Lightning Master In-Tank Static Drain
Production Flow Back & Storage Tanks
Accumulation of static charge
Charge dissipates from a fluid into points and sharp edges, not flat surfaces. That is why charge does not readily dissipate into the shell of a metal tank – it is flat. This allows the charge to accumulate at a rate faster than it dissipates. Because the static charge eventually relaxes, an incendive spark is most likely while the charging mechanism is active.
New approach
The wild card in tank protection has always been equalizing the bound charge on the stored product and vapor space. Even in a steel tank, no mechanism helps dissipate the bound charge on the stored product. It takes time for the potential to relax, allowing the static charge to accumulate faster than it dissipates.
Lightning Master has designed an in-tank static drain consisting of a stainless steel cable with stainless steel electrodes inserted into the wind of the cable. In fixed roof tanks, the drain is installed through the thief hatch, and in floating roof tanks, it is attached to the floating roof and sides or bottom of the tank. The thousands of electrically sharp points provide a low-resistance path for bound charge to leave the liquid and vapor space. It dissipates the charge on the product, allowing it to relax much more quickly. This allows the charge to dissipate faster than it accumulates.
Features
· Easily installed into most types of tanks
· Designed to coil and uncoil as floating roofs raise and lower
· An alternative to retractable grounding reels
· Suitable for use in tanks with mixing blades