The single-walled bitumen container is one of several methods of bitumen transportation. With a simplistic design and relatively low costs, some companies turn to single-walled containers for their transportation needs. However, these containers have a wide array of issues, many of which can cause safety concerns and potential losses in profit.
The double-walled Bitutainer™ has been designed to reduce these costs and safety concerns. A further breakdown and comparison between the standard single-walled bitumen containers and the double-walled Bitutainer™ highlight the level of expertise that TEC Container Solutions have in the industry and how safety and customer satisfaction are at the forefront of the design process.
Comparison of single-walled container vs Double-walled BitutainerTM:
Operational efficiency
Operational efficiency can be divided into two parts, thermal efficiency, specifically the costs associated with heating the container, and discharge efficiency, the amount of bitumen that can be obtained from the container.
thermal efficiency:
With single-walled units, the lack of insulation results in substantial heat loss to the surrounding environment. Therefore, the energy required to heat up and maintain the bitumen is greater, leading to unnecessary heating expenses. The double-walled Bitutainer™ has been designed to reduce these unnecessary expenses. Adding an insulated cavity ensures that heat lost to the surrounding environment is minimised, and the bitumen temperature is maintained without excessive energy use, leading to reduced costs in the bitumen storage process.
discharge efficiency:
Single-walled containers are prone to cold spots, leaving some bitumen in a viscous state which often results in 1t or more of bitumen unable to be discharged. This consequently has significant financial implications if up to 5% of the product is not used each time the container is heated and unloaded, a common issue in standard single-wall containers.
In addition to the added insulation of the double-walled design, the BitutainerTM has a series of reducing pipe and dispersing features to critical areas to ensure a well-rounded heating process, as well as the addition of a sloped internal tank floor and sump area to ensure maximum discharge, solving the issue of returned payload.
durability
It is common for containers to suffer damage during transportation and handling. In the case of single-walled bitumen containers, this is damage directly to the tank wall, leading to many issues occurring worldwide where damaged units leak upon heating or filling, causing subsequent clean-up
costs and product loss.
Durability and reliability is the foundation of the double-walled TEC Bitutainer™ design. Through years of experience and real-life operational feedback, strategically positioned reinforcement has been made to commonly damaged areas, protecting against transport damage and maintaining the inner tank integrity. These added features ensure that maintenance and repair costs are significantly reduced over the container’s lifespan.
long term value
Single-walled units are not long-term assets, with little
resale value after only a few years of use.
However, the TEC BitutainerTM has a long design life of 12-15 years,
with some tanks still operating over 20 years after manufacturing, ensuring
there is a substantial resale value, with examples of 8-10 year old units being
sold for 60% of their initial value. This changes the structure of the asset on
the balance sheet, leading to much longer depreciation periods being accepted
by banks worldwide.
operator safety
Single-walled units present many safety concerns, with the hazards of spills and leaks only heightened by the dangers of handling high-temperature products. A key issue is that the unit will reach the same temperatures as the product stored inside, often 160oC, creating a serious safety hazard for surrounding workers, especially those that must access the roof area. The BitutainersTM double-walled design ensures the outer wall temperature remains at a safe working level, safeguarding the workforce and increasing the ease of use throughout the storage and discharge procedures.
As you can see from the above, the double-walled design of TEC’s BitutainerTM range ensures that the unit is much more cost-effective in the long term, as well as provides a greater level of safety compared to the single-walled bitumen container solution.
Contact us today to find out more information about the BitutainerTM, or how TEC can support your bitumen transport and storage logistics.
