Floating Suction Units: Technical Overview

Floating Suction Units (FSU) are specialized tank internals designed to withdraw clean product from the top layer of a storage tank, above any water and sediment that settles at the tank bottom. By floating on the liquid surface and maintaining the suction inlet just below the surface, FSUs ensure that only the cleanest product is pumped out — critical for aviation fuel, jet fuel, and other high-purity product applications.

The unit consists of a floating pontoon or buoyancy chamber, a flexible articulated suction pipe that pivots as the liquid level changes, and a swivel joint connection to the tank's suction nozzle. As the tank fills and empties, the float rises and falls, keeping the suction inlet submerged 100-300mm below the surface — always above the water/sediment interface.

Key Technical Specifications

ParameterSpecification
Tank DiameterUp to 100 meters
Flow RateUp to 2,000 m3/h
MaterialAluminum (light-duty); 316L SS (corrosive service)
Seal MaterialPTFE / Viton (product-dependent)
Suction Depth100-300mm below liquid surface (adjustable)
Swivel JointSelf-lubricating, maintenance-free design

Applications

  • Aviation Fuel Storage: Jet A/A-1, avgas — water and sediment-free product is critical for flight safety
  • Refinery Intermediate Storage: Clean product withdrawal from settling tanks
  • Strategic Petroleum Reserve: Crude oil storage where bottom sediment must be excluded

Oil Mixer

Oil Mixer

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Product Features

Gear transmission design, driven by medium self-power, no external power or transmission mechanism required, stable operation and energy-saving.
360° all-round rotary spraying, multi-nozzle split-flow structure, no mixing dead zones, full liquid level coverage, ensuring uniform mixing of oil in the tank.
The whole machine is made of 304/316 stainless steel, with enhanced sealing at key parts, anti-corrosion, explosion-proof and anti-static, suitable for multi-medium working conditions such as crude oil, refined oil and additives.
Modular design, simple structure, can be installed from regular manholes, suitable for new tank construction and old tank.

Advantages

The multi-nozzle split-flow spraying structure covers mixing at all liquid levels, quickly balancing the differences in oil density, viscosity and components.
Core highlights: Avoid oil stratification and deterioration, reduce oil and gas volatilization loss. Perfect for new tank construction and old tank renovation, it is the preferred equipment for efficient blending in oil depots and petrochemical tank farms.
Oil Mixer - Floating Suction Units&Others | Wanan Technology
Oil Mixer - Product Photo (Floating Suction Units&Others) | Wanan Technology
Oil Mixer - Product Photo (Floating Suction Units&Others) | Wanan Technology
Oil Mixer - Product Photo (Floating Suction Units&Others) | Wanan Technology
Oil Mixer - Floating Suction Units&Others | Wanan Technology

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FAQ

A closed loop sampler is a safety device used to collect liquid samples from pipelines or storage tanks without exposing operators to hazardous chemicals. Wanan closed loop samplers comply with API MPMS 8.2 standard and feature a sealed design that returns purge fluid back to the process, eliminating VOC emissions.

Wanan flame arrestors are certified to ISO 16852, ATEX (European Explosive Atmospheres Directive), and EN 12874 standards. We provide type test reports for IIA, IIB, and IIC gas groups. All products are manufactured in our ISO 9001:2015 certified facilities.

Yes. Wanan Technology is a registered qualified supplier for Sinopec, PetroChina, CNOOC (China), ExxonMobil, LukOil (Russia), ENI (Italy), KazMunayGas (Kazakhstan), and PDVSA (Venezuela), among others.

Wanan Technology has manufacturing facilities in Germany, USA, and China. We also have inventory and sales service centers in UAE to serve Middle East and global customers with fast delivery.

Wan’an Technology’s closed sampler is suitable for liquid sampling scenarios involving toxic and hazardous media in petrochemical, natural gas, oil refinery, and tank farm industries. It complies with API MPMS 8.2 standards, prevents operators from coming into contact with hazardous substances, and meets HSE environmental emission requirements.

A: Standard products ship within 2-4 weeks from order confirmation. Custom-engineered solutions typically require 6-8 weeks depending on specification complexity. For urgent projects, we offer expedited production upon request — contact our sales team with your timeline and we will work out a schedule.

A: Our products comply with major international standards including ISO 3170 (petroleum sampling), API MPMS 8.1/8.2, ATEX for explosive atmospheres, ASME, and EAC. DOT and TPED certifications are available for sample cylinders. We provide full certification documentation and material test certificates with every order.

A: Yes. We offer sample units for evaluation purposes. Upon approval, we ship one or two units so you can verify compatibility with your application, materials, and site conditions before committing to a volume order. Shipping costs may apply depending on destination.