How can waves in a water storage tank be prevented?

AI Thread Summary
A 45,000 bbl water storage tank is experiencing damaging waves caused by a 24" water inlet. The inlet, positioned horizontally 4 feet from the ground, creates significant turbulence and rotational flow within the tank. Suggestions include implementing a baffle system or modifying the inlet pipe to direct water towards the bottom of the tank to reduce wave impact. Additionally, flaring the inlet can help decrease water velocity and mitigate wave formation. Effective solutions are necessary to protect internal devices, particularly an oil skimmer float, from damage.
wfjer
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Hi,
I need to find a solution to the following problem:

A 45000 bbls water storage tank has a 24" water inlet, the water that enters the tank is causing a lot of waves. These waves are causing damage to an oil skimmer float located in the surface of the water.

Our client wants to find a method to avoid these waves, any ideas?
 
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Welcome to PF, Wfjer.
Does the inlet lie below or above the waterline? In other words, is the water splashing in from a height or causing subsurface turbulence?
I'm thinking along the line of a baffle system if the latter, or a flow-director if the former.
 
Do the waves have any standing wave characteristics, meaning any relation to the diameter of the tank? The standing waves could be any combination of radial and azimuthal.
 
Baffles.
 
The tank has an horizontal 24" inlet at 4' from ground and the flow is 200000 BWPD.

@Bob S
I really not sure of the waves characteristics, but they are big enough to damage internal devices inside the tank.
 
By your description, the inlet will set up some serious rotational flow in the tank. Can you modify the inlet pipe to the tank to have it take a 90° turn and direct at the bottom of the tank? It seems like you would also want to flare it out as much as possible to get the velocity down.
 

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