RESEARCH CONCLUSIONS

• An outside located tank cools down faster then an sheltered located tank

• At the edges, there is a temperature drop of 66°to 30°C in the first day and then a more linear behavior of about 0.5-1°C per day. 

• Coldspots in thetank are alongthesides of thetank, thewarm spots are in thecoreof thetank.

• Whenthetank is on a drivingtruck, thereis a coolingfactor of about 2.5-3.5°C per day compared to 1-2°C per day cooling for a stationary tank.

SOLUTIONS

1. The surface mounted thermometer is an unreliable meter for controlling the temperature in a tankcontainer

2. The use of a flanged top-mounted thermometer can increase the control of the temperature in the tank to increase safety, quality and productivity. 

3. Using the thermometer will decrease costs, decrease risk and decrease environmental impact

4. The thermometer is now in a test phase and needs to be further developed to instantly show the average temperature of the product and to be used to control the heating process. 

The surface mounted thermometer is an unreliable meter for controlling the temperature in a tankcontainer

Our customers require more accurate temperature control when handling heated products. Poor temperature control can cause major safety, quality, and/or productivity problems. 

Tank containers are generally equipped with a surface mounted thermometer (digital or analogue). Surface mounted thermometers are unreliable when the average product temperature is required. 

Research goals   

• How does the cooling profile of a loaded stainless-steel tank look like when heated up to 60°C?

• What is the influence of transport on the cool process?

• Does the cooling profile of an outside located tank differs from a sheltered located tank?

• On which points in the tank goes the cooling fast and where slower? 

Heat transfer

Focus on heat conduction via conduction: due to a driving force that is caused by a temperature difference. This is described by Fouriers law. 

General heat transfer equation:
Q = UAΔT + hAΔT + ϵσAΔT4
(UAΔT = conduction / hAΔT = Convection / ϵσAΔT4 = radiation)

Q= heat transferred per unit of time [W]

• U= the overall heat transfer coefficient [W/m.K]

• A= heat transfer area [m.]

• ∆T = the mean transfer difference [K]

• h = heat transfer coefficient [W/m.K]

• ϵ = emissivity factor [-]

• σ= Stefan–Boltzmann constant [W/m2K4]

Heat profile

Thermal bridges