Experimental evaluation of heat transfer in a dry-cargo ships’ tank, using thermal oil as a heat transfer medium¹

Article type: Research Article

Authors: van der Heeden, D.J.

Affiliations: Central Technical Institute TNO

Note: [1] Report 111M Netherlands Ship Research Centre TNO.

Abstract: Little is known about the heat losses from double-bottom tanks. To obtain the necessary information, a test was carried out on such a tank of an 8,000 DWT freighter. The tanks of this ship were heated by means of thermal oil; the tank was loaded with low-viscosity fuel oil. Instrumentation was fitted to measure the heat flow through the tank areas, mean oil temperature, temperature of heating coil and temperatures in adjacent spaces. Furthermore the heat supplied by means of the thermal oil was determined. The test yielded much valuable information, including heat-transfer coefficients for all tank areas and for the heating coil. The heat loss from the tank bottom proved to be very high. A simplified method for calculating the heat losses from the frames made it possible to obtain a tallying heat belance. Based on the information obtained, the heat loss for heavy fuel oil was calculated.

DOI: 10.3233/ISP-1969-1617303

Journal: International Shipbuilding Progress, vol. 16, no. 173, pp. 27-37, 1969