Transloading fuels is a tricky business that can become deadly in a matter of seconds if your workers don’t have the proper setup or training. Fuels that are often transloaded include:
- Biofuels
- Crude Oil
- Petroleum Fuels
Transloading is a term used for unloading product from one form of transportation and loading it onto another. Transloading can occur in several ways:
- Storage Tank to Tanker Truck
- Tanker Truck to Rail Car
- Rail Car to Tanker Truck
- Rail Car to Storage Tank
- Tanker Truck to Storage Tank
The reason transloading is necessary can be due to costs, terrain, and location of refineries and pipelines. The danger comes in when transloading flammable fuels or spilling a toxic fuel that can cause damage to the environment, your workers and have a very expensive price tag for the cleanup. Since most spills happen while hooking up hoses or loading arms, track pans will contain drips and spills.
To avoid injuries, death or damage to the environment, your company needs to have a loading/offloading terminal that meets the needs of the fuels you transload.
A ground monitoring system is high on the list of must-haves. Flammable fuels are notorious for creating static and all it takes is a tiny spark to bring about disaster. Systems can be designed for tank trucks with rubber tires. The benefits of this type of system are tremendous:
- System allows product transfer only when the tank truck is grounded.
- Automatically confirms a positive static ground connection.
- Even more importantly, it continuously monitors the clamp and ground connection during transfer.
Proper installation and testing are imperative. Also, employees should set up an inspection and maintenance program to ensure the system is always working properly.
If your company budget does not allow for a permanent terminal, a mobile transloading system will solve the issue. It can hold all the necessary equipment:
- Loading Arms
- Fall Prevention
- Meter
- Pumps
- Valves
- Grounding System
Everything is mounted on a trailer to make the system mobile. Now it is versatile enough to move to different locations.
Adding access equipment will help meet the required safety mandates and make your employees more efficient.
- Stairway and Platform
- Gangway
- Safety Cage
If you purchase your system from Carbis Fluid Handling, our turnkey construction means there is no middleman. We construct the entire system in-house so all parts are fully integrated to work seamlessly, maximizing user ability while minimizing user exposure. Installation is a snap, too because the system arrives ready for use. Just plug in the power cord and your company is ready to transload safely and efficiently.
Transloading fuel can be risky, but just like anything else if you know what you are doing, take proper precautions, and have all the correct equipment you will succeed. Contact Carbis Fluid Handling today for information on the proper terminal and equipment for your type of fuel handling business whether you need permanent or mobile equipment.
