Reducing metering errors and maintenance costs significantly
7 Coriolis metering & filling stations for Arkema on the Lacq site replaced old volume flowmeters
One thousand people work on this chemical site in France. The site resembles a huge anthill where everyone goes about their business in line with safety regulations. When you enter the site, you notice the importance of safety everywhere. The chemical products manufactured here are flammable & toxic. Of course, everyone must wear a gas mask, safety shoes, helmets, leather gloves, goggles and suits too. However, the sunshine and the beauty of the environment make up for these working conditions.
The results
Immediate return on investment
Excellent precision and repeatability of measurement
Reduced maintenance efforts
An easy-to-use solution
Equipment that withstands the aggressive environment
We have been impressed by the outstanding repeatability of this equipment. The measuring and metering equipment is also extremely reliable so we are completely satisfied
Arkema
We are using this new mass flowmeter which is really useful because it is quicker than the previous equipment.
Arkema
We did notice that the meters that we had previously were systematically generating a large discrepancy compared with the weight that we had to load. The readings were off by between 150 and 200 kg.
Arkema
Arkema is one of the site operators. The plant produces and supplies sulfur derivatives, such as chemical intermediates and aroma compounds that are injected into the natural gas network enabling detection of leaks. A steady stream of trucks and tank cars at the logistics center deliver some 80 tonnes per day to customers. Operators park, connect the hose and ground cable, preset the order quantity, and begin filling. Before leaving, the vehicles are weighed in order to create an invoice.
When the readings on the meter and the scales don't match.
The quantity of fluid to be delivered was also measured. The 7 filling stations used to be equipped with volume flowmeters. Logistics Supervisor, Mr. Vidales, noticed that the measurements given by the volume flowmeters no longer matched the values from the weighbridge. To avoid any delivery complaints, an extra 200 kg was systematically added to each load. At the same time, Mr. Richard, then Head of Maintenance, found his budget burdened by the repeated maintenance this equipment required
It was time to replace the unreliable and hard-to-maintain equipment. The specifications, defined by Mr. Richard and Mr. Vidales, stated that it must be able to withstand aggressive external environments. The equipment comprised a preset and flowmeter. The measuring device had to be accurate, reliable and reproducible. The equipment also had to be practical for everyday use, taking into account operators' working conditions, such as the need to wear leather gloves and the industrial environment.
A metering solution based on mass flowmeter precision
After analyzing Arkema's requirements, Endress+Hauser proposed a filling solution comprised of one Contrec preset meter and one Coriolis mass flowmeter for each filling station. The preset is intuitive and easy to use. It is dirt-resistant and can be used while wearing gloves.
The Coriolis mass flowmeter chosen was the Promass 80E. Its Coriolis principle is highly accurate and measures the mass directly, eliminating any metering errors owing to density variations. The mass flowmeters feature no moving parts, which minimizes maintenance. The design of the Promass 80E is also robust and extremely compact. This greatly simplified the installation phase as the new volume flowmeters could be fitted in place of the old.
An almost immediate ROI and complete satisfaction
Mr. Richard quickly calculated the ROI including the cost of the additional equipment supplied and the maintenance costs for the volume flowmeters. The solution proposed by Endress+Hauser was accepted and installed. After more than a year in use, the results are positive. Mr. Richard is very satisfied: "The project went really well. The operators have taken well to using the new meters. The flowmeters are accurate and measurement errors have dropped from 200 kg to 10 kg. We are delighted."
Metering and filling solutions
Endress+Hauser offers a standardized and certified solution for trading transaction applications with its LMS 080/100/150 loading metering skid
Loading metering skids (LMS) designed and certified in accordance with the Measurement Instrument Directive (MID) guarantee compliance with the legislation on trading transactions.
Quick installation, commissioning and integration
Reduce billing errors thanks to high-performance Coriolis Promass meters
Low maintenance costs, the design limits wear
Low recalibration costs
Pressure loss is lower than with volume flowmeters
