1. Municipal Engineering: Mobile and Compact Tanks for Road Maintenance

Municipal departments focus on road repair, pavement resurfacing, and emergency pothole filling—tasks that require asphalt to be transported to scattered job sites and applied promptly. Asphalt tanks here must balance mobility, rapid heating, and compactness to navigate urban environments.

Key Design Features

Mobile Configuration: Tanks mounted on trailers or truck chassis (capacity: 5–20 m³) with reinforced axles and shock absorbers, enabling transportation on narrow roads or uneven terrain. Hydraulic lifting systems allow easy offloading without cranes.

Rapid Heating Systems: Direct-fired burners or electric heating coils with thermostats that heat asphalt from 120°C to 180°C (working temperature) within 1–2 hours. Insulated with rock wool (thickness ≥50 mm) to minimize heat loss during transit.

Integrated Agitation: Low-speed paddle mixers (5–10 rpm) prevent asphalt segregation, ensuring uniform viscosity—critical for consistent road surface quality.

Safety for Urban Use: Equipped with spark arrestors, flame extinguishers, and heat shields to reduce fire risks in populated areas. Emission control systems (catalytic converters) comply with municipal air quality regulations (e.g., EPA Tier 4 standards).

Application Example

A city’s public works department uses 10 m³ mobile asphalt tanks for seasonal road maintenance. The tanks’ quick-heat design allows crews to refill potholes within 30 minutes of arriving at a site, while their compact size enables access to residential streets.

2. Construction Industry: On-Site Storage Tanks for Large-Scale Projects

Construction sites—such as highway construction, airport runways, or industrial park paving—require large volumes of asphalt (often 50–500 m³) stored on-site for extended periods. These tanks prioritize high capacity, energy efficiency, and compatibility with paving equipment.

Key Design Features

Fixed or Semi-Permanent Structures: Vertical or horizontal tanks with concrete foundations, corrosion-resistant steel (SS304 or carbon steel with epoxy coating) to withstand outdoor exposure for 5–10 years.

Efficient Heating and Insulation:

Indirect heating via thermal oil circuits (operating at 200–250°C) to avoid localized overheating, which can degrade asphalt quality.

Double-layer insulation (polyurethane foam + aluminum cladding) with heat loss ≤5% per day, reducing fuel consumption by 30% compared to uninsulated tanks.

Integrated Piping Systems: Large-diameter outlets (≥100 mm) connected to asphalt pumps (2–5 m³/h capacity) for seamless transfer to pavers or mixers. Valves with heat tracing prevent asphalt solidification in cold weather.

Monitoring Systems: Digital thermometers (accuracy ±2°C) and level sensors linked to a control panel, alerting operators to temperature drops or low levels to prevent production delays.

Application Example

A highway construction project uses three 200 m³ horizontal asphalt tanks connected to a central heating system. The tanks’ thermal oil heating ensures asphalt remains at 160°C for weeks, while automated level sensors trigger refills from delivery trucks, avoiding interruptions to 24/7 paving schedules.

3. Chemical Industry: Specialized Tanks for Modified Asphalt and Hazardous Blends

In chemical processing, asphalt is often modified with polymers (e.g., SBS, EVA) or mixed with solvents, making it flammable or corrosive. Storage tanks here must adhere to strict safety standards (e.g., OSHA, ATEX) and prevent contamination or chemical reactions.

Key Design Features

Chemical-Resistant Materials: Tanks lined with fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) or Hastelloy alloys to resist corrosion from solvents (e.g., benzene) or acidic additives. Welds are inspected via radiography to ensure hermetic sealing.

Explosion-Proof Systems:

Pressure-relief valves (set at 0.5–1 bar) to vent volatile fumes, preventing overpressure.

Intrinsically safe instrumentation (ATEX Zone 1 certified) for temperature and level monitoring, eliminating spark risks.

Agitation for Uniform Blends: High-shear mixers (50–100 rpm) to maintain homogeneity in modified asphalt, where polymer particles must remain evenly dispersed to ensure product performance.

Closed-Loop Ventilation: Vapor recovery systems that capture volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and route them to incinerators or scrubbers, complying with emission limits (e.g., EU REACH regulations).

Application Example

A chemical plant producing polymer-modified asphalt uses 50 m³ FRP-lined tanks with explosion-proof mixers. The closed-loop ventilation system reduces VOC emissions by 90%, meeting strict environmental standards, while pressure-relief valves prevent incidents during batch processing.