Bitumen Melting Systems

Bitumen Melting Systems: Big Bag, Drum and Box Melters

A bitumen melting unit (bitumen decanter) turns solid bitumen into liquid bitumen for storage tanks, asphalt plants and emulsion or PMB plants. Vimpo builds three types, one for each way bitumen is shipped: 1 t big bags, 200 L steel drums and 1 m³ clovertainer boxes.

All three types use the same principle and the same components. The pack rests on a heated thermal oil grid; the bitumen melts and drains into the reservoir, and the empty pack stays on the grid. A filter before the pump holds back residue, and a Vimpo VH80S jacketed pump sends the bitumen out at 130–160 °C. Eight models cover 3 to 10 t/h.

How Does a Bitumen Melting Unit Work?

Melting on a heated grid

The big bag, the opened drums or the box rest on a thermal oil grid. The bitumen melts and drains into the reservoir under the grid. The bag, liner, drum or box residue stays on the grid; take out the empty pack and load the next one.

Heating

Thermal oil at 200–220 °C flows through P235GH coils in the reservoir and through the grids. The units connect to an external thermal oil heater with 3" flanges and valves. Big bag models BB-3K and BB-5K carry their own 500,000 kcal/h (582 kW) heater.

Pumping

A filter before the pump protects it from residue. The Vimpo VH80S helical gear pump, jacketed, DN80, delivers 28.8 m³/h at 461 rpm through a 3" flanged outlet to storage or to the plant.

Big Bag Bitumen Melter (VBM-BB)

For bitumen in 1 t big bags (PP outer bag with PE liner). Lift the bag onto a top loading hatch; the heated grid under the hatch melts the bitumen out of the bag. Models with 1, 2 or 4 hatches give 3, 5 or 10 t/h, with 5, 10 or 15 m³ reservoirs. BB-3K and BB-5K have their own thermal oil heater, so no external boiler is needed.

• VBM-BB-3 · VBM-BB-3K: 1 hatch, 3 t/h, 5 m³
• VBM-BB-5 · VBM-BB-5K: 2 hatches, 5 t/h, 10 m³
• VBM-BB-10: 4 hatches, 10 t/h, 15 m³
• Option: monorail hoist over the loading hatches

Drum Bitumen Decanter (VBM-B)

For bitumen in 200 L steel drums. The hydraulic drum loader pushes the opened drums into the heated chamber on 2 lanes. The bitumen drains through the heated grid into the 10 m³ reservoir. The VBM-B-8 takes 36 drums per charge, melts up to 8 t/h and has the size of a 40 ft container.

• VBM-B-8: 36 drums, 8 t/h, 10 m³, 40 ft size
• Hydraulic drum loading, 2 lanes

Clovertainer (Box) Bitumen Melter (VBM-CT)

For bitumen in 1 m³ clovertainer boxes. The unit is the same as the big bag melter, but the boxes go in from the side: each compartment has a heated grid, the box rests on it, the bitumen drains into the reservoir and the empty box comes out from the side.

• VBM-CT-5: 2 compartments, 5 t/h, 10 m³
• VBM-CT-10: 4 compartments, 10 t/h, 15 m³
• Option: forklift or crane for the boxes

Common Features

Filter Before the Pump

The pack residue stays on the grid; the filter before the pump holds back what passes. A maintenance and cleaning hatch gives access to the reservoir.

Vimpo VH80S Bitumen Pump

Jacketed helical gear pump, DN80, 28.8 m³/h at 461 rpm, 11 kW. Made by Vimpo for hot bitumen.

Simple Control

On/off control panel with two-stage temperature control: low stage and high stage, both set manually. IP 54 indoor, IP 55 outdoor.

Insulated Steel Body

S235JR steel plate on a profile chassis, 50 mm rock wool and galvanized trapezoidal cladding. Mechanical float level indicator on the reservoir.

Technical Specifications

Options

Vimpo bitumen melting units are also available with:

• Loading crane: monorail hoist over the big bag hatches, on request
• Box handling: forklift or crane for clovertainer boxes, on request
• Storage: heated bitumen storage tank, Vimpo VBT series

Where Are Bitumen Melting Units Used?

Where bitumen arrives in big bags, drums or boxes instead of tankers: asphalt plants, bitumen terminals, emulsion and PMB plants, and remote job sites. The melted bitumen goes to a heated storage tank or directly to the plant. Keep the bitumen temperature at least 30 °C below its flash point.

Vimpo Bitumen Storage and Processing

Store the melted bitumen in Vimpo bitumen tanks and heat the system with Vimpo thermal oil heaters.

Bitumen Melting FAQ

Which melter do I need: big bag, drum or box?

Choose by the pack your bitumen arrives in: VBM-BB for 1 t big bags, VBM-B for 200 L drums, VBM-CT for 1 m³ clovertainer boxes. All three use the same heated grid principle and the same pump.

What is the melting capacity?

3 to 10 t/h depending on the model. The capacity depends on the bitumen grade, the pack temperature and the available thermal power.

Do I need a separate thermal oil heater?

Yes for all models except BB-3K and BB-5K, which have their own 500,000 kcal/h heater on the chassis.

What happens to the empty bag, drum or box?

It stays on the heated grid and you take it out. The filter before the pump holds back residue.

Get a Bitumen Melting Unit Quote

Tell us how your bitumen arrives (big bag, drum or box),the capacity and your heating source; our team will select the model and prepare the quotation.