Essential

PROCESS
CONTROL
Automation isn’t optional

Also Inside

Flowmeter accuracy

Tank level measurement

Peristaltic pump safety

MAY 2018 • Vol. XXIV, No. 5

www.flowcontrolnetwork.com
 SOLUTIONS for FLUID MOVEMENT,
MEASUREMENT & CONTAINMENT

SMART
Instruments
Technology for actionable data

Also Inside

Troubleshooting pump
cavitation
Pressure gauge selection
Ceramic measuring cells

MAY 2017 • Vol. XXIII, No. 5

www.flowcontrolnetwork.com

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Table of Contents | May 2018 • Vol. XXIV, No. 5

Cover Series
Automation & Control
10 Improving operations with
advanced analytics
By Edwin van Dijk, TrendMiner & Janice Abel,
ARC Advisory Group
Refining and chemicals facility lowers costs and
improves energy efficiency and safety.

14 Predicting cavitation damage in

control valves
By Jon Monsen, Ph.D., P.E., Valin Corporation
While no standard exists, several methods
10
can help operators.

Special Sections
Equipment & Personnel Safety
18 Increase peristaltic pump safety by
using the right tubing
By Gregg Johnson, Cole-Parmer
Material compatibility, pressure, temperature and size
are important. 18 24

21 Level measurement technology for

overfill prevention systems
By Per Skogberg, Emerson Automation Solutions
Departments
How to make the appropriate selection for each
application’s different challenges. 4 From the Editor

Flow Measurement 5 Letter to the Editor

24 Thermal & vortex flowmeters improve

efficiency in energy management
6 News & Notes
By Jesse Yoder, Ph.D., Flow Research 8 Application Corner & Quiz Corner
The technology continues to grow with frequent advancements.
30 Featured Products
26 5 factors that impact thermal mass flowmeter
accuracy, flow profile & conditioning 31 Advertiser Index
By Gary Russell, Sage Metering
End-user application condition knowledge is essential. 32 FlowControlNetwork.com
Cover image: baranozdemir/iStock

Flow Control (ISSN #1081-7107) is published 12 times a year

by Endeavor Business Media, 1 Mt. Laurel Avenue, Suite 207,
© Endeavor Business Media, 2018. No portion of this publica-
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2 | May 2018 Flow Control

RECOGNIZE
ACHIEVEMENT
Help us honor continual commitment to
constant evolution and growth in the
fluid handling industry.

 The deadline to vote is JUNE 29.

Cast yours now at
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 From the Editor
A
utomation and the process
industries go hand in hand. For
an industry that appreciates
continual process improvement, the
ability to manage operations remotely
and with actionable data is extremely
valuable. Technological advancements
are commonplace as facilities’ needs
to keep up with customer demand,
standards, safety and environmental
regulations, and more evolve. That’s
why this issue focuses on automation
and control.
Start with our cover series on page
10, where TrendMiner helps us under-
stand the value of advanced analytics,
specifically as it relates to refining and
chemical facility operations. After this,
delve into the topic of control valve cavi-
tation with Valin Corporation’s article on
page 14.
A discussion of automation and con-
trol would not be complete without
addressing safety. Our special section
begins on page 18 with an article by Cole-
Parmer, which discusses how peristaltic
pump tubing affects operator safety.
Then on page 21, Emerson Automation
Solutions includes an article on
4 | May 2018
selecting the appropriate tank level
measurement technology for overfill
prevention systems. Cast your vote in our
The May issue continues with our
second special section on flow mea-
annual Innovation
surement. Flow Control Editorial Awards program. Visit
Advisory Board member Jesse Yoder,
flowcontrolnetwork.com/
Ph.D., presents an article on page 24
about thermal and vortex flowmeters’ innovationawards by
roles in energy management. On page June 29 and make your
26, read about five factors that affect
the accuracy, flow profile and condi- voice heard!
tioning of thermal mass flowmeters in
an article by Sage Metering.
The annual Innovation Awards pro-
gram will soon come to a close. Visit
flowcontrolnetwork.com/innovation
awards to cast your vote by June 29.
I look forward to sharing the honorees
you choose in our October issue.
Sincerely,
Robyn Tucker
rtucker@endeavorbusinessmedia.com
@FlowControl_Mag
Flow Control
 EDITOR IN CHIEF

Letter to the Editor ROBYN TUCKER

rtucker@endeavorbusinessmedia.com

Dear Ms. Tucker,
This letter is a follow-up to the article
published in the January 2018 issue,
“Critical level control ensures highest
efficiency for desalter units.”
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
most challenging oil refining applica-
AMY W. RICHARDSON
tions for decades. An interface profil-
arichardson@endeavorbusinessmedia.com
ing system accurately provides desalter
MOLLY ROGERS
operators with the exact location of
mrogers@endeavorbusinessmedia.com
their interface emulsion using externally
mounted, radiometric density instru- COLUMNIST

Over the years, many different mea- ments. By understanding where the DAVID W. SPITZER

surement technologies have been used location of the interface emulsion is in ART DIRECTOR
to determine the oil/water interface the desalter, overall desalter unit optimi- RYAN CARLSON
level in separation vessels. Based on zation can occur. PRODUCTION DIRECTOR
the characteristics of the oil/water inter- While guided wave radar is a great AMANDA PORTER
face in a refinery’s desalter unit, tech- technology for desalter applications with aporter@endeavorbusinessmedia.com
nologies such as differential pressure, a defined interface, operators working GROUP PUBLISHER
capacitance and guided wave radar with varying interface emulsion condi- MICHAEL C. CHRISTIAN | 908-507-5472
can — and often will — be affected tions may also consider a radiomet- mchristian@endeavorbusinessmedia.com
adversely by the presence of inter- ric based interface profiling system to
DISTRICT MANAGER
face emulsions. In primary and even optimize desatler unit operation.
JAY HAAS | 205-572-1058
secondary desalters, varying interface
jhaas@endeavorbusinessmedia.com
emulsions are frequently commonplace, Sincerely,
ACCOUNT MANAGER
particularly for refineries that process Tai Piazza
ADDISON PERKINS | 205-861-5303
heavy, sour crudes. For instances where VEGA Americas Inc. — Refining
aperkins@endeavorbusinessmedia.com
interface emulsions vary in a desalter, a Industry Manager
radiometric interface profiling system is t.piazza@vega.com NATIONAL ACCOUNTS MANAGER

the recommended solution. JIM SEMPLE | 908-963-3008

Radiometric instrumentation has Do you have a success story or jsemple@endeavorbusinessmedia.com

been the go-to level technology for the concern to share? Send it to rtucker ACCOUNT MANAGER
@endeavorbusinessmedia.com. LISA WILLIMAN | 205-332-5915
lwilliman@endeavorbusinessmedia.com

MARKETING MANAGER
NICK PHILLIPS

DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER

MARY BETH ROMANO

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

ANNA HICKS

SUBSCRIPTION & REPRINT REQUEST

flowcontrol@omeda.com

CORPORATE TEAM
yoh4nn/iStock

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

CHRIS FERRELL
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
PATRICK RAINS

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Jeff Jennings: Equilibar LLC Tom O’Banion: Emerson Process Management, Micro Motion
MitchJeff Jennings:
Johnson: JMSEquilibar
SoutheastLLC | Mitch Johnson:DavidJMS Southeast Gobind
W. Spitzer,|PE: Khiani:
Spitzer Fluor Canada
and Boyes LLC Ltd.
Gobind Khiani:JimFluor
Lauria: Mazzei
Canada, Ltd. John Merrill,
Injector Company |George PE: EagleBurgmann
Weihrauch: Baldor Electric Industries
Company
Jim Lauria: Steve
MazzeiMilford:
Injector Endress+Hauser
Company Tom O’Banion:
U.S. | Andrew Emerson
Yeghnazar: Automation
Blacoh Solutions
Fluid Control
DavidPE:
John Merrill, W. Spitzer, PE: Spitzer
EagleBurgmann and Boyes LLC
Industries | George
Jesse Yoder:Weihrauch: ABB Motors & Mechanical
Flow Research
Andrew Yeghnazar:
Steve Milford: Endress+Hauser U.S.Blacoh Fluid Control | Jesse Yoder, Ph.D.: Flow Research

