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Interface detection of multiproducts pipeline

Interface detection of multiproducts pipeline

Interface detection of multiproducts pipeline

(OP)
I am seeking experts advice from cross county pipelines companies or refineries for best practice to detect the interface between products in cross country pipelines. We are depending on online density meter, but it is subjected to repetitive failure which make it unreliable and cause loss of clean products.

We have a pipeline that transfers Gasoline, Diesel and Kerosene on patches. The distance between sending plant and receiving plant is 500 KM. sending plant pumps Diesel on patch with quantity of 250, 000 Barrels followed by Gasoline of 250,000 Barrels.  Diesel product is received on dedicated tank, operations people use online density meters to indentify the interface between Diesel & Gasoline ahead of time before it reaches the plant. this mixed product will be diverted to a special tank called "interface product tank" which will be treated/downgraded later on. Operation staff then identify cut-off point between Diesel and Gasoline products through the online density meter to divert Gasoline to its tank.

I am seeking your advice if there is a better method to detect the interface segment of two products different than using online density meters, I would appreciate any help or clue.   
 

RE: Interface detection of multiproducts pipeline

Densitometers are the most common method, but optical interface detectors are available, however I can't speak for their reliabiality.  http://www.epa.gov/otaq/highway-diesel/workshop/kam-test.pdf

Maybe you can test them next to vibration type densitometers on the Ras Tanura to Riyadh pipeline for example.   

"I am sure it can be done. I've seen it on the internet."  BigInch's favorite client.

"Being GREEN isn't easy." Kermitfrog http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpiIWMWWVco

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.live.com

RE: Interface detection of multiproducts pipeline

Which density meters and why are they failing?
One failure is bad enough but repeated failures?

I would assume these are vibrating element density meters and they should require virtually no maintenance or re-calibration, especially for they are both rugged and robust.

This is a very basic application for them and they are used in a variety of ways with the software having density zoning.
I would suggest that if there are such problems that there are repeated failures of density meters, the problems need to be thoroughly understood before attempting the application with any other technology.


 

JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

RE: Interface detection of multiproducts pipeline

I've seen different methods.  I believe our most common method is insertion/tuning fork type meters but I have also seen strap-on ultrasonic devices used to detect interfaces.    

Unfortunately, that isn't my area of expertise and the people who do have the experience in this are secretive with it.

 

RE: Interface detection of multiproducts pipeline

I'm still curious as to how the online density meters are failing repetitively.

They shouldn't.

They have been used in refineries to detect the interfaces between leaded and unleaded petrol, in fact, any refined product where there is a density difference between one batch and the next.

The tuning fork types (with viscosity measurement as well as density) are used on ships in the engine rooms and during bunkering to monitor fuel quality and are quite capable of surviving in some quite difficult applications including bitumens, quench oils and even chalk slurries.

This is not a demanding application, in fact it is very benign. Whether tube or fork, they should simply work with an a very high on-stream factor and little or no maintenance and, for this application which depends on density differences, infrequent calibration.

This assumes you use vibrating element sensors. If you are not then you still have to know why the sensors are failing.

Changing from one sensor type to another should not be an option until the reason for the failures has been identified because if whatever is the cause of the existing density meters failing is not addressed, it may cause the new technology to fail as well.

JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

RE: Interface detection of multiproducts pipeline

Same thoughts myself.  What do you want to bet its not the actual densitometers, but the electronics.  High temp and humidity during the day, condensing at night.

"I am sure it can be done. I've seen it on the internet."  BigInch's favorite client.

"Being GREEN isn't easy." Kermitfrog http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpiIWMWWVco

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.live.com

RE: Interface detection of multiproducts pipeline

erdd,
any feedback for us?

JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

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