GB/T 46047-2025 in English

Standard Revision Background and Technological Evolution

GB/T 46047-2025, "Terminology for Asphalt Storage, Melting, and Heating Equipment," is a comprehensive revision of the 2003 edition, reflecting the significant advancements in asphalt storage and heating technology over the past 20 years. This revision not only incorporates structural adjustments and editorial optimizations, but more importantly, it systematically restructures the technical terminology system, removing outdated technical terms and adding definitions for several emerging technologies, reflecting new trends in industry technological development.

Analysis of major technical changes

Compared with the 2003 edition, the new standard has made significant adjustments in technical content: 9 important terms have been added, including asphalt depot, modified asphalt tank, and superconducting heat pipe heated asphalt tank; 11 outdated terms, including asphalt storage silo series and open flame heated asphalt melting and heating device, have been deleted; the definitions of 12 terms, including asphalt tank and thermal oil heated asphalt tank, have been changed to make them more in line with the current technical level.

Asphalt storage device classification system

The new standard establishes a more scientific and complete asphalt storage device classification system, dividing asphalt storage devices into three categories based on their functional characteristics: asphalt depots, asphalt tanks, and asphalt heating devices. Asphalt tanks are further divided into 10 specific types, covering the current mainstream heating technologies.

Comparative analysis of asphalt tank technology types:

Definition of key technical performance parameters

Chapter 3.3 of the standard clarifies the terminology definitions of 5 key performance parameters: Asphalt tank capacity (m³), asphalt heating capacity (kg/h), asphalt temperature rise (°C/h), asphalt insulation capacity (°C/h), and asphalt heating unit rated thermal power (kW). These parameters provide a unified technical basis for equipment selection and performance evaluation. In particular, the definitions of asphalt temperature rise and asphalt insulation capacity clarify that they are average rates at a specific temperature. This detailed requirement avoids data bias caused by inconsistent testing conditions and improves the comparability of industry test data.

Standard Implementation Recommendations and Application Guidance

Based on the technical requirements of the new standard, relevant organizations are advised to make adaptive adjustments in the following areas: First, update terminology in technical documents and product manuals to ensure consistency with the national standard; second, strictly adhere to the technical connotations of terminology definitions in product design and manufacturing; and third, adopt standard terminology in project bidding and technical specifications to promote standardized industry communication.

Designers should pay special attention to new technical options such as the tank-in-tank composite heated asphalt tank and fuel (gas) and thermal oil dual-heated asphalt tank. These new structures provide more solutions for specialized project needs. Users should select asphalt heating equipment based on the performance parameters defined in the standard, paying particular attention to the matching of asphalt heating capacity and rated thermal power.

Technology Development Trends and Standard Foresight

The revision of GB/T 46047-2025 fully considers the development trends of asphalt heating technology. Newly added methods such as superconducting heat pipe heating and composite heating represent the industry's development direction of energy conservation, environmental protection, and high-efficiency heating. The standard has deleted outdated technical terms such as open flame heating, reflecting the emphasis on safe production and environmental protection.

With the advancement of the dual carbon goals, future asphalt heating technology will place greater emphasis on energy efficiency improvement and emission control. It is expected that the next revision of the standard will further refine the terminology of clean energy technologies such as electric heating and solar heating, and may also add definitions of terms related to intelligent control.