Oil refinery delayed coker unit clamp-on flow

Panametrics provides solutions for challenges

Summary
An oil refinery in Turkey needed to revalidate the inline flow meters in the delayed
coker unit on the cold/hot feed lines. The refinery currently uses a Panametrics
XMT868i transmitter with BWT transducers, it has been installed for the last five years.
Before validation with a TransPort PT878 portable flowmeter with C-ET transducers,
the customer was considering level measurements from the storage tanks and a
mass balance calculation. The customer had challenges reconciling the numbers,
as the difference was too significant compared to the flow meter readings.
Application
Refinery delayed coker unit, high viscosity and density hot/cold main feed line.
Line size : 12”
Temp.: 285°C – 300 °C (545°F – 582°F)
Viscosity: 160 to 165 cP
Fluid: Vacuum residue
Challenge
The delayed coker unit operations team was concerned about their mass balance
calculation and overall efficiency of the unit. There was no flow measurement that
existed in the main feed line and there was no possibility of shutting down to install
a new meter, the team had to rely on tank level meters for reconciliation.
The team had little confidence in using clamp-on flow meters for such harsh
applications due to poor experiences in the past on simple applications such as
water flow with other clamp-on meter manufacturers.
Benefits:
• No shut down requirements,
(Installation on existing pipe)
• No periodic calibration required
• No pressure drop
Application note
Oil refinery delayed coker unit clamp-on flow
Solution
A trial was performed with a high temperature C-ET
transducers in the main feed delayed coker line using the
following from Panametrics:
• PT878 electronics
• C-ET-05 transducers
• CFG-V12 clamping fixture
• CPL-16 RTV couplant
After 1 hour of measurement, the customer calculation from
production was 9500 m3/d whereas the PT878 flow meter
measured 9103 m3/d. All XMT868i existing flow meters installed
on the hot and cold charge lines added up to 9000 m3/d.
Comparison between the tank levels and the inline flow
meters showed -3% deviation.
Outcomes:
The customer was convinced about the clamp-on meters
performances in high-temperature coker lines.
Since the results matched within acceptable limits between
the inline flow meters and level measurement, the customer
decided to increase the delayed coker feed charge to the
furnace meaning they were able to increase the production
yield and efficiency.
The customer now uses Panametrics clamp-on flow
measurement where no available flow measurement exists
in high temperature lines as a permanent installation,
and they will use Panametrics portable meters for annual
validation of their furnace feed lines.