www.flowcontrolnetwork.com May 2018 | 5

News & Notes
Oil & gas news
US energy imports
lowest since 1982
Total net energy imports to the U.S.
fell 35 percent from 2016 to 2017,
the lowest level since 1982, noted the
U.S. Energy Information Administration
(EIA). An increase in energy exports is
the main cause. Gross energy exports
rose 27 percent from 2016 to 2017,
the highest annual level on record.
Renewable electricity
generation outpaces fossil
fuels in 2017
The U.S. generated 1.5 percent less
electricity in 2017, reported the EIA.
Natural gas generation fell by 7.7 per-
cent and coal generation by 2.5 percent
from 2016. Renewable fuel generation
increased, especially from hydro, wind
and solar. While natural gas remained
the most-used fuel for electricity gen-
eration, it saw its largest annual decline
on record. Coal-fired generation also
fell. While about 4.0 gigawatts of natural
gas-fired capacity was retired in 2017,
more was added, strengthening natural
gas’s position as the largest source of
generating capacity in the U.S.
Manufacturers using
less electricity
U.S. Census Bureau data show a de-
cline in overall electricity use by the
U.S. manufacturing sector. From 2006
to 2016, the sector purchased 87 to
89 percent of its electricity from the grid
and generated 11 to 13 percent on-
site. Manufacturers generated 110 mil-
lion megawatts of electricity in 2016,
with about 97 percent coming from five
groups: chemicals, paper, petroleum
and coal, primary metals, and food.
Company &
association news
Thermo Fisher Scientific
named Company of the Year
SelectScience readers chose Thermo
Fisher Scientific as the Reviewers’
6 | May 2018 Flow Control
Choice Company of the Year. The award
goes to the company with the highest
review rating based on number of re-
views and average product rating on
SelectScience. Thermo Fisher Scien-
tific also won the award in 2015.
ASTM International selects
proposals for new additive
manufacturing center
Proposals from EWI and Auburn Univer-
sity-NASA were co-selected to create
the Additive Manufacturing Center of
Excellence. ASTM International select-
ed the organizations “to create a global
innovation hub that advances technical
standards, related R&D, education and
training, and more.”
EWI will develop, test and implement
advanced manufacturing technologies
to build industry consortia, while Au-
burn will conduct research activities
and develop education and training re-
sources and tools.
HI recognizes pump
industry excellence
At its annual conference gala and
awards dinner in March, the Hydraulic
Institute (HI) presented awards to hon-
or organizations committed to advanc-
ing their business and the world around
them. Awards included:
• Pump Industry Excellence Award for
Energy Efficiency — Carl T. Hayden
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
• Pump Industry Excellence Award for
Innovation & Technology — Chev-
ron Energy Technology Company
• Pump Industry Excellence Award
for Innovation & Technology —
Palo Verde Generating Station
HI also recognized several members
with four awards. They were:
• Lifetime Achievement — Rich
Heppe, retired president, Indus-
trial Motors & Systems, Nidec
Motor Corporation
• Member of the Year — Julian
Atchia, Director of Research and
Development, SJE-Rhombus
• Pump Systems Matter Leadership
— Jim Swetye, Technical Training
Manager, Grundfos USA
• Standards Partner of the Year — Er-
nest Sturtz, Pump Systems Special-
ist, CDM Smith — Water Services
Thermo Fisher Scientific
recognized as Company
of the Year
SelectScience readers chose Thermo
Fisher Scientific as the Reviewers’
Choice Company of the Year. The award
goes to the company with the highest
review rating based on number of re-
views and average product rating on
SelectScience, an online resource.
Thermo Fisher Scientific President,
Chromatography and Mass Spectrom-
etry, Jakob Gudbrand accepted the
award at Pittcon Conference and Expo.
Endress+Hauser earns
award for fifth year in a row
Endress+Hauser Conducta received
the European Business Award for the
fifth consecutive year, earning the “Na-
tional Winner” award in the “Business
of the Year” category. It also received
the TOP JOB seal of quality, recognizing
the company as one of Germany’s best
medium-sized employers. The award
has recognized companies in 11 differ-
ent categories since 2007.
GE gas turbine drives
world record
Powered by GE Power’s 7HA gas tur-
bine, the Chubu Electric Nishi-Nagoya
gas plant Block-1 was named the
world’s most efficiency combined-cycle
power plant by GUINNESS WORLD RE-
CORDS as it achieved 63.08 percent
gross efficiency. The distinction marks
the second time the turbine has been
recognized for powering the world’s
most efficiency power plants in the 50
Hertz (hz) and 60 hz energy segments.
The plant uses Toshiba Energy Sys-
tems & Solutions Corporation’s steam
turbine and generator technology.
Frost & Sullivan honors
Unity Scientific
Unity Scientific received a Frost & Sulli-
van Manufacturing Leadership Award in
the Engineering and Production Tech-
nology Leadership category. The award
was bestowed for applying 3D printing
and electronic alignment technologies
in manufacturing. The Unity team will
be recognized at the 14th Annual Man-
ufacturing Leadership Awards Gala at
the Manufacturing Leadership Summit.
Implico wins ‘Best Terminal
Supplier’ tank storage award
Tank Storage magazine gave the Tank
Storage Award in the “Best Terminal
Supplier” category to Implico Technol-
ogy at a ceremony in March. The com-
pany was also nominated in two other
categories: “Most Innovative Technol-
ogy” for its handheld solution and “Ex-
cellence in Terminal Optimisation” for
its terminal management system.
SignalFire moves to larger
corporate headquarters
SignalFire Telemetry has more than
15,000 square feet of space in its
new corporate headquarters in Marl-
borough, Massachusetts. The space
allows the company to expand its de-
sign and manufacturing footprint. Also
included in the facility is a high-tech
system integration training center for
customers and sales representatives
to receive hands-on instruction.
Appointments
BJM president retires
BJM Pumps president Ron Woodward
announced his retirement from the
company after 45 years in the industry.
In an announcement, Woodward said
he looks forward to spending more time
with his family after having delayed his
retirement to support the smooth ac-
quisition of BJM by May River Capital.
The BJM management team will re-
port to Brian Comiskey, who joined the
company in December 2017.
Dow announces Materials
Science Division leadership
The DowDuPont Board of Directors
Materials Advisory Committee appoint-
ed Jim Fitterling as CEO of Dow and
www.flowcontrolnetwork.com May 2018 | 7
Howard Ungerleider as president and
chief financial officer (CFO). DowDu-
Pont will split into three independent
companies, with the Materials Science
Company to be called Dow.
Fitterling currently serves as chief op-
erating officer for the Materials Science
Division and president and chief oper-
ating officer of The Dow Chemical Com-
pany. Ungerleider is CFO of DowDuPont
and vice chairman and CFO for The Dow
Chemical Company. They will remain in
their roles until the division completes
its separation in 2019.
Trident hires CEO & VP
Trident Motion Technologies appointed
David Nussear as its new president/
CEO and Gary Marcy as vice president
of business development for Motors.
Nussear has more than 25 years
of industry experience, including nine
years as president and CEO of Bluffton
Motor Works.
Chief technology officer
joins Technical Toolboxes
Technical Toolboxes named Drew Laf-
leur as its new chief technology officer.
As he manages the company’s team
of technical experts, Lafleur will focus
on strategy for identifying and prioritiz-
ing development initiatives, selecting
technologies and methodologies and
setting timetables for technology appli-
cations and technical training courses.
INTERPHEX appoints
event director
Kate Scott will serve as event director
for the International Pharmaceutical
Expo (INTERPHEX). She will foster and
strengthen relationships with biophar-
maceutical and pharmaceutical indus-
try leaders and associations to sup-
port industry initiatives and optimize
event outcomes as she manages all
levels of event management and the
technical conference.
New members join HI board
At its annual conference in March, HI
announced three new members to its
board of directors. They are:
• Scott King — Vice-President,
Gorman-Rupp, Mansfield Division
• Brian Sweeney — President,
Crane Pumps & Systems, Inc.
• Christopher Wiseman — Presi-
dent, Commercial and Industrial
Motors and Drives, Nidec Motor
Corporation
In addition, member Paul Behnke
was appointed to vice-president, Certi-
fication & Technical Programs.
SFC KOENIG welcomes
president & general manager
Deniz Bütüner is the new president
and general manager of SFC KOENIG’s
North and South American branch.
She has more than 20 years of experi-
ence at industrial companies, serving
most recently as SFC KOENIG’s general
manager of distribution businesses and
strategic marketing. Bütüner holds a
bachelor’s degree in business admin-
istration and a global executive MBA
from TRIUM. FC
Send news and events for consideration
in this section to Robyn Tucker at
rtucker@endeavorbusinessmedia.com.
Upcoming events
NIWeek
May 21–24
Austin, Texas
niweek.com
EASA Convention
June 24–26
Milwaukee
easa.com/convention
Coordinate Metrology
Society Conference
July 23–27
Reno, Nevada
cmsc.org
Turbomachinery
& Pump Symposia
Sept. 18–20
Houston
tps.tamu.edu
 Application Corner
By David W. Spitzer
Backward problem-solving
can produce uncertainty
L
egal work is interesting in the
(twisted) sense that diametrically
opposite approaches to an inves-
tigation can be taken to determine the
cause of a problem. There is some
art to knowing when to take which
approach, but the selected approach is
also dependent on the skill set of the
person(s) involved. Sometimes it does
not matter, but quite often the results
can be strikingly different.
Confidentiality does not allow me to
divulge details of actual investigations,
so I will invent an example to illustrate
the point. Suppose the problem is to
discover what caused a round splat
on a downtown sidewalk that is about
Quiz Corner
A. Percent of rate
B. Percent of full scale
T
he accuracy of magnetic flow-
meters is typically expressed
as a percentage of rate,
(Answer A) which is the same as a per-
centage of measured value (Answer
C). However, the additional accuracy
associated with the accuracy of the
8 | May 2018
0.5 meters in diameter. The liquid part
of this artifact is clear with some yel-
low coloring and brown/white chips
throughout. Given its location, shape,
color and consistency, one might
speculate that the splat was made by
a brown egg falling from above. Chem-
ical testing can confirm that an egg
was involved.
The roundness of the splat indi-
cates that the egg likely fell from di-
rectly above. But which floor did it
fall from? Without elaborating, differ-
ent tests with different quality brown
eggs can be performed to determine
which quality egg dropped from which
floor exhibits the same splat as the
Which of the following forms describe how the accuracy
of a magnetic flowmeter would typically be expressed?
C. Percent of measured value
D. Percent of calibrated span
analog output is typically expressed
as a percentage of full scale (Answer
B) that is the same as a percentage
of span (Answer E).
Additional complicating factors
The measurement accuracy of the
original splat. But what if the egg did
not fall from a rest position but instead
was thrown up or down? This question
adds a certain amount of uncertainty.
The point is that starting with an
artifact and working the problem
backward can create considerable
uncertainty. Nonetheless, working the
problem backward is often the best
— and sometimes the only — way to
work certain problems. An example
might be determining the nature of di-
nosaurs when you only have artifacts
to study.
More next month. FC
E. Percent of span
analog output is the magnetic flow-
meter accuracy plus the analog out-
put accuracy expressed as a percent-
age of rate. In addition, accuracy is
degraded at low flow rates. FC
Flow Control
 The point is that starting with an artifact and
working the problem backward can create
considerable uncertainty.

