In search of reliability, precision and performance for flow measurement in heavy oils and with different viscosities, TNC chose to purchase five flow meters for the Norte Capixaba Terminal (TNC), located in São Mateus/ES. The meters are of the Controletron model 1010PV and will be installed in October by Fluxo.
The terminal will store and transfer the heavy oil produced and treated in the Fazenda Alegre Field, in addition to receiving the light oil drained through the São Mateus Oil Pipeline. The oil from Fazenda Alegre has very peculiar characteristics, with a viscosity of up to 3000 cP. In view of these specifications, the non-intrusive 1010PV ultrasonic flow meters (clamp-on) from Controletron were the only ones approved by Petrobras for the application.
The Controletron model 1010PV is designed to provide custody transfer accuracy, with better performance than traditional intrusive flowmeters. With the patented "Wide-Beam" technology, the transducers generate a strong, stable signal that extends along the contact between them and the pipeline. This mechanism allows flow measurement of different types of liquids, with varying viscosities and temperatures, without the need to reposition or recalibrate the transducers.
The "Wide-Beam" technology also generates a precise signal and a continuous measurement of the sonic velocity in the fluid, which, together with the monitoring of its temperature, makes it possible to detect and compensate for variations in product viscosity, as in the case of TNC. In addition, as they are "non-intrusive", that is, mounted on the piping without contact with the fluid, there is no pressure drop in the system and the costs with valves, flanges, bypass lines, among others, are eliminated .