Success Case: Bitumen Storage and Heating Solution for a Highway Project in Kenya

Project Background

In 2024, a Kenyan infrastructure contractor was awarded a government-funded highway expansion project connecting Nairobi with surrounding regions. One of the critical challenges was ensuring a stable supply of liquid bitumen for asphalt production. The construction site was far from refineries, and transporting liquid bitumen over long distances was costly and risky due to temperature loss during transit.

To overcome these challenges, the contractor decided to use bulk bitumen supply in drums and required a reliable bitumen drum decanter and storage system. After evaluating several international suppliers, they selected Dezhou Feiteng Road Construction Equipment Co., Ltd. for its proven expertise and strong track record in Africa.

Customer Demands and Challenges

• High Efficiency: The project required continuous melting of 6–8 tons of bitumen per hour to meet paving schedules.

• Energy Savings: Equipment had to minimize fuel consumption to reduce operational costs.

• Stable Heating: Storage tanks needed to keep liquid bitumen at a constant 150–160°C to ensure smooth asphalt mixing.

• Ease of Operation: The contractor wanted automated controls to reduce labor requirements.

• Durability: Equipment had to withstand the hot, dusty construction environment in Kenya.

Our Solution

Feiteng provided a YDLR-10 Bitumen Drum Decanter paired with two YZSL Series Bitumen Storage and Heating Tanks.

• ZDLT-10 Drum Decanter: Processes 6–8 tons of bitumen per hour. Thermal oil circulation system improves heat efficiency by 30%.

• YZSL Storage Tanks: Double heating design (thermal oil + direct heating) ensures stable bitumen temperature and uninterrupted supply.

• Intelligent Control: PLC system with automatic temperature regulation and remote fault monitoring.

• Energy Efficiency: Dual-fuel burners (oil/gas) reduce energy costs by 20%.

• Durability: Robust insulation and anti-corrosion design suited for tropical environments.

Results and Benefits

• Continuous Supply: Achieved stable production of 7 tons of liquid bitumen per hour, fully meeting asphalt plant requirements.

• Cost Savings: Reduced fuel consumption by 22% and labor costs by 50%, saving the contractor approximately USD 120,000.

• Improved Efficiency: Reliable heating system ensured smooth paving progress, helping the project finish 10 days ahead of schedule.

• Future Cooperation: Based on this successful delivery, the customer plans to purchase an additional set of Feiteng modified bitumen equipment for upcoming projects.

Customer Feedback

“Feiteng’s equipment proved extremely reliable and efficient. The drum decanter worked continuously under tough field conditions, and the storage tanks kept bitumen at the perfect temperature. Their technical support team guided our staff effectively, making the operation simple and problem-free.”
— John Mwangi, Project Manager, Nairobi Highway Expansion Project