David W. Spitzer is a regular contributor

to Flow Control magazine and a prin-
cipal in Spitzer and Boyes LLC, which
offers engineering, seminars, strate-
gic, marketing consulting, distribution
consulting and expert witness services
for manufacturing and automation
companies. Spitzer and Boyes is also
the publisher of the Industrial Automa-
tion INSIDER. He has more than 40
years of experience and has written
more than 10 books and 350 articles
about flow measurement, instrumenta-
tion and process control.
Spitzer may be reached at 845-
623-1830 or via spitzerandboyes.com.
Click on the “Products” tab to find his
Consumer Guides to various flow and
level measurement technologies.

Did you
know?
“The utilization rate of
above and below-ground
oil storage capacity in
the U.S. has increased
by 19% from 2014 to 66%,
registering a stock of 435
million barrels in 2016.”
–“Energy Logistics &
Distribution Industry
In-Sight” by Jordan
Knauff & Company
jordanknauff.com

www.flowcontrolnetwork.com May 2018 | 9

Cover Series: Automation & Control
Improving operations with
advanced analytics
Refining and chemicals facility lowers costs
and improves energy efficiency and safety.
By Edwin van Dijk, TrendMiner & Janice Abel, ARC Advisory Group
T
otal Refining & Chemicals opera-
tions transform crude oil and
natural gas into finished prod-
ucts or intermediates, which are then
used to manufacture chemicals. Like
many companies with global opera-
tions, Total evaluates, tests and deploys
advanced analytics solutions to gain
more insights into its real-time process
data. These analytic solutions allow the
company to quickly discover and diag-
nose potential issues and help plant
workers improve performance.
Total is also a major player in solar
energy with SunPower and Total Solar.
The company prides itself on being
“the responsible energy major,” which
it interprets as meaning maintaining
high health, safety and environment
standards, meeting the International
Energy Agency’s ambitious target for
10 | May 2018
minimizing global warming, promoting
responsible energy use by customers,
and being recognized for its local ser-
vices. According to the company, its
98,000 employees are committed to
better energy that is safer, cleaner, more
efficient, more innovative and acces-
sible to as many people as possible.
As a responsible corporate citizen, the
company focuses on ensuring that its
operations in more than 130 countries
worldwide consistently deliver econom-
ic, social and environmental benefits.
To contribute to achieving these goals,
Total’s Refining and Chemicals segment
developed a digital roadmap toward
becoming an even more efficient, data-
driven organization. The priorities for this
roadmap are: safety, availability, cost
control and energy efficiency.
The challenge
Refineries and chemical industrial plants
have thousands of assets and millions
of sensors, so they generate huge vol-
umes of data for analysis. This empha-
sizes the critical need to analyze data
in real time and deploy technology that
empowers plant personnel to interpret
the data themselves.
Total wanted technologies that made
it easy for subject matter experts such
as process engineers and plant opera-
tions and maintenance personnel to
gain actionable insights from their data
and quickly diagnose abnormal condi-
tions or potential problems. The com-
pany launched a pilot project in 2017
at its Antwerp, Belgium, site using
TrendMiner advanced analytics. The
benefits demonstrated during that pilot
were sufficient to justify a global rollout
of the software to Total’s refining and
chemical plants.
Pilot program objectives
Total decided to pilot an analytics soft-
ware tool to help garner intelligence
from its data so employees could quickly
Flow Control
(Opposite) Fabrice Leclercq presenting TrendMiner
at the OSIsoft Global User Conference
All graphics courtesy of TrendMiner

determine the cause of process behav-

ior or events. Whenever a problem or
abnormal situation occurs in the plant,
operators and process engineers are
often asked questions such as, “Has this
happened before?” and “Which condi-
tions caused the event?” While common,
these types of questions can be difficult
to answer and often require extensive,
time-consuming data investigations.

Requirements for analytics

Total wanted to reduce spreadsheets
and improve its ability to make sense of
day-to-day situations using the analyt-
ics software. The following capabilities
were required:
• Pattern-based search and discovery
• Ability to diagnose process behavior
and anomalies quickly
• Monitoring live process and asset
performance
• Prediction based on historical
information
• Ability to analyze data in real time
to enable faster decisions
• Search capabilities, particularly the
ability to access sensor and asset
information quickly
TrendMiner fingerprint for the startup of a centrifugal compressor after a maintenance turnaround
Selection process
To select its analytics software, Total
looked at various types of analytics
tools. The company categorized the
tools into two categories: generic and
operations-specific. Since generic tools
require IT development and data scien-
tists or experts, they are not ready for
end users “out of the box.”
Operations-specific tools, in contrast,
are designed to work right out of the
box with operations-specific data.
Operations-specific tools require only IT
configuration rather than IT development.
The company also classified the tools
by its analytics capabilities: descriptive,
discovery, diagnostics, predictive and
prescriptive. In this context:
• Describe illustrates what hap-
pened based on historical data.
• Discover enables the ability to
search historical data to determine
what happened in the past.
• Predict tells what will happen in
the future based on historical data.
• Prescribe gives the user a recom-
mendation on actions they could
take in the future.

The company also required software

tools that could combine historical and
current data to determine the what,
why and how of any issues or events,
and that subject matter experts with
no special analytics background could
use directly on operations-specific data
without IT development.

Discovery & knowledge

sharing in hazardous
production
By combining data and operational
OSIsoft and TrendMiner technologies help improve efficiencies at Total. reporting from OSIsoft PI with self-service

www.flowcontrolnetwork.com May 2018 | 11

industrial analytics and data visualiza-
tion, Total met its requirements. Process
engineers and other operations and
maintenance personnel can select pro-
cess tags and search for specific behav-
ior. Data is represented graphically so
users can match patterns, compare
with similar events in the past and find
correlations quickly. They can compare
transitions in batch activities and share
the information with everyone who
needs it.
Users within the Refining and
Chemicals activities pilot found that
they could easily discover correlations
in the data, share their findings within
the organization and capture it for future
use by adding annotations.
Operating within constraints
“It is important to realize that we are not
playing with water — we are working
with hazardous chemicals,” said Fabric
Leclercq, mechanical engineer at Total.
Machinery and other asset limits must
be integrated into the data because the
limits or constraints cannot be exceed-
ed. Normal operations were based on
historical data rather than the informa-
tion in their specifications. Pattern-

Quality and Reliability Every Time based fingerprinting enables users to

334 with Pneumatic Actuator
select one or more process tags and
search the data for similar performance
to determine normal or optimal operat-
ing conditions. They can then compare
the fingerprinted patterns to live data
and benchmark performance within the
operating window.

Self-service industrial
analytics
Total’s technology evaluation included a
functional assessment and survey of
pilot users. The Refining and Chemicals
team determined that the OSIsoft and
TrendMiner technologies are comple-
304 with Electric Actuator mentary, with little functional overlap.
With approximately 45 users involved in
the pilot, it was important that everyone
could use the technology, giving the
It’s not just our slogan, it’s our promise. power of the data to the people who
must interpret it — the operators, plant
Inline Industries is a vertical manufacturer engineers and other plant workers —
from pouring the casting to final assembly not just data scientists.
and testing. So we can confidently say: Total’s assessment gave high scores
to the pilot’s self-service capabilities,
user friendliness and the solution’s
“Quality and Reliability Every Time” value potential.
According to Leclercq, the software
can be managed centrally. As a plug-
Now and in the Future and-play technology, it is compatible
with the IT security and landscape.
The solution enables easy accessibil-
ity of the data and intelligence, comes
Now Certified to NSF/ANSI 61 & 372 fully programmed and can be config-
ured with agility. It enables users to
look at their equipment, troubleshoot
and account for each asset separately.
Leclercq believes they can do more with
their data and improve productivity. Next
steps include looking at assets as fleets
• 800-568-8998 • www.ballvalve.com • info@ballvalve.com
with standard calculations and key
performance indicators and using PI

12 | May 2018 Flow Control

Asset Framework to manage them.
The Total pilot users described the key
benefits of the solution as:
• Time gain — By obtaining intel-
ligence directly from the system,
they would not have to view mul-
tiple time-consuming spreadsheets
to diagnose problems.
• Testing hypotheses — The tool
allows users to test potential out-
comes of different scenarios.
• Diagnose problems better —
Users identified their ability to
determine the cause of problems
faster, send an alert or alarm to the
user and impact potential problems
to avoid abnormal behavior.
Next steps
Based on the success of the pilot, the
technology will be rolled out to Total
Refining and Chemicals plants around
Janice Abel is princi- industries and holds a master’s degree
pal consultant for ARC in chemical engineering and an MBA.
Advisory Group’s regu-
lated industry group. She Visit trendminer.com for more information
performs research and provides consulting on TrendMiner.
services for ARC’s clients in the process and
discrete industries, and supply chain integ- Visit arcweb.com for more information on
rity and brand protection. Abel has more ARC Advisory Group.
than 25 years of experience in the process
Is Now
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Benefits up to 30 feet per second (9 meters
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The pilot showed significant benefits in
• View real time flow and
all four of Total’s industrial priori- download data log files
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Additionally, the plug-and-play diagnos-
tics, monitoring and predictive capa-
bilities are expected to bring benefits in
unexplored areas.
Not only did the technology reduce the
time users needed to solve and diagnose
problems, but it also improved their abil-
ity to share and capture knowledge. FC F-2000
DIGITAL
PADDLEWHEEL
Edwin van Dijk is vice FLOWMETER
president of marketing
for TrendMiner NV. He
THE
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www.flowcontrolnetwork.com May 2018 | 13

