Heat Transfer Study on Oil-water Isolation Layer of Underwater Oil Storage Tank

Abstract

There are both advantages and problems to store oil underwater. Underwater oil storage tank using oilwater displacement method is getting more and more attention. During oil-water displacement process, the heat transfer from crude oil to seawater in tank is unavoidable. However, if the crude oil loses too much heat, it will lead to high crude oil viscosity near oil-water interface, even solidification. Then the crude oil near oil-water interface becomes an obstacle for the oil-water displacement process. The crude oil in tank will not lose too much heat when the oil-water isolation layer is set in oil-water interface. In this paper, theoretical analysis on heat conduction has been developed when oil contacts with water, as well as there is an isolation layer in tank. A finite element analysis has also been performed. The conclusion is that isolation layer lowers heat flux density at oil-water interfaces sharply. So the heat transfer from crude oil to water in tank will be cut down. It is necessary to set oil-water isolation layer in underwater oil storage tank based on heat transfer theory.