line balancing tank

The line balancing tank for crude oil is a storage tank used in pipeline systems to smooth out fluctuations in the flow of crude oil between the pipeline and a refinery operation. Its function is to acts as a buffer, holding a volume of oil to ensure a consistent and stable supply to the refinery operation, even if there are temporary differences between the arrival rate of oil and the demand rate. Line balancing tanks are an important part for crude oil transportation and its processing. It enables continuous operation despite variations in pipeline throughput or refinery consumption.

Line balancing tanks balance the supply and demand of crude oil. When the pipeline delivers oil faster than the refinery can process it, the LBT (line balancing tank) stores the excess of crude. Conversely, if the refinery needs more crude oil than the pipeline is delivering at a given moment, the tank provides the differential requirement. A storage tank farm at Haldia Pipeline Station with 8 tanks and a capacity of 0.4 MMT operates as a line balancing tank for the crude oil coming from the Mundra-Panipat pipeline, operated by Indian oil corporation limited. Chaksu in Rajasthan having 6 tanks with a total capacity of 0.3 MMT which works as Line Balancing Tank (LBT) by Indian oil. To provide stable crude supply, these tanks prevent the refinery from having to shut down or slow down due to inconsistencies in the incoming crude oil flow. It makes the refinery operation efficient and continuous operational. Line balancing tank should be sized to accommodate flow differential (how much “buffer” is needed) and batch size differences. Level sensors, flow meters, valves, etc, to monitor and control product in/out flows and ensure the tank serves the balancing function. Since this is in a petroleum product context, relevant design/regulatory standards apply like (e.g., bunds, spill containment, pipeline standards). Line balancing tanks and vapor balancing systems, is primarily governed by the Petroleum Act, 1934 and the comprehensive Petroleum Rules, 2002 in India. The regulations are enforced by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).