PIPELINES

• Direct Line
• Ring Main
• Free flow system
• Individual lines and pumps (Framo)
 DIRECT LINE
• It consists of lines running longitudinally in the
centre tanks and branching out to bell mouths
in the centre and wing tanks
• It is found on crude oil tankers
• The system has the effect of improving the
discharge rate and improving the tank suction.
 Direct Line
• Advantages
• Facilitates quick loading and discharging
• Due to straight length of pipeline better
suction and less line friction
• Fewer bends and valves. Less erosion and
leaks
• Line washing time reduced
 Direct line
• Disadvantage
• Due to fewer valves, difficult to control leaks
• Many grades can not be carried
• Lay out is not versatile
 RING MAIN SYSTEM
• It is also called circular system
• . This type of piping system provides for the
handling of several different types of oil.
• A particular tank can be pumped out either by
a direct suction line or through another line by
use of a cross-over.
• The system is very versatile.
 Ring Main
• Advantages
• Ideal for product tankers
• Several products can be carried
simultaneously in different tanks
• Any pump can be connected to discharge any
tank- very versatile
• Line flushing can be carried out without
flushing into the tanks
 Disadvantage
• Number of bends, valves, joints – pumping
rate affected
• Leaks due to erosion
• Initial cost of system high
 FREE FLOW SYSTEM
• In this system, the oil flows freely into the after most
tanks when the interconnecting gate valves are opened.
• Main suction bellmouths in a full free flow tanker will
only be provided in the aft tanks.
• However, each individual tank is generally provided
with a small stripping line. This system has the distinct
advantage of having lesser and less complicated piping
system in the tanks and is suitable for large tankers
which usually do not carry many grades of oil.
• Some of the ships are part free flow and part
direct line the advantage of this system is line
friction is less.
• This system is mainly used on large crude
carriers which carry only one grade of cargo
which is required to be discharged quickly.
• Large gate valves built into the bulk heads of
the tanks allow the oil to flow from the side
tanks to the centre tanks, from where the
stern trim of the vessel causes the oil to flow
to the aftermost tank, where the suctions of
the main cargo pumps are situated
• The large bulk heads sluice valves permit a
good drainage of the cargo. Any residues are
discharged by the stripping pumps.
 Individual line and pump
• Fitted on product and chemical tankers
• Submerged pumps driven by hydraulic motors
are fitted in the tanks
• The loading and discharge line from the
manifold will pass from deck to the tank
bottom.
• The number of manifold will be equal to the
number of tanks