There are four main methods for cleaning fuel tanks: dry cleaning, wet cleaning, steam cleaning, and chemical cleaning. Here’s a breakdown of the procedures and safety requirements for each method:
1. Dry Cleaning Method
- Remove any remaining fuel from the tank.
- Ventilate the tank to eliminate fuel vapors and ensure the gas concentration is within a safe range.
- Personnel enter the tank to clean oil residue, water, and other sediment.
- Use sawdust to perform the dry cleaning.
- Remove the sawdust and use copper tools to eliminate any localized rust.
- Thoroughly wipe the tank clean with a mop.
- Perform a quality inspection of the dry cleaning.
2. Wet Cleaning Method
- Remove any remaining fuel from the tank.
- Ventilate the tank to eliminate fuel vapors and ensure the gas concentration is within a safe range.
- Personnel enter the tank to clean oil residue, water, and other sediment.
- Use high-pressure water (290–490 KPa) to wash off oil residue and light rust inside the tank.
- Quickly remove the wastewater and wipe the tank clean with a mop.
- Dry the tank by blowing in dry air.
- Use copper tools to remove any localized rust.
- Conduct a quality inspection of the wet cleaning.
3. Steam Cleaning Method
- Remove any remaining fuel from the tank.
- Ventilate the tank to eliminate fuel vapors and ensure the gas concentration is within a safe range.
- Personnel enter the tank to clean oil residue, water, and other sediment.
- Clean the tank with steam, which is particularly useful for sticky oil residues.
- Wash off oil residue using high-pressure water, remove the wastewater, and perform dry cleaning with sawdust.
- Use copper tools to remove localized rust.
- Wipe the tank thoroughly with a mop.
- Perform a quality inspection of the steam cleaning.
4. Chemical Cleaning Method
- Remove any remaining fuel from the tank.
- Ventilate the tank to eliminate fuel vapors and ensure the gas concentration is within a safe range.
- Personnel enter the tank to clean oil residue, water, and other sediment.
- Use a tank cleaning device to spray water on the system and equipment.
- Perform an acid wash for 90–120 minutes to remove rust.
- Drain the acid and rinse with clean water for about 20 minutes until the rinse water becomes neutral.
- Remove wastewater and conduct two rounds of passivation treatment: the first for about 3 minutes, the second for about 8 minutes.
- After passivation, rinse with water under 290 KPa pressure for 8–12 minutes.
- Drain the rinse water and wipe the tank clean with a mop.
- Ventilate and dry the tank.
- Perform a quality inspection of the chemical cleaning.
By following these detailed steps, the cleaning process ensures the fuel tank is properly maintained, reducing risks and maintaining the tank’s efficiency and safety.
