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Challenging Application Solved with Hoffer API Series
The town of Mont Belview, Texas, is located along the gulf
coast. This geographic region is recognized for the vast underground
salt cavern storage facilities. A number of refineries are
also located in this area. Many of the companies specialize
in the production of light hydrocarbon products. Enterprise
Products is a major employer in town. They act as a supplier
of hydrocarbon products and also as a storage facility. Their
significant storage capability allows them to lease space
to a number of companies.
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Enterprise Products utilizes turbine flowmeters extensively
for custody transfer as well as for “balancing”
their storage facilities. Balancing a particular storage
facility accounts for product removed and product that
has been added. This type of application requires a
bi-directional turbine flowmeter that is extremely repeatable
over a period of time, is accurate, and one that can
tolerate the service conditions. Many of the applications
at Enterprise are more challenging in that the product
is very dry without the usual lubricating properties
associated with hydrocarbon products. One flow application
that presented particular problems in terms of measurement
was for very dry, ultra pure iso-butane coming straight
out of the dryer. Enterprise had used turbine flowmeters
from another turbine supplier for this application.
Jim Short is a Measurement Specialist at Enterprise
Products. Jim indicates that they had replaced the turbine
flowmeter internals on the competitive flowmeter 23
times within a four month period. Jim contacted Hoffer
Flow Controls for a resolution to this problem. Hoffer
recommended a bi-directional 4" Hoffer turbine
flowmeter from our API Series of custody transfer flowmeters.
Additionally, we recommended a special type of ball
bearing that is shielded and self lubricating.Incorporation
of this bearing type into the flowmeter would assure
that the flowmeter could tolerate the dry conditions
that it would consistently be exposed to. Hoffer has
successfully used this type of bearing for cryogenic
custody transfer applications for hundreds of flow systems
supplied throughout the world.
Jim Short reports that the 4" bidirectional Hoffer
turbine flowmeter has been in use for five years.
He indicates that the proving of this flowmeter, which
includes the original set of flowmeter internals, has
shown great repeatability over the years. In fact, Jim’s
proving data shows the following results.
| Date |
Meter Factor |
Flow Rate (B/Hr) |
| 6/93 |
1.1638 |
1610 |
| 6/98 |
1.1637 |
1480 |
Note: Accurate balancing is extremely critical to any
storage facility. Enterprise Products proves this particular
flowmeter monthly. Jim reports that the meter factor
on this Hoffer flowmeter has been extremely repeatability
over the five year period during which it has been installed.
The Mont Belview Enterprise Products facility has approximately
125 Hoffer API Series turbine flowmeters installed in
custody transfer and balancing flow applications. Providing
accurate and repeatable turbine flowmeters is what Hoffer
does best. Contact Hoffer to see how their flowmeters
can work in your flow applications.
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