Contact UsIntroduction to TankScope and Industrial Tank Cleaning
TankScope is a company born out of a critical gap in the industrial tank cleaning industry, focusing on understanding the mechanisms of sludge accumulation and developing methodologies to streamline the non-entry tank cleaning processes. With roots in the oil and gas sector, TankScope emerged to solve the problem of tank maintenance and cleaning inefficiencies, which often stem from a lack of real-time data about tank conditions.
Traditionally, tanks are only inspected and cleaned once every 10 years, making it difficult to anticipate the buildup of sludge or other contaminants which can drastically impact operations. TankScope’s mission is to provide accurate, actionable insights into tank conditions to help clients plan and execute cleaning projects more efficiently and cost-effectively.
At-A-Glance
Technology Used
- Ansys Fluent
Challenge
- Reliance on estimations, leading to costly overruns, prolonged downtime, and safety hazards due to traditional methods requiring human entry
Outcomes
- Enhanced safety through non-entry
- Improved cleaning precision
- Increased efficiency
- Reduced downtimes
Tank cleaning is complicated, and it can become very dangerous and expensive if not managed correctly. The goal with simulation is not just an increase in the accuracy of timelines, but primarily to create a safer working environment.
Steven Courtney
Director of Technology and Innovation, TankScope Canada
Challenges in Tank Cleaning and Maintenance
Tank cleaning is typically a reactive process based on rough estimations, often leading to costly delays and unexpected issues. Cleaning companies frequently encounter scenarios where they are given rough estimates about the nature of the sludge in a tank, only to find much more than anticipated, leading to costly overruns and extended downtime. In industries like oil and gas, where tanks hold everything from crude oil to refined fuels, these surprises could lead to millions of dollars in lost revenue due to extended downtime.
Traditional tank cleaning methods often require personnel to enter hazardous environments, posing significant risks. While the industry has evolved this process and improved safety by utilizing robotic and non-entry cleaning technologies, the process has remained unpredictable and inefficient due to the lack of accurate data about the tank contents prior to cleaning.
Solution: Ansys CFD Simulation Software
TankScope recognizes the potential of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to revolutionize tank cleaning by providing insights into the internal conditions of tanks. Ansys Fluent provides simulated flow patterns inside tanks under operational conditions, helping to identify dead zones where sludge buildup was most likely to occur. TankScope’s specialized sampling techniques allow for precise material data to be factored into the CFD simulations, improving accuracy.
By running simulations on inlets, outlets, flow rates, and mixers, TankScope can assess tank conditions in real time and predict where problems may arise. Instead of theorizing how a cleaning process could unfold, TankScope can now determine the most effective positioning of cleaning nozzles, the required velocities to break up sludge, and the ideal deployment of equipment for maximum efficiency.
The Results and Future Outlook
By integrating CFD into its workflows, TankScope can now present clients with reliable cleaning and sludge reduction plans, minimizing unexpected costs and downtime. The long-term goal for TankScope is to fully integrate Ansys CFD tools into its tank management program, making simulation a cornerstone of its service offering. This approach will not only improve the safety and efficiency of tank cleaning but also provide clients significant cost savings by reducing the amount of overruns common in the industry.
In Summary
TankScope’s adoption of Ansys CFD simulation tools is a transformative step for the tank cleaning industry, moving from guesswork to precision planning. By simulating tank conditions and identifying sludge buildup, TankScope is better equipped to provide clients with effective, cost-saving solutions. As it continues to refine its use of CFD, TankScope expects to further enhance the accuracy and efficiency of its operations, setting a new standard in the tank cleaning industry.
Validate Your Project with Industry Leading Solutions
At SimuTech Group, we specialize in bridging the gap between design and reality. Leveraging expert on-staff engineering simulation consultants and using the most advanced simulation software available, we can predict and optimize critical factors before physical implementation, reducing time-to-market and minimizing costs associated with iterative testing.
