Molten / Liquid Sulphur is loaded to a road tanker or rail wagon via a top hatch located on top of the tank. At Emco Wheaton, the safe and efficient loading of sulphur is the key. We specialize in designing and manufacturing custom-built molten sulphur top loading arms.
Molten Sulphur Loading Arms
Parallel Loading Arm
E2632 Parallel Loading Arms with vapor return lines are used for hydrocarbons (e.g. gasoline), toxic and aggressive media.
Boom Top Loading & Unloading Arms
Boom Loaders are the most versatile of all top loading arms to handle all media and allow for the greatest reach.
Bottom Transfer Loading Arm| Emco Wheaton
Bottom transfer arms are especially designed to load products where vapor return is necessary while providing an extended reach that makes them ideal for applications where a vehicle cannot be accurately spotted.
Parallel Device for Bottom Loading Arms
The arm is fitted with six swivels for complete 3-axis movement of the tanker connection, allowing for tanker height changes during filling/discharge. The arm is additionally fitted with a parallel bar that holds the tanker connection arm ("B"-length) in a horizontal position irrespective of the primary arm ("A"-length) position. This makes tanker connection and disconnection much easier. The B-length also has a gas spring fitted allowing the operator to raise and lower the B-length with total ease.
Mechanical Quick Release System
Our mechanical Quick Release System provides automatic disconnection of a loading arm in the event of a tanker accidentally driving away. Simultaneously the product flow will be shut off both upstream and downstream of the disconnection point.
Pneumatic Quick Release System
Our pneumatic Quick Release System provides automatic disconnection of a loading arm in the event of a tanker accidentally driving away whilst simultaneously shutting off the product flow both upstream and downstream of the disconnection point.
Hydraulic Quick Release System
Our Hydraulic Quick Release System E0790 is used for the automatic separation of a connected loading arm from a tank vehicle in the event of an accidental drive-away whilst still connected. In this event, there is minimal loss of pressure in the rest of the connected supply.
Hose Release System for The Protection
Our Hose Release System is used for the protection of loading hoses during loading/unloading of barges, providing environmentally safe handling of loading hoses.
Telescopic Drop Tube
is used with a bottom contact switch, ensuring that the drop tube is permanently in touch with the bottom of the tanker being loaded. Our telescopic drop tubes can be either manually or pneumatically operated. Manually operated telescopic drop tubes are robust and have a short installation.
Heating Systems for Products
Designed to keep loaded fluids in a liquid state, used for products with low and middle temperature ranges or if there is no other heating media available.
Overfill Safety Device
Secondary safety system which prevents product overflow, for example in the case of an incorrect pre-selected loading amount.
Control Systems for Loading Arms
Systems for the comfortable and safe operation of loading arms.
SURELOK Couplings
Represent the most innovative method of producing fast and tight connection between two hoses or a vessel and a hose. These couplings comply with the safety requirements of the chemical and oil industries.
Vapor Cones and Plates
Adding a vapor cone or plate with a vapor recovery system on the arm, this improves the profitability of the terminal because vaporized product can be recovered and does not pollute the environment.
Sulphur Loading is a critical application due to its physical properties and very sensitive temperature variations.
Temperatures need to be maintained between 126⁰C-155⁰C (258ºF-311ºF) for the sulphur to stay in its molten form, allowing it to be smoothly loaded in the tanker/rail wagon. If the temperature rises above 160⁰C, viscosity increases, reducing sulphur’s fluidity and making difficult to load into the tank.
If the temperature goes below 120⁰C (320ºF), the sulphur freezes and solidifies,resulting in blockage of the loading arm, piping, etc. Since the Sulphur is a very poor conductor of heat, once solidified, it is very difficult to melt. For this reason, a loading arm requires a continuous heating solution to maintain temperature during the loading process.
HEATING SOLUTION / Steam Jacketed Loading Arms / Unloading Arms
Emco Wheaton offers various heating solutions such as steam jacketed and electrical heat tracing. Based on Emco Wheaton’s extensive global experience and feedback from our customers, Emco Wheaton’s preferred solution is steam jacketed tracing.
VAPOUR RECOVERY: (H2S) / Molten Sulphur Loading arms with a vapour line
Sulphur loading emits Hydrogen Sulphide Gas (H2S) when loaded into a tanker / rail wagon. During the loading process, vapour is recovered and vented to the atmosphere through a stack or an incinerator. Emco Wheaton’s loading arms are equipped with a vapour recovery line that utilizes a hose or a rigid pipeline. Based on our experience we would recommend you use a rigid pipeline that can be heated and without sulphur particles sticking to the pipe’s surface.
When hoses are not properly heated, they become stiff, and cannot be properly aligned along the loading arm. This makes maneuvering the loading arm difficult. This situation presents a high risk of sulphur particles getting crystallized inside the hose and eventually blocking or damaging the hose.
VOLUME CONTROL AND OVERFILL SAFETY / Loading arms with an electronic overfill probe
Sulphur loading volume is controlled via a weighing scale or metering. In general, a weighing scale is preferred as a primary shutoff solution. An overfill probe is installed on the drop tube of the loading arms as a secondary shutoff to avoid any over spillage in case the weighing scale/metering fails to shut off the valve. The secondary overfill device signals are connected to the Emco Wheaton control system which can also shut off the valve.
Sulphur tankers or rail wagons normally do not have overfill protection, however Emco Wheaton loading arms are equipped with an electronic overfill probe; either a tuning fork or a capacitance type. Based on customer requirements, we can include two probes for the HHL and HL loading arms.
MANEUVERING OF LOADING ARMS: HPU & CONTROL SYSTEM
Safe operation of the loading arm is very important due to its heated surface and the steam around the loading station. Since loading arms are heavy due to steam jacketing and the vapour cone, we recommend maneuvering loading arms by way of hydraulic actuation.
Emco Wheaton provides a Hydraulic Power Pack to operate the loading arms. We provide a PLC based power pack combined with the control system to monitor and control the loading arm & loading process.
The control system receives input signals from the overfill probe, grounding device, parking sensors, temperature sensors, and loading valve (shut off) positions. The system provides one permissive load signal to operate the pump and loading valve. The system can also provide or replicate the signals to the customer’s DCS.
The control panel includes status lamps, pushbuttons, emergency shut down and alarm lamps. Also, the control panel can be customized as per customer/project requirements.