Cover Series: Automation & Control
Predicting cavitation damage
in control valves
While no standard exists, several methods can help operators.
By Jon Monsen, Ph.D., P.E., Valin Corporation
L
iquid choked flow in control valves
results in either flashing, or more
often, cavitation. The classical
approach to explaining choked flow is by
assuming that flow increases linearly with
the square root of pressure drop, ∆P, until
∆P reaches the choked pressure drop,
∆Pchoked, and then immediately becomes
fully choked with no further increase in
flow. (See the dashed lines in Figure 1.)
The term used here for the dividing line
between nonchoked flow and choked flow
(∆Pchoked) is the terminology used in the
2012 version of the International Society
of Automation (ISA) control valve sizing
equation standard. Prior to that, the divid-
ing line was not given a name, so valve
manufacturers made up names. Some
examples are ∆Pallowable, ∆Pterminal, ∆Pmax
and ∆Pcritical. In reality, there is a certain
amount of rounding out of the graph at
Figure 1. The real situation is that flow chokes gradually instead of instantly.
All graphics courtesy of Valin Corporation
14 | May 2018 Flow Control
the ∆Pchoked point, as shown in Figure 1.
The choking curve shape is influenced
by the valve orifice geometry. As an exam-
ple, see the segment ball valve in Figure
2, which has a significant choking transi-
tion curve. For the segment ball valve, the
choking range has a significant transition
region because of the configuration of the
flow passage. The segment valve has an
irregularly shaped flow area. The restricted
flow at the narrow ends of the irregularly
shaped area creates locally higher shear
stresses, which causes cavitation (and
eventually choking) to first occur in these
regions. Eventually the entire area will
choke as the pressure drop across the
valve increases. As a result of the non-
uniform distribution of cavitation poten-
tial, choking occurs in different locations
inside the valve at different flow rates. This
causes the choking transition region.
In contrast to the segment ball valve,
the globe valve has a very symmetri-
cal flow area, so choking will start at
approximately all points in the flow path
at the same time, resulting in a much
shorter transition region between non-
choked flow and fully choked flow.1
Flow curve complications
No recognized method for calculating
the shape of the rounded portion of
the graph exists, so the ISA equations
plot the dashed lines in Figure 1. For
years the classical approach (dashed
lines) was used for predicting cavitation
damage. The assumption was that if
the actual pressure drop was less than
∆Pchoked, there was no cavitation dam-
age and if the actual pressure drop was
greater than ∆Pchoked, then cavitation
damage was present. In recent years,
most control valve users and manufac-
turers have recognized that operating
too close to the ∆Pchoked point can
result in unacceptable levels of cavita-
tion damage. It is not uncommon to
find mechanical damage caused by the
vibration that results from cavitation.
The author recalls an instance where
the bolts attaching an actuator to the
valve had loosened to the point that the
actuator flopped around and was about
ready to fall off. In another instance, an
electric motor-operated isolation valve
about 20 feet downstream of a cavitat-
ing valve had failed. The motor capacitor
had failed because of the high vibration.
This flow curve rounding makes predict-
ing damage more complicated than com-
paring the actual pressure drop with the
calculated choked pressure drop (which
assumes the classical discussion of a sud-
den transition between nonchoked flow
and choked flow). Noise and damage can
begin before pressure in the main flow
stream at the vena contracta drops to FF
PV (FF times the vapor pressure of the liq-
uid). Though many published discussions Figure 2. Geometry of the
of choked flow, cavitation and flashing talk valve orifice influences
the length of the transi-
about vena contracta pressure dropping tion from nonchoked to
to the vapor pressure, numerous choked fully choked flow.
flow tests have shown that pressure at
the vena contracta must drop below the
upstream vapor pressure for vaporization
to take place in the vena contracta and for
flow to choke. The ISA formula in Figure 1
for FF gives a good approximation of how
much below the upstream vapor pressure
the vena contracta pressure must drop for
flow to choke.

Cavitation stages
The first stages of cavitation begin when
the average pressure in the main flow
jet at the vena contracta is still above
FF times the vapor pressure of the liq-
uid (see Figure 3). At points of abrupt
increase in flow area, the streamlines
that are attached to the physical bound-
Figure 3. Cavitation can begin when the vena contracta pressure is above FFPV.
aries of the valve can separate and when
they do, they form vortices or eddies.
The rotational velocity in the eddies can
be high enough that the local pressure
inside an eddy drops below the vapor
pressure and vapor bubbles form. As
the eddy’s rotational velocity decreases,
the pressure surrounding the vapor
bubbles increases and the bubbles col-
lapse. Vortices also form in the shear
layer adjacent to the main jet where
high-velocity gradients exist, and these
are also potential sources for cavitation.
This level of cavitation has the poten-
Figure 4. Vena contracta pressure drops to FFPV.
tial for generating noise and causing
damage even before the flow curve
starts to deviate from a straight line. cause the flow to increase further. methods published by the International
As the pressure drop across the valve Operating a valve at or beyond the Electrotechnical Commission, the ISA
increases, the velocity at the vena contrac- choked point calculated from FL and the German VDMA. No standard
ta increases and the pressure at the vena (∆pchoked) is almost sure to result in exists for predicting cavitation damage.
contracta drops to FFPv (see Figure 4). excessive noise and cavitation damage. Some valve manufacturers predict the
The flow through a control valve beginning of cavitation damage by defin-
depends on the pressure at the vena con- Cavitation damage prediction ing an incipient damage pressure drop,
tracta. Since it is impossible for the pres- The concern with cavitation is twofold: which this author will call ∆PID, using a
sure at the vena contracta to be less than the potential for high noise lev- KC factor (see formula in Figure 5).
FF times the vapor pressure of the liquid, els and the potential for valve dam- Initially, valve manufacturers defined
the flow becomes choked; that is, further age. Several reliable methods exist ∆PID and KC as the point at which
decreases in downstream pressure do not for predicting valve noise, including the actual flow curve deviates from a

www.flowcontrolnetwork.com May 2018 | 15


Figure 5. KC and o-mr as predictors of cavitation damage
straight line by 2 percent. It was later deter-
mined that this was not necessarily coinci-
dent with the beginning of damage. Some
manufacturers now evaluate actual appli-
cation experience with cavitation damage
and assign what are, hopefully, meaningful
values of KC to valves. One manufacturer
uses a KC for its stem-guided globe valves
that is equal to 0.7, which it claims does
a good job of predicting the point at which
damage begins.
Other manufacturers, based on the
recommended practice ISA–RP75.23–
1995, Considerations for Evaluating
Control Valve Cavitation, use sigma (o-)
to represent various levels of cavitation.
They use values of o-mr (the manufacturer’s
recommended minimum value of sigma
for a particular valve). Sigma is defined
as (P1 – PV) / ∆P. o-mr and KC are recip-
rocals of each other and convey similar
information, though the recommended
practice includes additional parameters.
Higher values of KC values move the point
of incipient damage closer to ∆Pchoked,
where lower values of o-mr do the same.
FL is not a cavitation parameter but a
choked flow parameter. Its only use is to
determine the theoretical choked flow point
based on the assumption that the choked
flow point, ∆Pchoked, is the intersection of
the two straight dashed lines shown in
Figures 1 and 4 in red and green. Using FL
as a cavitation parameter will likely result in
unacceptable levels of cavitation damage.
Cavitation method history
The method for predicting cavitation dam-
age with which the author is most familiar
and that has been used with success for

