Desenvolvimento de um sistema de aquecimento para tanques de armazenagem de cimento asfáltico de petróleo usando serpentinas internas

Abstract

This work presents the development of an internal coil heating system for storage tanks of Petroleum Asphalt Cement (CAP), as a replacement for the traditional Fire Tube system. Initially, a theoretical foundation was carried out addressing thermal modeling, heat transfer in viscoelastic fluids, and indirect heating systems. Next, the study evaluated the current heating method, highlighting limitations such as uneven thermal distribution, risk of CAP overheating, and maintenance difficulties. Based on this assessment, an intervention proposal using internal coils and thermal oil was developed. Thus, the thermal sizing of the heater and the coil was carried out, followed by the three-dimensional modeling of the assembly and the execution of CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations to represent the thermal behavior of the thermal oil and the CAP. Subsequently, a prototype was built and subjected to experimental tests to observe the operation of the thermal oil circuit and record its thermal behavior during the heating process. The work presents the results of the three stages, considering ΔT, that is, the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the thermal oil in the combustion chamber, a parameter used to compare the predicted and observed performance. In the thermal design calculations, a ΔT of approximately 18 °C was estimated; in the CFD simulation, a ΔT of around 20 °C was obtained; and in the experimental tests, a ΔT of approximately 15.7 °C was recorded. [resumo fornecido pelo autor]