Coriolis improves efficiency in tanker loading

Micro Motion Coriolis massflow meters have been supplied as mobile metering skid units to improve the efficiency of rail and road tank loading operations at the new Oiltanking terminal in Belgium

Micro Motion Coriolis massflow meters from Emerson Process Management have been supplied as mobile metering skid units to improve the efficiency of rail and road tank loading operations at the new Oiltanking terminal in Belgium.

Independent terminal operators like Oiltanking provide tank storage at port terminals worldwide.

Oiltanking do not own any of the products they handle, but provide the storage facilities for oils, chemicals and gases belonging to their clients.

Flowmetering is an essential part of the delivery of products into and out of storage.

Typically the measurements are for train and truck loading duties, and the products are measured by weight.

Mass flow measurement using various styles of Micro Motion Coriolis meter has become established as the preferred measurement technique for operational control within the terminal.

Although trucks and rail tank cars are weighed on entering and leaving the site, each truck needs to be loaded as fast and as accurately as possible, to avoid topping up or draining, and any re-weighing, all of which is time consuming and expensive.

To solve this problem at the Oiltanking Antwerp terminal, Emerson Process Management have developed a design of mobile metering skid, in co-operation with engineers from Oiltanking.

Each of the four skids supplied consists of a Micro Motion CMF300 3 inch coriolis Elite sensor with Altus 3700 electronics, which includes batch functionality, operating a 2 stage control valve from Fisher Controls.

This two stage valve is important to achieve accurate shut-off, with the varying batch sizes and product types delivered to the tankers The operator selects the required batch quantity on the Altus 3700 display, and initiates the loading process using the start button.

Cross checks with the weighing scales have shown Oiltanking that the accuracy achieved with the Micro Motion Elite units is better than 0.1 percent of mass flow rate, which is itself far more accurate than that required for fiscal metering.

The skids have improved the efficiency of Oiltanking loading operations, by eliminating errors in delivery, and increasing the number of separate loading operations achieved each day.

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