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16 | May 2018 Flow Control

more than 25 years is based on the fact
that the same thing that causes damage
also causes the noise, namely the col-
lapse of vapor bubbles.
The idea of correlating noise with cavita-
tion damage surfaced in 1985 when Dr.
Hans Baumann published an article in
which he established a maximum sound
pressure level of 85 A-weighted decibels
(dBA) as the upper limit to avoid unac-
ceptable levels of cavitation damage in
butterfly valves.2 To verify this, valve manu-
facturer Metso did a study of many appli-
cations, wherein some cases cavitation
damage was minimal and in others, exces-
sive. The conclusion was that it is possible
to predict that damage is within accept-
able limits if the predicted noise level is
below limits established in the study. For a
6-inch valve, the limit is 85 dBA.
Because the same number of bubbles
per second that result in a sound pressure
level of 85 dBA and present potential for
cavitation damage in a 6-inch valve are
www.flowcontrolnetwork.com May 2018 | 17
more spread out and less concentrated in
an 8-inch valve, more bubbles are allowed
per second and hence a higher noise level
is present in larger valves. Applying the
same reasoning, the number of bubbles
per second tolerable in a 4-inch valve
would be more concentrated in a 3-inch
valve, so to avoid damage in the smaller
valve, the noise limit has to be lower.
The SPL limits established (based on
noise calculations using VDMA 24422
1979), to avoid cavitation damage are:
• Up to 3-inch valve size: 80 dBA
• 4- to 6-inch: 85 dBA
• 8- to 14-inch: 90 dBA
• 16-inch and larger: 95 dBA
Note that regardless of the noise calcu-
lation, the actual pressure drop must
be less than the choked pressure drop
because experience shows that operating
above the choked pressure drop is almost
certain to result in damage in most con-
trol valve applications. FC
References
1. This subject is discussed in ISA-RP
75.23-1995 “Considerations for
Evaluating Control Valve Cavitation”
Section B.8.7 and beginning with
the last paragraph on page 41
of “Cavitation Guide for Control
Valves” published by the US Nuclear
Regulatory Commission and can be
downloaded from osti.gov/servlets/
purl/10155405.
2. Chemical Engineering. March 18,
1985.
Jon F. Monsen, Ph.D., P.E., is a con-
trol valve technology consultant for Valin
Corporation. He wrote the chapter on
“Computerized Control Valve Sizing” in
the ISA Practical Guides book on con-
trol valves and the book Control Valve
Application Technology: Techniques and
Considerations for Properly Selecting the
Right Control Valve.
Special Section: Equipment & Personnel Safety
Increase peristaltic pump safety
by using the right tubing
Material compatibility, pressure, temperature
and size are important.
By Gregg Johnson, Cole-Parmer
U
sing the correct tubing is critical
for the safe and proper use of
peristaltic pump systems. When
working with this type of pump system,
the tubing needs to match the applica-
tion and the pump. Too often, end users
unknowingly select a tubing formula-
tion unsuitable for their applications.
Some even substitute general-purpose
transfer tubing for tubing specifically
designed for peristaltic pumps. Testing
and then using the correct tubing in a
peristaltic pump system can prevent
hazardous situations such as harmful
chemical leakage or tubing rupture.
With so many tubing types available,
one type of tubing does not fit all appli-
cations. To select tubing that can help
with safer pumping, the following factors
18 | May 2018
should be considered: chemical com-
patibility, pressure, temperature, tubing
size and life expectancy.
Tubing & chemical
compatibility
The tubing material and the pumped
fluid must be compatible. Many tubing
suppliers provide chemical compatibility
charts. However, it is important to use
a chart designed specific to pump tub-
ing instead of a chart that covers tubes
intended for general use. Tubing that
gets an acceptable rating for general
contact with a given chemical may not
withstand exposure to the same chemi-
cal when subjected to the physical
stresses of peristaltic pumping. Failure
to do so could result in tube failure and
leakage, which could create a hazard-
ous situation.
When using chemical compatibility
charts as a guide, check each constitu-
ent of the solution, not just the main
ingredient, against the material to be
used. Even trace levels of some acids
or solvents can be enough to destroy
Hazardous-duty pump
All graphics courtesy of Cole-Parmer
pump tubing when the tubing is exposed
to the materials over hours or days.
It is also important to remember that
chemical resistance decreases as tem-
perature increases. Chemicals that have
no effect on the tubing at room tem-
perature could attack the tubing at
elevated temperatures. The chemical
compatibility chart must indicate which
conditions, particularly temperature,
were used to determine compatibility.
If a chemical is not listed on the com-
patibility chart, or if a plant's oper-
ating conditions are significantly dif-
ferent from those used to determine
the chemical resistance ratings, an
immersion test can provide more use-
ful information. This method can help
determine chemical compatibility when
no other information exists.
In an immersion test, a small piece of
tubing is weighed, and its diameter and
length are measured. The tubing then
is immersed in a closed vessel with the
chemical in question for a minimum of 48
hours. Afterward, the test piece of tubing
is rinsed, dried, weighed and measured,
and any changes are recorded. The
tubing should also be examined for signs
Flow Control
of softening or embrittlement, which
indicate the chemical has attacked the
tubing. However, be warned that even
if tubing passes the immersion test,
variations in temperature, pressure or
concentration may cause tubing failure.
Serious injury may result. Use suitable
guards and/or personal protection when
pumping chemicals.
Once a promising material or group of
materials is identified, a pump test
should be performed. A sample of each
potential tubing in a pump
should be run under a
plant's actual process
conditions and the results
carefully monitored. If
the tubing survives the
test without discoloration, (Above) Aseptic sampling pump
swelling, cracking, loss (Left) Batch caustic pump
of flow or other signs of (Below) Water treatment pump
deterioration, it is com-
patible with the fluid.
Whether suitability is
determined using a chart,
a physical test or a com-
bination of the two, the
final responsibility lies
with the end user. Careful
analysis and testing are
best practices to help prevent pump sure to identify all pressure sources in
damage and protect personnel and the system and have an accurate read-
the facility. ing of the total system pressure.
Once a tubing material is selected, it
The importance of pressure is important the application remain
When selecting a tubing material for use within the manufacturer's pressure
in a peristaltic pump, ensure the pres- recommendations. If the system may
sure in the system does not exceed exceed the maximum working pressure,
the recommended working pressure of a simple pressure-relief valve or pres- Working temperature of
the tubing. If the pressure is too high, sure switch can be installed to prevent tubing material
the tubing could swell and result in an excessive pressure buildup. A pressure- The working temperature range of a tub-
improper fit through the pump head, relief valve will vent to the atmosphere ing material is another important con-
which causes excessive wear and tubing when the system pressure exceeds the sideration. Some materials such as sili-
failure. If the system pressure greatly setpoint, allowing the system pressure cone have a relatively broad temperature
exceeds what the tubing could handle, to drop back down to a safer level. range and are well-suited to high- and
the tubing could even burst and spray A more sophisticated pressure switch low-temperature processes, whereas
fluid, creating a safety hazard. uses an electrical relay to shut down others are designed for use within a nar-
Pressure sources in a fluid handling equipment or sound an alarm when the rower temperature range. Before select-
system can vary. Backpressure can be system pressure exceeds the setpoint. ing a material, identify the minimum and
generated by the fluid passing through a Either method is a good safety precau- maximum temperatures possible in the
filter, by the fluid pushing through flow- tion when system pressure could reach system, then ensure the tubing can oper-
meters or valves, or by the fluid pump- excessive levels. ate safely within that range.
ing into pressurized reaction vessels. If a process will operate at elevated
Before selecting a tubing material, be temperatures, consider the effect of

www.flowcontrolnetwork.com May 2018 | 19

temperature on chemical resistance
and pressure capabilities. As temper-
ature increases, the chemical resis-
tance and working pressure for a given
tube decreases.
Tubing size must fit
the pump head
For safe pumping, always use the exact
tubing size recommended for the pump.
Because peristaltic pumps deliver fixed
amounts of fluid with each pass of a roller
over the tube, the size of the tube has a
direct effect on the amount of fluid deliv-
ered. Thus, tubing dimensions (inner diam-
eter, outer diameter, wall thickness) have
a great impact on fluid handling system
operation. Even a few thousands out-of-
tolerance dimensions can have an impact
on operational satisfaction and safety.
If the pump tubing is too small for the
pump head, the pump head may not
retain the tubing properly, and the tub-
ing could be pulled through the pump
head. The pump's rollers also may not
compress undersized tubing proper-
ly, leading to insufficient flow or even
complete failure.
On the other hand, if the pump tubing
is too large, the excess material can
become pinched between the rollers
and the pump head housing or occlu-
sion bed, causing excessive wear and
premature failure. When choosing a tub-
ing size, end users should always follow
the pump manufacturer's size recom-
mendations to ensure safe performance
from the pump system.
Tubing life expectancy
Keep pump operators safe with preven-
tive maintenance. Knowledge of the
average tubing life will help to develop a
preventive maintenance plan to ensure
tubing is replaced before it fails. Pump
tubing manufacturers should be able to
supply test data to support their tubing
life claims. A pump tubing supplier with
extensive technical expertise can help
make a well-informed decision about the
right tubing material for an application.
Summary
With the numerous pump tubing choices
available, finding the ideal tubing takes
time. However, by carefully identifying
the system requirements, using the avail-
able tubing technical data and working
with a tubing manufacturer or supplier
with specific application knowledge and
experience, end users can identify the
best tubing to help increase the safety of
peristaltic pump systems. FC
Gregg Johnson is global senior product
manager for Cole-Parmer’s Masterflex and
Ismatec brands. He has worked in the
pump industry for more than 30 years and
specifically with peristaltic pumps for more
than 19 years. Visit coleparmer.com for
more information.

