Method and apparatus for heating a liquid storage tank

Abstract

A method and apparatus for heating a liquid storage tank includes a liquid storage tank having an interior and a peripheral sidewall. An engine compartment is appended to the peripheral sidewall in front of the heat tube. An engine is disposed in the engine compartment. Heat given off from the engine during operation heats the engine compartment and such heat is transferred through peripheral sidewall to the interior of the liquid storage tank. An exhaust conduit extends into the interior of the liquid storage tank. Heat from hot exhaust gases passing through the exhaust conduit heats the interior of the liquid storage tank.

1 . An apparatus for heating an oil well production storage tank, comprising:
 an oil well production storage tank having an interior, a peripheral sidewall, a bottom, and an engine compartment that houses an engine appended to the peripheral sidewall to effectively share a portion of the peripheral sidewall with the tank, wherein at least a portion of the engine compartment is inset within a periphery of the tank, the engine compartment being elevated above the bottom of the tank such that any settled solids in the tank are below the engine compartment;   an engine disposed in the engine compartment, such that heat given off from the engine during operation heats the engine compartment and such heat is transferred to the interior of the tank through the portion of the peripheral sidewall that is shared by the engine compartment and the tank; and   an exhaust conduit extending into the interior of the tank, such that heat from hot exhaust gases passing through the exhaust conduit is transferred to the interior of the tank.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the engine is selected based upon the heat the engine generates during operation. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the engine is a marine engine or a conventional engine. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust conduit extends horizontally to exterior of the engine compartment. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the engine is used to operate a drive head on a well head of an oil well. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 5 , wherein hydraulic flow lines from the engine to the drive head extend along a production flow line extending from the well head to the tank. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein an engine coolant conduit extends from the engine into the interior of the tank, such that heat from heated engine coolant adds heat to the interior of the tank. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the engine coolant conduit passes along one of an interior or an exterior of the exhaust conduit and loops back to the engine. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust conduit has interior baffles. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for heating an oil well production storage tank, comprising:
 a liquid storage tank having an interior, a peripheral sidewall, a bottom and an engine compartment housing an engine that effectively shares a portion of the peripheral sidewall with the tank, wherein at least a portion of the engine compartment is inset within a periphery of the liquid storage tank, the engine compartment being elevated above the bottom of the tank such that any settled solids in the tank are below the engine compartment; and   an engine disposed in the engine compartment, such that heat given off from the engine during operation heats the production storage tank and such heat is transferred by radiation from the engine compartment to the interior of the liquid storage tank through the portion of the peripheral sidewall that is shared by the engine compartment and by at least one of exhaust gas conduit, coolant conduit and hydraulic fluid conduit.