S.R.S. fluidization process

The different steps of fluidization process in details

Step 1

This a cross section of a S.R.S.® assembled on a oil tank:

Roof deck in buoyancy position (floating on the oil surface)
Support legs hang over
Jet Washers start injecting fluid

Step 2

Oil is pumped back from the bottom drains
Roof lands
Deck legs reach the tank bottom
Jet washers keep on injecting fluid

Step 3

In a third step, the tank is emptying out and a vapour space creates.

In order to prevent explosion, vapour space is filled with nitrogen
Jet washers keeps on injecting fluid

Step 4

Vapour space is filled with nitrogen
When there is no more liquid oil in the tank, jet washers start breaching sludge peaks.

Step 5

In the last stage of fluidization, there are only few remains on the tank bottom: one-third is made of inert sediments (soil, sand, rust), one-third of oil and one-third of water