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Veracruz, Mexico

Rodrigo Cano

Case Study: Pajaritos Petrochemical Hydrochloric Acid

Place for application relevant picture!

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Agenda

Customer and Case 1

Application Description 2

FLEXIM Solution 3

Customer Benefits 4

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Customer and Case

The Pajaritos Petrochemical plant is located in Veracruz, Mexico.

Pajaritos was owned and operated by PEMEX since 1967 until it was sold to

Mexichem in 2013.

Produces Ethylene , Vinyl Chloride and Hydrochloric Acid among other things.

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Agenda

Customer and Case 1

Application Description 2

FLEXIM Solution 3

Customer Benefits 4

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Application - Customer Motivation

Hydrochloric Acid is used in as a

chemical reagent in the large-scale

production of vinyl chloride for

PVC plastic

At concentrations above 40%, the

evaporation rate is much higher

To minimize evaporation losses,

the HCL is pressurized and cooled

The subfreezing temperatures

create an ice build up issue that

can lead to failure of an in-line

meter

Reliable measurement is critical to

the daily operation of the plant, a

loss of the flow measurement will

result in a shut down of the plant

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Application - Measurement Point

Measuring point is located in the Chlorinated Plant

Fluid is maintained at a temperature below -38C̊

Pipe must be fully insulated, any exposed surfaces are subject to ice build up.

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Application - Technical Details

Chlorinated Plant III

FTU 5112

Fluid: Hydrochloric Acid

Pipe: 4.5” OD, Stainless Steel Schd 40

Temperature: -36.4˚F

Pressure: 171 psig

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Agenda

Customer and Case 1

Application Description 2

FLEXIM Solution 3

Customer Benefits 4

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Solution - Installation

A single Channel 7407 with Stainless Steel enclosure was used

Paired with FLEXIMs WaveInjector Extreme Temp Mounting Fixture, measurement

of the medium was not an issue

The patented mounting fixture thermally separates the ultrasonic transducers

from the cold pipe

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Solution - Results

As a result of the successful installation, the customer is going to purchase FLEXIM

Clamp on Ultrasonic for various applications throughout the site

All diagnostics were favorable, flow measurement agreed with that of the DP

Meter Diagnostics

Quantity Unit A

SCNR dB 33.21

SNR dB 22.81

Gain dB 94.96

Amplitude % 35.40%

Quality % 95.43%

Sound speed m/s 782.6

Flow Rate t/d 348.42

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Agenda

Customer and Case 1

Application Description 2

FLEXIM Solution 3

Customer Benefits 4

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Customer Benefits

Customer no longer has to worry about device failure due to ice build up

No more clogging or pressure drops

WaveInjector equipment can be insulated over and up to the sensorbox

Continuous spraying of steam to reduce ice build up will not be needed like on

the DP

Maintenance free device

The process was not stopped for the installation!