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Special Section: Equipment & Personnel Safety
Level measurement technology
for overfill prevention systems
How to make the appropriate selection for each application’s
different challenges.
By Per Skogberg, Emerson Automation Solutions
F
ailure to identify and prevent the
overfilling of tanks and vessels
containing hazardous, flammable
and even explosive materials can have
catastrophic consequences, as high-
profile incidents such as the Texas City
Refinery fire in 2005 illustrate. Because
of the nature of the materials typically
involved in the process and bulk liquid
storage industries, overfills can result in
loss of life and devastating damage to
assets and the environment. The cost
of such incidents can reach billions of
dollars, while legal consequences and
bad publicity can seriously undermine a
company’s reputation.
It is essential, therefore, for compa-
nies in these industries to implement
robust overfill prevention systems (OPS),
which minimize risk and comply with rel-
evant safety standards. The explosion
and subsequent fire at the Texas City
Refinery resulted from tank overfilling
and a lack of overfill prevention tech-
nology. This disaster, and other similar
incidents, led to the introduction of new
standards and safety guidelines, which
are being widely adopted. API 2350 and
IEC 61511 are the two key global stan-
dards for overfill prevention. IEC 61511
provides best safety practices for the
implementation of a modern OPS within
the process industry. API 2350 provides
minimum requirements to comply with
modern best practices in the specific
application of nonpressurized, above-
(Right) A noncontacting radar level gauge offers
a unique two-in-one solution when delivered
with two separate and independent electrical
units within one housing.
All graphics courtesy of Emerson Automation
Solutions
www.flowcontrolnetwork.com
ground large petroleum storage tanks. costly than AOPS. However, the poten-
tial for human error limits their risk
Layers of protection reduction factor, so there is a strong
To minimize the risk of overfills, it is trend toward replacing them with AOPS,
common practice to implement a series which consist of a level sensor, a logic
of independent layers of protection. The solver and a final control element in
Basic Process Control System (BPCS), the form of actuated valve technol-
which monitors and controls production ogy. The significant benefits of AOPS
processes, forms the primary protection include higher risk reduction factors,
layer. Then comes the safety layer (the shorter response times and reduced
OPS), which must remain separate and operator workloads.
independent of the BPCS to provide
redundancy. If the BPCS fails or is
not working correctly, the OPS should
prevent an overfill from occurring. The
third layer is passive protection, which
involves containment with dikes or con-
crete walls. In the unlikely event of all
these layers failing to prevent or contain
an overfill, the emergency response
layer is there, which involves alerting
the emergency services.
MOPS & AOPS
OPS can be manual (MOPS) or auto-
matic (AOPS). MOPS typically involve
a level sensor or switch trans-
mitting an alarm to an
operator, notifying them
of what actions should
be taken to prevent
an overfill. MOPS
are regarded as
easier to imple-
ment and less
complex and
May 2018 | 21
 Minimizing the risk of overfills involves many independent protection layers.
Technology selection
It is important to understand, though,
that no “one size fits all” solution exists
for overfill prevention. Each application
has its specific challenges, so it is vital
to select the appropriate technologies
for each. These technologies include:
Electromechanical float and displac-
er switches — These switches have
moving parts, which require frequent
and costly maintenance, are affected
by mechanical vibration and turbulence,
and can give false readings. They are
used for point level, interface and den-
sity applications, in which the buoyancy
of the displacer in the liquid is the pri-
mary measurement principle. However,
they are increasingly being replaced by
more reliable electronic technologies
that offer greater diagnostics and lower
life cycle costs.
Vibrating fork switches — In this point
level technology, a piezoelectric crystal
oscillates two prongs at their natural fre-
quency, with the frequency then varying
as they are immersed in the medium.
Frequency changes are detected by
the electronics, enabling the presence
or absence of liquids to be detect-
ed. These switches are highly reliable
because they have no moving parts to
wear or stick, making them less prone
to failure than other technologies. They
are also virtually unaffected by flow, tur-
bulence, bubbles, foam, vibration and
changing density.
22 | May 2018
Guided wave radar (GWR) — In GWR frequency of the reflected signal and the
technology, low-energy microwave puls- frequency of the signal transmitted at
es are guided down a probe, which is that moment is proportional to the
submerged into the medium. The level distance from the radar to the surface,
can be measured when the microwaves which enables the level to be measured.
are reflected from the surface to the This easy-to-install technology is unaf-
transmitter. An interface can also be fected by density, viscosity and con-
detected since a proportion of the ductivity, little affected by coating and
pulse continues down the probe. GWR vapors, and requires little maintenance.
transmitters are easy to install, and no
compensation is necessary for changes
in density, dielectric or conductivity.
Changes in pressure, temperature and
most vapor space conditions do not
affect accuracy. The technology is unaf-
fected by high turbulence or vibrations,
buildup has practically no effect, and
maintenance requirements are low.
Noncontacting radar —
Noncontacting radar transmit-
ters can measure using either
pulse or Frequency Modulated
Continuous Wave (FMCW) tech-
niques. With pulse radar, microwaves
are emitted toward the surface and
reflected to the sensor, with the
level being directly proportional
to the time from signal trans-
mission to reception. With
FMCW, the radar transmits a
continuous signal sweep with
a constantly changing frequen-
cy. The difference between the
When connected with the cables separated
in different cable trays, a two-in-one solution
enables a single gauge to be used for BPCS and
OPS purposes in compliance with IEC 61511 and
API 2350.
Flow Control

