What Makes Loading Arms a Key Component of Chemical Tanker Loading Systems?

With the advent of flexible loading arms technology, chemical handling industries have largely improved the safety conditions at their worksites. These solutions are worth the investment due to their flexibility and integrated technologies that facilitate easy handling of hazardous substances. However, the selection of loading arms should be carefully made keeping in mind the precision and accuracy required to improve the overall productivity of your business. Every industry has its unique challenges. Hence, you need a system designed to mitigate these challenges and bringing more expediency in processes. Here are the top factors to consider for their selection:

Select Between Bottom and Top Loading Arms:

In chemical industries, the processes entailed in handling of hazardous and highly sensitive solvents, there is a choice between top and bottom loading arms for transferring liquids from storage to tanker, railcar or ship. These solvents need accurate handling to safeguard the health and safety of operators while also sustaining the surrounding environment. Bottom loading arms are conventionally used in these industries for manoeuvring the loading pipes and hoses from the ground, and making secure connections without elevating to the top of a tanker.

At the same time, top chemical tanker loading arms can be used for both tank truck and railcar loading. It is an adaptable system that can handle high flow rates. So, here, the selection should depend on individual requirements of your industry. Most importantly, a steel stand post for mounting the arms safely during operations is needed.

Check the Design Specifications:

A loading arms solution is an investment for oil depots and chemical handling companies. Hence, a decision to buy should be well informed and upon guidance from a reputable source. Determine the design specifications that suit your site requirements. These include swivel joints that are available as both custom fabricated and standard versions. These joints will move along the horizontal and vertical plane to facilitate easy rotations of the arms. Similarly, there should be dry disconnects values which help prevent accidental spillage of fuel, and heavy-duty couplers to ensure secure liquid transfers with ease.

Check the Features:

There are many high-end features integrated into the design of loading arms to make them functional and productive. You should look for the redundant seal system that helps in eliminating leakages in this unit. If a seal leaks, there is a back-up seal to hold the chemicals and environmental seal restricts its spillage into the environment. Apart from this, you should look for the spring balance units that allow a varied range of adjustments in the loading arms. There should be remote pendant controls, mechanical lockdown, and safety hooks for added security of operators.

Check the Compatibility:

Despite the functionality of chemical tanker loading arms, you need to assess if they are a perfect fit for your specific operations and equipment. In any case, you need seamless integration of loading arm into the railcar or tanker loading racks. You should prefer buying the loading arms and supporting equipment from the same supplier to avoid any compatibility issues. Also, these suppliers can customise their solutions as per the existing systems including safety cages, platforms, and gangways.

These are the points that make loading arms the best solution for a chemical handling industry. You should keep them in mind to choose a reliable supplier.

Resource Box: If you are looking for Tanker Fall Prevention Systems, the author of this article suggests IFC Inflow.


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