GELLED FLOATING ROOF FOR STORAGE TANKS AND PITS AND PROCESS FOR FORMING SAME

摘要

A novel and inexpensive floating roof for tank and pit storage of crude oil and other petroleum products is formed in place by gelling a thin surface layer of oil using gelling agents in low concentration. The gelling agent employed is the reaction product of a diisocyanate and either an amine or an alcohol, which reaction product is a urea-type molecule which ultimately forms the gel with the oil. The layer of gelled oil floats on the surface of the material being stored and follows changes in its level. In sloping-wall pits the gelled layer readily adjusts to the changing wall contours while at the same time substantially reducing volatile and wind entrainment losses, fire hazards and water entrapment.