Nozzles for tank cleaning for the chemical industry

The thorough cleaning of process vessels and storage tanks is essential to prevent cross-contamination.  Often the residues that need to be cleaned are tough and sticky, calling for powerful cleaning actions.  In other situations, the environment can be extremely corrosive to even high-quality metal alloys so PTFE tank cleaning heads will be required.  In yet other applications the tank being cleaned may be an explosion risk so ATEX certified equipment is a must.  Regardless of the environment, SNP have tank cleaning heads to suit.

Optimising Cleaning

Any cleaning action has four elements: mechanical action, heat, chemical action and time.  Overall fluid consumption is a function of the time and chemical action components. The choice of tank cleaning head will dramatically affect the mix of these elements.  Optimising tank cleaning systems to reduce caustic or water use involves understanding how each tank cleaning head affects this mix.  The four elements of a tank cleaning operation are represented by Sinner circle diagrams, as shown below.  

Tank cleaning selection criteria

• Reach of cleaning fluid appropriate to tank size
• Material suitable to the tank environment
• High mechanical action heads to reduce water consumption
• Fast cycle cleaners to reduce cleaning times
• ATEX zone 0 certified cleaners for explosive environments

Rotary jet cleaning heads

Rotary spray tank cleaners

Static nozzles