The latest vibrating
fork switches fea-
ture powerful built-in
diagnostics and
can perform partial
proof-tests remotely.
Health monitoring
& proof-testing
The latest vibrating fork switches, GWR
and noncontacting radars feature pow-
erful built-in diagnostics and can per-
form partial proof tests remotely, there-
fore providing significant advantages
over older, mechanical technologies.
Monitoring the health of devices ensures
they will perform correctly in OPS, while
the ability to perform remote partial
proof tests saves time and increases
worker efficiency.
Two-in-one solution
One noncontacting radar level gauge
offers a unique two-in-one solution
www.flowcontrolnetwork.com
when delivered with two separate and
independent electrical units within
one housing. When connected with
the cables separated in different cable
trays, this option enables a single gauge
to be used for BPCS and separate OPS
purposes in compliance with IEC 61511
and API 2350.
Typical applications
Overfill prevention measures are
employed in three general application
types — process vessels and stor-
age tanks within process applications,
and storage tanks deployed within
the bulk liquid handling industry. Each
presents specific challenges for overfill
protection technology.
Process vessels — These vessels are
where a specific industrial process,
or part of an overall process, takes
place, and the vessel’s shape, size
and design must be considered when
selecting overfill prevention technology.
On cone-shaped tanks, for example,
level sensors are top-mounted, so GWR
transmitters, noncontacting radar trans-
mitters and vibrating fork switches are
suitable options. In vessels with internal
restrictions, such as agitators, heat
exchangers and other structures that
require the use of a separate cham-
ber to perform the level measurement,
GWR transmitters are recommended.
Vibrating fork switches are ideal when
a side-mounted solution is required.
In distillation columns, where cham-
bers are required, GWR transmitters are
commonly used for the AOPS. Because
blending tanks contain agitators, this
places restrictions on sensors that pro-
trude into the tank, so a top-mounted,
noncontacting radar is a good choice
of sensor. In boiler drum applications,
SIL 3 GWR transmitters are required for
AOPS — usually with triple redundancy
— because they are unaffected by
changes in process conditions.
Storage tanks — Tank monitoring sys-
tems for multiple small- or medium-
sized vessels, or a smaller tank farm of
five to 20 tanks, require an automated
system to provide level monitoring, but
not necessarily control. Tank monitoring
would typically involve gross volume cal-
culations, but not fiscal measurements.
In such applications, overfill technol-
ogy selection would be determined by
the tank type, the number of available
openings and the liquids contained.
Bulk liquid applications — An auto-
matic tank gauging (ATG) system is
typically used as the BPCS in these
applications to measure level and cal-
culate inventory. These systems require
technology with high levels of accuracy
since a small inaccuracy in level mea-
surement can equate to thousands of
gallons of volume uncertainty, which
would be extremely costly. The AOPS
typically consists of a noncontacting
radar transmitter, a logic solver and an
actuator. Alternatives would be a vibrat-
ing fork switch or a GWR transmitter. In
bulk storage tanks with floating roofs,
the best practice is to measure through
a still pipe, which requires high-preci-
sion, noncontacting radar for accuracy.
Support & guidance
Because level measurement technology
selection is application-dependent, it is
vital to understand the specific challeng-
es each one presents. Automation sup-
pliers that offer a broad portfolio of level
measurement solutions are perfectly
placed to provide support and guidance
on selecting, installing and implementing
the most suitable technology. FC
Per Skogberg is an engineer at Emerson
Automation Solutions. He has expertise
in radar level measurement and tank
gauging systems, first and foremost for
tank farms, refineries and bulk liquid
storage of petroleum products. He can
be found on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/
per-skogberg-8698a51a/. To learn more
about overfill prevention, visit emerson.
com/overfillprevention.
May 2018 | 23
Special Section: Flow Measurement
Thermal & vortex flowmeters improve
efficiency in energy management
The technology continues to grow with frequent advancements.
By Jesse Yoder, Ph.D., Flow Research
S
team plays an important part in
people’s lives. It is important in
food preparation, for cooling and
heating buildings, in the pulp and paper
industry, and as a source of power for
ships. Probably its most important use
is for electricity production.
Steam power plants get their energy
from a variety of sources. These plants
need a source of fuel to heat water
and generate steam. Many use fossil
fuels such as coal, oil or natural gas
for energy, while others use nuclear
energy. Renewable sources of energy
for steam power plants include solid
waste, wind, geothermal and biomass.
All these energy sources produce heat,
which heats water to generate steam.
In a power plant, the steam turns a
turbine that is built somewhat like a
windmill and rotates on a wheel made
of tightly packed metal blades. The
turbine is connected by an axle to a
generator, which spins around with the
turbine blades. As the generator turns, it
uses the kinetic energy from the turbine
to generate electricity.
24 | May 2018
Gas & air flow measurement
Many power plants use natural gas as
the fuel that is burned to generate
steam. This natural gas has to be
precisely measured and efficiently man-
aged to ensure the safe and reliable
operation of the power plant’s heat
source. Managing and controlling the
optimal fuel-to-air ratio requires a mass
flow calculation — and can reap big
dividends if it is done correctly. This type
of precise and efficient management
ensures lower overall fuel costs. Some
facilities may require that gas distribu-
tion and billing be tracked.
Another important factor in this con-
text is the measurement of compressed
air. Natural gas must be precisely mea-
sured and managed, so the effective
management of compressed air in a
power plant can reap big dividends. Just
as in apartment buildings where water
flow is at its peak in the morning and
evening, but minimal later at night, so
power requirements in a power facility
can vary widely with time of day. This
gives thermal flowmeters an advantage
in these types of applications because
they typically have a 100-to-1 turndown
and can measure low flows as effec-
tively as high flows. They are also not
subject to clogging, unlike turbine and
Pitot tube meters.
How steam is measured
As part of the electricity production pro-
cess, steam must be measured to maxi-
mize boiler efficiency. Differential pres-
sure (DP) flowmeters dominate steam
flow measurement. DP flowmeters rely
on a constriction placed in the flow line
that creates reduced pressure in the line
after the constriction. A DP flowmeter
requires a means to detect the difference
in upstream versus downstream pressure
in the flow line. While this can be done
with a manometer, DP flowmeters use
DP transmitters that sense the difference
in pressure, and then use this value to
compute flow rate.
Vortex flowmeter advantages
Despite the dominance of DP flowme-
ters, some end users are turning to
multivariable vortex meters for measuring
steam flow. Vortex flowmeters have some
advantages over other types of new-
technology flowmeters when it comes
to measuring gas and steam flow. Gas
flow measurement is still a relatively new
application for Coriolis meters, and the
use of Coriolis meters to measure steam
flow is just beginning to occur. While
ultrasonic meters have been used for
a number of years to measure gas flow
and boiler feedwater flow, steam flow is
a new application for them.
Magnetic flowmeters cannot be used
to measure gas flow, steam flow or
nonconductive liquids such as
Figure 1. Flowmeter for steam measurement
All graphics courtesy of Flow Research
Flow Control
hydrocarbons. Multivariable DP flow-
meters can be used to measure liquid,
gas and steam. However, most multi-
variable DP flowmeters have substan-
tially greater pressure drop than vortex
meters because of the presence of a
primary element.
One reason vortex flowmeters work well
with steam is that they can handle the
high temperatures and pressures associ-
ated with steam flow measurement. This
is one limitation of ultrasonic flowme-
ters. The ultrasonic transducers of inline
meters, which send and receive the ultra-
sonic signals, have to be able to tolerate
the high temperature of steam. For vortex
meters, only the bluff body and the sen-
sors that detect the vortices are in contact
with the flow. The transmitter is usually
mounted somewhere away from the pipe.
Vortex flowmeters are well-suited for
measuring steam flow, and they are
widely used for this purpose. Steam is
the most difficult fluid to measure. This
is because of the high pressure and high
temperature of steam and because the
measurement parameters vary with the
type of steam. The main types of steam
include wet steam, saturated steam and
superheated steam. Steam is often mea-
sured in process plants and for power
generation. In addition to their ability
to tolerate high process temperatures
and pressures, vortex meters have wide
rangeability. This allows them to measure
steam flow at varying velocities. In pro-
cess and power plants, steam is often
measured coming from a boiler.
Multivariable vortex flowmeters mea-
sure multiple variables in one instru-
ment. In particular, they measure vol-
umetric flow, pressure, temperature,
mass flow and density. The density of
saturated steam changes with tem-
perature or pressure, while the den-
sity of superheated steam depends on
temperature and pressure. Because
multivariable flowmeters measure den-
sity accurately, they provide an accurate
measurement of mass flow. With steam
flow accuracy of 1 percent of reading
and a wide 30-to-1 turndown, they pro-
vide the necessary data for reliable and
efficient steam flow management.
www.flowcontrolnetwork.com May 2018 | 25
An integrated approach using
software & firmware
Many companies have made conscious
efforts to reduce the number of suppliers
on whom they rely for products and ser-
vices. Qualifying approved suppliers can
be costly and time-consuming. Having
fewer suppliers makes it more likely that
products purchased will be compatible.
It also makes for fewer points of contact
when service or maintenance is required.
In flow energy management, for exam-
ple, Sierra Instruments became a single-
source supplier by offering three types of
flowmeters that measure gas, steam, air
and water. Multivariable vortex meters
Figure 2. Close-up of thermal mass flowmeter,
part of Sierra Instruments’ Big-3 for flow
energy applications
measure as many as five process vari-
ables: volumetric flow, mass flow, den-
sity, pressure and temperature.
Companies build on
flowmeter advancements
Sierra was the first company to introduce
multivariable vortex flowmeters in 1997.
Since then, other companies such as
ABB, KROHNE Inc. and Yokogawa have
brought them out. Multivariable vortex
meters compete with multivariable DP
meters and Coriolis meters. While all
three measure gas flow, Coriolis meters
have an accuracy advantage, although
they typically are more accurate in mea-
suring liquid flows than in measuring gas
flows. Coriolis and vortex meters have
16-inch line size limitations. This limita-
tion makes them unable to measure nat-
ural gas flow in large pipeline, which can
range from 20 to 42 inches and above.
Other innovations in vortex flowmeters
include reducer vortex and dual sensor
vortex meters. Reducer vortex meters
make it possible for these meters to mea-
sure lower flow rates. Dual sensor vortex
meters add redundancy by incorporating
two vortex meters together in the same
line. These innovations introduced in the
past 10 years have made vortex flow-
meters more accurate, redundant and
reliable. With increased industrialization
worldwide, their use to measure steam in
power plants and for other steam and gas
applications can be expected to increase.
As is the case with multivariable vortex
meters, multiple companies have intro-
duced advances in thermal flowmeters.
Sierra was one of the original companies
to introduce thermal flowmeters in the
mid-1970s, along with Kurz Instruments
and Fluid Components International. In
the early 1990s, the need for continu-
ous emissions monitoring spawned the
rise of multipoint thermal flowmeters.
Since 2008, much thermal flowmeter
development has centered greenhouse
gas emission measurement.
Flow measurement requirements for
steam and gas applications are increasing
along with a continued need to monitor
and measure carbon dioxide emissions.
As a result, expect continued growth
in the multivariable vortex and thermal
flowmeter markets. Based on what the
industry has already seen, suppliers will
be there to meet these measurement
challenges with innovative solutions. FC
Jesse Yoder, Ph.D., is president of Flow
Research Inc. He has 30 years of experi-
ence as an analyst and writer in instru-
mentation. Yoder holds two U.S. patents
on a dual-tube meter design and is the
author of The Tao of Measurement,
published by ISA. He may be reached at
jesse@flowresearch.com.
Special Section: Flow Measurement
5
factors that impact thermal mass
flowmeter accuracy, flow profile
& conditioning
End-user application condition knowledge is essential.
By Gary Russell, Sage Metering
T
he velocity profile is used to
determine the flow rate of a fluid
flowing within a pipe. If the fully
developed profile changes, a thermal
mass flowmeter’s accuracy decreases.
Additionally, five application factors that
affect the meter’s accuracy require con-
sideration. One of these includes the
upstream straight run distance, which
changes the flow profile. In many cases,
flow conditioning, a process of syntheti-
cally creating a more uniform flow profile,
is necessary when upstream straight run
lengths are not available to achieve a
sufficiently developed flow profile.
This article reviews flow profile funda-
mentals, the five end-user application
considerations, and it explores the use
of flow conditioning to improve a flow-
meter’s accuracy in areas where suf-
ficient flow profile is unattainable.
Flow profile fundamentals —
Velocity profile
Fluids, such as gas flow, at varying veloci-
ties within a pipe. As gas enters a circular
pipe, the particles in contact with the
pipe’s surface stop, creating a bound-
ary layer. The gas that flows in adjacent
layers slows from friction and the gas
velocity in the midsection increases to
By understanding the velocity profile, it is possible to determine velocity anywhere within the pattern.
All graphics courtesy of Sage Metering
26 | May 2018 Flow Control
90-degree elbow effect on velocity profile
maintain the mass flow rate through the
pipe. The velocity distribution across the
pipe is the velocity profile. The flow pro-
file becomes parabolic once the flow is
“fully developed.” By understanding the
velocity profile, it is possible to determine
velocity anywhere within the pattern.
Anytime a flow profile degrades, the
meter’s accuracy drops. The main fac-
tors that affect flow profile are piping
and straight run upstream of the flow
sensor, with some minor impact from
the downstream straight run. In a per-
fect world, the desired fully developed
flow profile occurs with smooth and
long-running straight pipe that precedes
the meter’s sensor. In the real world,
however, most pipelines do not have
sufficient straight run, and flow dis-
turbances arise because of fittings/
couplings, expanders, reducers, valves,
tees, headers, bends, filters, strainers,
knockout drums, heat exchangers, regu-
lators, valves, flanges and elbows.
Often, the straight run preceding the
meter requires increased distances to
deliver the proper flow profile. For exam-
ple, when introducing an elbow on the
same plane of a line, it will require that
the upstream straight run be 25 pipe
diameters. Even longer lengths are need-
ed for other upstream configurations.
Often, sufficient straight run to secure a
fully developed flow profile is unattain-
able. In these cases, flow conditioning is
an excellent option to explore.
‘Location, location, location’
The location for a flowmeter installation
is essential and often overlooked.
Selecting an installation location solely
based on ease of installation is often
shortsighted. The end user should con-
sider the location’s flow disturbances
before choosing the position for a meter.
For this reason, give thoughtful consid-
eration to determining the most effec-
tive site. In any case, once the location
is selected, identify the disturbances so
the manufacturer can determine if flow
conditioning is required, and if so, the
flowmeter would be factory-calibrated
with conditioning.
Flowmeter factory calibration
When measuring a gas using a thermal
mass flowmeter, it is important that the
manufacturer understands the process
conditions of the end user’s application
for the meter. This way, the manufactur-
er can calibrate the instrument match-
ing the circumstances of the applica-
tion’s site. Without doing so, flow rate
inaccuracies can result.
During the manufacturer’s flow bench
calibration, a controlled amount of
specified gas flows past the sensor and
the signal is measured. This process is Selecting an installation location solely based on ease of installation is often shortsighted.
repeated many times over the operat-
ing range to determine the relationship this information to the manufacturer for incorrect results. While some gases may
between mass flow and the signal for proper calibration. be close to pure — such as nitrogen or
the gas and sensor under calibration. argon — others, such as biogas, consist
Gas composition — It is impera- of a mixture of gases with varying levels
Pipe size — Review the pipe size 2 tive to calibrate the meter with of constituents. In the latter case, it is
1 at the installation site in addition the gas that the end user intends to essential to understand the variation of
to the identification, the pipe schedule measure because every gas has differ- the components including methane and
and the full-scale flow rate (or maxi- ent thermal properties. Additionally, any CO2 content. Convey this information to
mum velocity) of the gas flow. Convey change in gas composition will generate the manufacturer for proper calibration.

