Start-Up Purpose

New facilities and restarted units produce off-spec material during initial operation. Catalyst activation periods generate substandard product. Equipment flushing creates contaminated streams. Start-up bin isolates this material preventing main storage contamination until specifications achieved.

Bin Configuration

Vertical or horizontal atmospheric or low-pressure vessel with inlet from process, vent for vapors, outlet to reprocessing or disposal, level instrumentation, sample connections verifying quality. Simple storage design without complex internals. Sizing for anticipated start-up duration and flow rates.

Operating Conditions

Atmospheric or slight pressure matching upstream equipment. Temperature ambient to moderate depending on material. Design accommodates process fluid properties. Venting handles vapor generation from volatile materials.

Material Handling

Off-spec product diverts to start-up bin instead of main storage. Once process stabilizes and product meets specifications, divert to normal storage. Bin contents reprocess through unit or blend to specification. Final disposal if reprocessing uneconomic.

Capacity Sizing

Volume for hours to days of off-spec production depending on start-up complexity. Catalyst units may produce off-spec material for weeks requiring larger bins. Balance storage capacity versus reprocessing frequency and disposal costs.

Material Selection

Carbon steel for hydrocarbon service. Stainless steel for corrosive or high-purity applications. Materials resist process fluid chemistry. Coating or lining where required for specialty products.

Applications

Refinery unit commissioning collecting off-spec products, chemical plant start-ups, catalyst break-in periods, equipment flushing, process upsets producing off-grade material, and any operation requiring temporary off-spec storage.

Quality Verification

Sampling connections allow testing material quality. Laboratory analysis determines when product meets specifications. Automated analyzers provide continuous monitoring in sophisticated installations.

Reprocessing Options

Blend small volumes with on-spec material meeting final specifications. Reprocess through unit once stable operation achieved. Downgrade to lower-value product applications. Dispose if contamination prevents recovery.

Level Monitoring

Instruments track inventory. High-level alarm warns before capacity reached. Operators manage diversion based on quality and bin capacity. Simple level indication sufficient for most applications.

Performance Benefits

Prevents off-spec material contaminating main storage. Enables orderly start-up without product quality concerns. Provides flexible material management during commissioning. Simple temporary storage solution.

Construction Standards

Atmospheric storage per API 650. Low-pressure vessels per ASME Section VIII. Materials for process service. Proper venting and drainage. Complete documentation with capacity calculations.

ERGIL start-up bins provide temporary off-spec storage enabling smooth plant commissioning and restart operations.