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Comparison of an Insulated Tank Versus Uninsulated Insulated UnInsulated Insulation- Costs 10367 sq. ft. $4,146.00 $0.00 Install Costs N/A $1,200.00 $0.00 Heater Rental 300,000 btu vs. 1,2 mil btu $2,805.00 $7,160.00 Fuel Costs N/A $5,040.00 $21,000.00 Shipping Round Trip $1,200.00 $4,500.00 Labor All $500.00 $800.00 $14,891.00 $33,460.00 (Insulation) Totals enough gas vapor to ensure continuous burn for the heaters. Sharing Space It is often necessary for a heater to share space with other equipment such as desiccant dehumidifiers and extraction equipment. It is important to take into consideration additional air mixes when designing heating systems. One benefit to mixing air streams is that increased air movement across the surface to be heated typically equates to more efficient heating. Extraction units, such as dust collectors, usually do not pose problems because they are not commonly in use during the application and curing portions of the project. Utilizing a dehumidifier often takes a bit of engineering to ensure that the unit does not lower the temperature of the air entering the tank. For example, using a desiccant dehumidifier to supply air to an electric coil heater will deliver a higher temperature into the space due to the increase in temperature created by the dehumidifier. A qualified heater supplier Available space on a typical job site can be tricky 26 CoatingsPro g January 2013 should be able to provide the greatest output if additional equipment is used on the job. Tip: It is not a good practice to seal up the tank to keep the warm air inside at night. The air pressure buildup could rupture the tank or the heater unit may shut down due to back pressure. Try one square foot (0.09 m2) of exhaust opening for every 4,500 cfm of air introduced. Insulating the Tank To raise the temperature of steel just one degree requires one million BTUs. Imagine a scenario in which a coatings crew has to raise steel temperature by 30 degrees? The size of the heater and amount of air volume would be staggering. To help effectively raise interior temperatures in cold weather, coatings crews insulate tank exteriors. Typical insulation includes double bubble wrap, fiberglass, or heat blankets applied directly to the tank walls and roof. Cost reductions may be realized due to smaller heater units employed, fuel savings, and reduced shipping costs. Tip: Foil-covered double bubble material works as an efficient and cost-effective insulator for most steel storage-tank projects. Selecting a Heater Provider Selecting a heater provider may be the most important decision made. The provider should become a partner in the process if the project is to be successful. A quality heat supplier should be licensed and insured. Most are, but it is wise to Insulation can lower your overall operational costs when heating a tank make sure. Provider location and the ability to service the particular job site is a prime consideration. Quick response is needed when a unit goes down. Questions to ask include: How much tank heating experience does the company have? How much training does the supplier give their technicians? Do they understand how to maximize the efficiency of heating equipment? Do they use psychrometrics when sizing equipment? What is the condition of their equipment? Although cutting costs is always important, heating is one area you don't want to skimp on. Tip: Requesting a heat management plan from the supplier helps all parties stay in control of the heat project by setting expectations, clarifying goals, and identifying responsibilities. Conclusion Selection of a heater and/or heat provider may determine whether a project is profitable or not. Understanding every facet of the project from specifications to logistics to potential supplier selection is necessary in order to adequately size and heat a steel storage tank. In the end, the solution must not only be efficient and cost effective but also safe. Efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and safety can all be ensured by close relationships among the owner, contractor, and heater supplier on the project. CP rus s B row n i s t h e N a t i o n a l S e g m e n t Manager of Surface Preparation and Coatings.