Side-view of a typical tank
This tank is equipped with two heat transfer devices. Both of
them are filled with a fluid, which is circulated (pumperd)
through a heater or chiller to bring the fluid into the tank to a
desired temperature.
The copper looking structure is the helical
coil. The spacing of the pipe has been exaggerated to show the
insides of the tank. Usually this spacing is about 1 to 2 pipe
diameters.
The heat transfer jacket is like an outer tank surrounding the inner
tank. The heat transfer fluid flows between the two tanks.
This tank is equipped with 4 straight standard
baffles, 3 of which are visible in this cut-out view. They are
attached to the tank wall and the baffles are spaced away from the wall.
The central silver colored rod is the shaft. This can be solid
or hollow (pipe shaft). When the design calls for a large diameter
shaft, pipes are often used to reduce cost, weight and to add
strength. Shafts don't float in a tank. The upper flange is
attached to the outboard shaft of the gearbox, which is not shown.
The blue structure is called an intermediary steady bearing. It
surrounds the shaft with bearings. Sometimes this could be just a
ring which is called a limit ring. Both of these devices protect
the internals of a tank in the case that the fluid forces would
otherwise bend the shaft. Many tanks have a steady bearing or a
limit ring near the bottom of the tank. Instead of being suspended
from the walls, they rest on top of a tripod, which is attached to the
bottom of the tank.
This tank is equipped with 3 silver colored impellers.
This particular example shows them to be low solidity hydrofoils (our
example is of the LIGHTNIN A310)
We also see a drain hole in the bottom of this tank.