Non-Invasive Liquid Level Measurements at Tank Farms
Safe and Efficient Tank Unloading
When unloading petrochemical products, maintaining defined flow rates is crucial to preventing electrostatic charging and the associated safety risks. At the same time, plant processes must not be interrupted by invasive measurement technology. Clamp-on ultrasonic technology enables reliable, ATEX-compliant flow measurement from the outside—without any intervention in the piping and with continuous process safety.
Measurement Task and Requirements
It is crucial that a tanker be unloaded as quickly as possible within the permissible limits for safe operation. As the unloading speed increases, so does the static electrical charge in the pipeline, which raises the risk of sparking. The challenge was to ensure a flow velocity of just under 3.5 m/s to maintain flow without sparking. The installation of invasive flow measurement technology involves cutting into the pipe and temporary process interruptions. In isolated cases, leaks and other difficulties may also occur when restarting raw material transport after the installation of in-line measuring devices. Due to the low electrical conductivity of the raw materials handled at tank farms, electromagnetic induction measurement methods are not an option.
Project Specifications at a Glance
- Industry: Chemical and Petrochemical
- Installation Type: Stationary
Medium: Petrochemicals
Technical Solution
Non-invasive clamp-on flow measurement based on ultrasonic technology offers an optimal solution for tank farms. It enables reliable and repeatable non-contact measurement through pipe walls without having to shut down sections of piping or entire plant areas. Katronic’s partner in the Benelux countries, U-F-M B.V., uses 13 Katronic KATflow 170 ATEX flow meters to ensure that a wide variety of petrochemicals are unloaded into a so-called “hydrocarbon storage facility” as quickly, efficiently, and, above all, as safely as possible.
Measurement Procedure and Results
The KATflow 170 uses compact, explosion-proof clamp-on sensors to measure flow rates. The ATEX-certified base unit transmits the flow rate to the on-site control system, which then modulates the pumped volume. The measurements are straightforward, reliable at all times, and ensure compliance with all occupational safety criteria.