted to the containment wall, extending into the tank interior volume.
10 . The method of claim 5 wherein the containment chamber is entirely or substantially disposed within the tank interior volume.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein sufficient heat is conducted into the tank interior volume to encourage phase separation of emulsified oil and water phases inside the tank interior volume.
12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the amount of heat is calculated having regard to a desired temperature of the emulsified oil and water phases and a size of the tank interior volume.