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www.flowcontrolnetwork.com May 2018 | 27


(Left) The flowmeter sensor probe must be
installed in the center of the pipe.
(Bottom left) Inline body flow conditioning
(Bottom right) Captive flow conditioner for
insertion-style meter
28 | May 2018 Flow Control
Wet gas — If moisture or par-
3 ticles are present in the gas,
installation modifications may prevent
condensate from hitting the sensor.
The primary principle of thermal mass
flow measurement involves heat trans-
fer caused by gas flow. Condensed
moisture in the gas that contacts the
heated sensor rapidly increases heat
transfer, and the instrument responds
with a spike, creating inaccurate flow
measurement.
The following may resolve wet gas
issues when measuring with thermal
mass flowmeters:
a) Angle the sensor 45 degrees in the
pipe so that if condensate develops in
the pipe wall, gravity moves the mois-
ture away from the sensor.
b) When using a knockout drum, or
knockout pot, the moisture drops sepa-
rate from the gas. In this case, the gas
flows into the vessel where a reduction
in velocity and a change in direction
occur. Gravity causes the moisture to
fall while the gas flows up and out,
removing the moisture from the gas.
c) In some cases, heat tape can be
applied on the outside surface of a
pipe to prevent condensation.
Upstream straight run — Meter
4 installation location is critical.
Disturbances negatively affect the flow
profile of the gas flow. The more flow
disturbance upstream, the longer the
straight pipe upstream length needs to
be to achieve the required fully devel-
oped flow profile.
Insertion depth — The flowme-
5 ter sensor probe must be in the
center of the pipe because the highest
velocity flow will be detected the fur-
thest away from the pipe walls. At least
two methods for probe insertion to the
pipe center exist.1
Flow conditioning straight
run requirements
Multiple disturbances upstream of the
meter have a cumulative effect on the
flow profile. If achieving the correct straight
pipe upstream length at the meter is not

Table 1. This chart demonstrates the importance of flow conditioning with the recommended pipe
diameters upstream.
possible, flow conditioning is viable.
Flow conditioners (also referred to as
flow straighteners) can deliver a uniform
flow profile at the sensor location. This
consistent flow profile is different from
the fully developed flow profile that occurs
when there is an acceptable straight
run length, so it is essential to calibrate
the flowmeter with the flow conditioner
with an understanding of the site’s other
parameters (i.e., gas type, pipe character-
istics, straight upstream run length [and
disturbances] and installation depth).
Flow conditioners — If insufficient
straight run exists, two flow conditioner
styles deliver a uniform flow profile.
Inline flow body — For one inline flow
body meter, the flow conditioning is built
into the flowmeter body.
Captive flow conditioning — For inser-
tion-style meters, a captive flow con-
ditioner assembly that consists of two
conditioning plates situated between two
flanges can be effective. The end user
supplies flanges for this configuration.
Table 1 shows the upstream straight
run length required for various pipe
configurations for installations with and
without flow conditioning ahead of the
flowmeter location. This applies to inline
body and insertion-style flowmeters
(which have built-in flow conditioning).
In all cases, flow conditioning can
significantly reduce the recommended
upstream distance ahead of the meter.
www.flowcontrolnetwork.com
gas mix, process pressure, and upstream
straight run and disturbances), so it can
be determined if flow conditioning is
required. Then, the meter can be proper-
ly factory-calibrated to produce the most
accurate meter for the application. FC
Reference
1. Sage Prime Meter Manual (page 15).
Gary Russell is director
of engineering of Sage
Metering. He has a mas-
ter’s degree in mechani-
Conclusion cal engineering and more than 25 years
When considering thermal mass flowme- of experience in thermal mass flowmeter
ters in any application, determine the design and project management, including
location wisely and understand that the improving calibration systems, developing
most convenient location will likely not flow conditioning strategies, implement-
generate the most accurate results. ing gas correlations and design improve-
Provide the thermal mass flowmeter ments. He may be reached at gary@
manufacturer with end-user application sagemetering.com or 866-677-7243.
conditions (the pipe information, gas or
198
8 - 20 1
• Compressed Air 8
Eldridge Products, Inc.
• Boiler Air & Gas 465 Reservation Road
• Flue & Flare Gas Marina, CA 93933
• Natural Gas Phone: (831) 648-7777
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• Biogas – Digester & Landfill Gas
• Many other gases available 30th Web: www.epiflow.com
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• E-Logger™ - Data Logging in EPICom™ & in Flow Meter
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Standard Included Communication Protocols & Signal Outputs –
• RS-232, RS-485 ASCII, Modbus (RS-485 Modbus RTU), BACnet
• Two 4 to 20 mA, Two 0-5 VDC, Two User Programmable Relays
Other Standard Features -
• Calibration Traceable to NIST
• Rugged 316L Stainless Steel Sensor & Body/Probe Construction
• Display Two Line 16 Character - Rate, Total, Temp, Sensor mW, Relays
• Flow Accuracy +/-(1.0% Reading + 0.5% Full Scale) Over 100:1
• Minimum Velocity Response of 15 Feet Per Minute
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May 2018 | 29
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Flow switch Knife-gate valve

Fluid Components International The Victualic Series 906 Knife Gate Valve
introduced the FLT93 Flow (906 KGV) is an inline maintenance KGV
Switch to provide early for HDPE pipe designed to simplify instal-
warnings of potential lation and maintenance, reduce downtime
dry-run conditions, and improve worker safety. It is ideal
cavitation and other pump for fluid lines that contain solid or abra-
conditions. Ideal for chemical sive materials common in mining, power
plants, electric power generation, food and beverage, oil generation and other industrial settings.
and gas, and municipal water systems, the switch moni- Worker safety is improved since only one
tors the flow and temperature of liquids, gases, slurries component requires replacement. It has
and more. It has no moving parts and dual alarm capabil- an Installation-Ready, integrated coupling
ity. It can be specified in insertion or inline styles for pipe design that joins plain-end HDPE pipe.
or tube insertion.

Coriolis flowmeter sensor Tube failure detection

Siemens added the Blue-White Industries’

low-flow FC MASS
2100 and FC300
sensors inline sizes
1/16- to 1/2-inch to
its digital Coriolis
platform. Features
include advanced programming wizards, automatic dual-
phase flow filtering, flow batching and programmable dosing
recipes. The enhancements are available in a Class 1 Divi-
sion 1 enclosure with FCT030 and FCT010 digital transmit-
ters. The Sitrans FCS400 sensor program includes 4- and
6-inch sensors, making it suitable for more applications.
TFD+ (tube failure
detection) technology is
designed to detect oil
and water-based poly-
mers in its FLEXFLO Polymer Pump. Included in the
pump at no additional cost, the pump shuts off and
energizes a relay when the TFD+ senses tube failure.
This allows communications with eternal equipment,
such as a backup pump, alarm or SCADA system. Op-
eration does not resume until the problem is resolved.
Condensation or washdown procedures will not cause
false triggers.

30 | May 2018 Flow Control

 Connect
Conne
SOLUTIONS FOR FLUID MOVEMENT, MEASUREMENT & CONTAINMENT

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AD INDEX
Advertiser Page# Advertiser Page#

Air Monitor Corporation .................................................................. 9 GF Piping Systems ...................................................................... IFC

Assured Automation ..................................................................... 28 Inline Industries............................................................................ 12

Blue-White Industries ................................................................... 13 Innovative Sensor Technology ....................................................... 20

Check-All Valve ............................................................................ 16 KROHNE Inc................................................................................... 1

Eldridge Products Inc.................................................................... 29 NEOPERL Inc ............................................................................... 16

Endress+Hauser Inc.....................................................................BC Spitzer and Boyes LLC.................................................................. 27

Flowrox ....................................................................................... 17

BC = Back Cover IBC = Inside Back Cover IFC = Inside Front Cover

www.flowcontrolnetwork.com May 2018 | 31

 FlowControlNetwork.com

@FLOWCONTROL_MAG
Graphic courtesy of Nexxis

In terms of oil flow

ONLINE
measurement, turbine, EXCLUSIVE
#Coriolis and ultrasonic
#flowmeters are the most
commonly used flowmeters
for the export of #crudeoil.
But as oil production Flow-accelerated corrosion [FAC] relates to the dissolution of
declines, several changes
are observed in the stabil- the protective oxide layer on a metal surface as a result
ity of the flow. | ow.ly/ of fast-flowing fluids, resulting in metal loss. This type of
GqXM30j7WDQ @TUVNEL corrosion commonly affects carbon steel piping, with the
rate of FAC dependent on the velocity of the flow.
5 key #valve sizing points www.bit.ly/2Ji8kXI
to remember | ow.ly/
KBKY30j7C0g @ValinCorp
Graphic courtesy of Rotork Controls Inc.

China grows to world’s

WHAT'S ON FACEBOOK
second-largest #LNG
importer | ow.ly/
Wc4b30j3XgB @EIAgov
#OilandGas

#VFDs need a certain Bottling plant improves

amount of heat to keep efficiency with electric
all components operating
actuators
at their optimal designs. |
ow.ly/PGWz30j43kH High-volume soft drink facility reaps
@DanfossDrives savings with new technology.
www.bit.ly/2pICtr9
Wireless #remotemonitoring
systems answer the call |
ow.ly/16aH30jf6Ic
@SignalFireTelem #Pauto
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn
facebook.com/flowcontrolmagazine @flowcontrol_mag linkedin.com/groups/4068011/profile

32 | May 2018 Flow Control Magazine

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