PDVSA

ENGINEERING DESIGN MANUAL

VOLUME 9–I

ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION

PDVSA N° TITLE

K–303 LEVEL INSTRUMENTATION

1 JAN.01 GENERAL REVISION 4 Y. K. A. A. E. C.

0 AUG. 94 FOR APPROVAL 12 L.T. E.J. A.N.

REV. DATE DESCRIPTION PAG. REV. APPD. APPD.

APPD.BY Alexis Arévalo DATE JAN.01 APPD.BY Enrique Carmona DATE JAN.01

E PDVSA, 1983 ESPECIALISTAS

 ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION PDVSA K--303

PDVSA
REVISION DATE

LEVEL INSTRUMENTATION 1 JAN.01

Page 1
Menú Principal Indice manual Indice volumen Indice norma

1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Purpose (Modification):
The purpose of this engineering specification is to provide designers and vendors
with requirements for the design, specification, installation and commissioning of
level instrumentation. All guidelines of the introduction specification PDVSA
K--300 shall also be explicitly followed.
Since PDVSA has decided to adopt the PIP (Process Industry Practices)
document: PCCLI001 “Level Measurement Criteria” as an integral part of the
Engineering Design Manual (MID), the requirements in this document are
additions or modifications to the PCCLI001 and the section/paragraph numbers
and the associated headings used in this document correspond to the ones used
in PCCLI001.

1.2 Scope (Addition)

Tank gauging for custody transfer applications shall follow API MPMS
recommendations.

2 REFERENCES
2.1 Petróleos de Venezuela Specifications (PDVSA) (Addition)
PDVSA K--300 Introduction to PDVSA Instrumentation
PDVSA K--369 Instrumentation QA/QC
PDVSA SI--S--01 Gerencia de la Seguridad de los Procesos (GSP) –
Lineamientos Corporativos
PDVSA HO--H--02 Guías de Seguridad para Trabajos con Radiaciones
Ionizantes
2.3 (Addition)
Consider OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1919.119 as referential. For process safety
management practices, PDVSA Standard SI--S--01 shall be followed.

3 DATA
3.1 (Modification)
Data set shall be in electronic and hard copy format

4 GENERAL
4.1 (Addition)
For interface measurement, displacers are the preferred option. For special
applications, other measuring methods may be considered: ultrasonic, radar,
 ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION PDVSA K–303
REVISION DATE
PDVSA 1 JAN.01
LEVEL INSTRUMENTATION
Page 2
Menú Principal Indice manual Indice volumen Indice norma

capacity, conductivity, nuclear, etc. Project and/or site specific standardized

meters shall be used.

4.2 (Addition)
Metallic trim wetted parts shall be AISI 316 SS miminum.

4.7 (Addition)
For safety applications, block valves shall be car sealed open and vent/drain
valves car sealed closed.

4.8 (Addition)
Pressure ratings for wetted parts of level instrument shall conform to the most
stringent piping specifications of the piping connected to the vessel.

4.13 (Addition)
The use of level bubblers requires PDVSA approval.

4.15 (Modification)
“ . . highly toxic and hazardous services . . . “

4.16 (Addition)
Use of a portable ladder or man–basket requires PDVSA approval.

4.17 (Modification)
Winterization is not required in Venezuela. Heating and insulation may be
required to avoid plugging of viscous or waxy process fluids. In the case of cold
fluids, insulation may be required to avoid changes in density or vaporization.
Special provisions, such as purging, shall be provided to ensure proper operation
of level instruments in services containing solids which may sediment.

4.18 (Addition)
All level instruments shall be provided with the necessary accesories and facilities
to perform in situ maintenance and instrument removal while process is running.

5 DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE INSTRUMENTS

5.1 (Under “Exception”, addition)
Also, for this service, a separate high–high level switch and alarm, not affected by
specific gravity changes, shall be installed.
 ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION PDVSA K–303
REVISION DATE
PDVSA 1 JAN.01
LEVEL INSTRUMENTATION
Page 3
Menú Principal Indice manual Indice volumen Indice norma

5.2 (Modification)
Transmitters shall be mounted at or . . . .
5.4.5 (Addition)
Minimum capillary tubing length shall be 1 meter.
5.4.5 (Addition)
Add to the last comment: “Similar considerations shall be taken for routing close
to cold temperature sources”.
5.4.8 (Addition)
Capillary tubing shall have 316 SS armored sleeving. Armored sleeving coatings
of neoprene, PVC or polyethilene may be specified as site or project specific
requirements.

5.5 (Addition)
For pneumatic transmitters, zero suppression and elevation adjustment controls
shall be specified.

6 DISPLACEMENT INSTRUMENTS
6.2.1 (Addition)
As a minimum, displacer chambers materials of construction shall be carbon steel.
6.3.1 (Addition)
Metallic trim wetted parts shall be AISI 316 SS miminum.

8 NON – CONTACT INSTRUMENTS

8.1 (Modification)
Modify last sentence to read: “As long as the criteria in paragraph 4.1 are followed,
the use of noncontact instruments does not require previous PDVSA approval,
except for nuclear instruments”.

8.3 (Delete paragraph)

9 NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS
9.3 (Modification)
For disposal of spent or damaged nuclear sources, PDVSA Safety Guidelines
HO–H–02, “Guías de Seguridad para Trabajos con Radiaciones Ionizantes”,
 ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION PDVSA K–303
REVISION DATE
PDVSA 1 JAN.01
LEVEL INSTRUMENTATION
Page 4
Menú Principal Indice manual Indice volumen Indice norma

Section 11.8 “Manejo y Disposición Final de los Desechos Radiactivos” shall be

followed.

9.4 (Modification)
PDVSA Safety Guidelines HO–H–02, “Guías de Seguridad para Trabajo con
Radiaciones Ionizantes”, shall be followed for the procurement, transportation,
installation, operation and control of nuclear sources.

10 LEVEL SWITCHES
10.4 (Addition)
Refer to PDVSA K–336, Safety Instrumented Systems, for specific application
requirements.

10.5 (Addition)
Where applicable, the use of dedicated differential pressure transmitters and
electronic switching receivers may be considered. Considerations such as total
life cycle costs, flexibility, reliability, ease of calibration and maintenance shall be
taken into account to decide on the use of differential pressure transmitters in lieu
of field level switches.

11 LEVEL GAUGES
11.2.3 (Addition)
Reflex glass gauges shall be used for colorless liquid aplications, such as LGN,
LPG, etc.
11.4.2 (Modification)
Tubular glass gauges shall not be used for hot or cold services, strong alkalis or
acids, hydrocarbons, steam or other fluids which may pose hazard to equipment,
personnel or the environment in case of glass rupture.

12 (Addition) QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL

Refer to PDVSA K–369 for QA/QC directives.