Bitumen storage & processing
Drum and bag bitumen decanter
A heated chamber that melts bitumen out of drums or bags where hot bulk bitumen is not available.
In many of our markets bitumen arrives in steel drums or bags rather than hot tankers. A decanter heats the packages until the bitumen flows out, collects it, filters it and pumps it to the storage tanks.
Drum decanters and bag melters have different loading designs, so tell us which packaging you buy. If hot bulk bitumen is available, you do not need one.
How it works
- 01
Loading
Drums are opened and loaded through hydraulic doors.
- 02
Heating
Thermal oil or hot gas melts the bitumen out of the packages.
- 03
Collecting
Liquid bitumen runs to a heated sump.
- 04
Filtering and transfer
Debris is screened out and bitumen is pumped to storage.
- 05
Emptying
Empty drums are removed and residue is cleaned out.
Common configurations
Thermal-oil heated decanter
Shares the heater that serves the tanks.
Hot-gas heated decanter
With its own burner.
Bag melter
Different loading for bagged bitumen.
Tell us before we quote
- Package type and size (drums or bags)
- Daily bitumen consumption
- Heat source available
Check before ordering
- Heating load added to the thermal oil heater
- Space and equipment for drum handling
- Where empty drums and residue go
Questions
Do I need a decanter?
Only if your bitumen is delivered in drums or bags. With hot bulk supply, storage tanks are enough.
Related
Bitumen tanks & pumpsInsulated tanks, heated pipes and jacketed pumps that keep bitumen hot and moving from delivery to the scale.
Thermal oil heaterThe heater and pumps that circulate hot oil to every bitumen tank, pipe and pump in the plant.
Bitumen emulsion plantA separate unit that produces bitumen emulsion for tack coats, prime coats and road maintenance.
Tell us about your project
Share your required capacity, site location and fuel type — our engineers will recommend a suitable plant configuration.