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Hoffer and Gas Transmission Auxiliary Applications
After the measurement of water, natural gas is the single
most frequent fluid measured by Hoffer turbine flowmeters.
A significant number of Hoffer turbine meters are used in
the custody transfer segment of the natural gas industry but
many are used by this industry for other applications. The
transportation of natural gas over great distances is a complex
task, requiring specialized equipment and facilities to deliver
the gas safely, efficiently and in a readyto-use form. Considerations
include maintaining sufficient pipeline pressure, maintaining
pipeline integrity and keeping moisture levels low. Hoffer’s
gas transportation clients have found our turbine flowmeters
well suited for supporting a number of these tasks.
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One of the most critical elements in transporting natural
gas is maintaining sufficient line pressure from the
wellhead to the pipeline delivery points. Compressor
stations along the length of the pipeline supply the
needed boost in line pressure to maintain flow at desired
levels. A critical flow measurement in these stations
is the circulation of cooling fluids used in the engines
and compressors to remove excess heat. Failure of a
cooling system can lead to emergency compressor shutdowns,
equipment damage and loss or significant reduction in
pipeline pressure. Hoffer turbine meters are on the
job in several such stations monitoring the flow rate
of these critical cooling fluids in order to alert personnel
of either a gradual or sudden drop in flow that would
require attention. Pipeline integrity is a major safety
issue. Gas transportation companies employ elaborate
methods to monitor and inspect pipelines for possible
leaks or future leak points. One technique used in this
mix in many pipelines is the use of non-custody transfer
Hoffer insertion turbine meters to monitor flow rates
at points along the pipeline. The insertion meter technique
requires sufficient density and velocity to work properly
with gas flows. This is the case for most gas transmission
lines. By monitoring flow rates at various points along
the pipeline, it is possible to determine if there are
any disparities in the flow rate between points that
would indicate a potential leakage problem. By using
bi-directional Hoffer insertion turbine meters it is
also possible to determine direction of flow which can
be important in monitoring pipeline integrity in more
complex configurations.
A final application for Hoffer turbine meters is the
monitoring of glycol flow rates associated with gas
dehydration operations. Dehydration equipment typically
utilizes heated glycol to react with water vapor present
in the natural gas and remove it from the flow stream.
Significant volumes of glycol are required for these
operations and need to be accounted for. In these applications,
Hoffer turbine flowmeters are ideally suited for their
ability to handle a wide range of flow rates and temperatures
from ambient to in excess of 300°F associated with
these operations.
Though the Hoffer turbine meter is perhaps best known
for custody transfer applications in the natural gas
transportation industry, as we can see there are many
other places in this industry where they are successfully
utilized. Natural gas transportation companies around
the world have found the versatility, reliability and
costeffective nature of the Hoffer turbine meters ideally
suited for these auxiliary requirements. |
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