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Small Volume Prover
Calibron for Crude Oil Applications
Using a Calibron® prover on a crude oil application is
nothing new. The first Calibron prover model was designed
for pipeline applications and has provided excellent
service over the last 20 years. In many instances, these
pipelines have been carrying crude oil to its final
destination. Calibron has a large installed base of crude oil
provers on both sweet and sour crudes, as well as the newer crudes such as those from
the Alaskan oil sands and oil shales. Due to the unique design of the Calibron prover,
there is no requirement to install the prover in the vertical plane. After correctly
specifying and installing the prover, there are no limiting factors to a successful and
long-term product life.
EN-11-03-ENG
February 2011
©2011 Honeywell International Inc.
Self-Flushing Calibron Prover
Honeywell has uniquely designed a prover that will eliminate the
build of particulate matter from the flow tube. With flanges on the
bottom of the tube, solids can flow directly out of the prover tube.
This makes the Calibron prover the obvious choice for all metering
applications including crude oils.
Over 200 Calibron provers are currently operating on crude oil
applications. Calibron is manufactured with a hardened internal tube
chrome lining which is wear and scratch resistant. For all applications,
Honeywell will use the process fluid data to determine the most
suitable seal compound. For crude oil applications, Honeywell has
developed a special seal manufactured with a scrapper lip that
includes a wear resistant carbon element. This seal is designed to
provide a longer prover lifecycle in the harshest contaminated
processes.
Key Considerations for Operational Longevity
• Filtration: The specification of an upstream
filtration/strainer unit is key to all metering installations.
Filtration units should have the correctly sized mesh
to remove particulates from the process fluid before
it enters the prover and a differential pressure gauge
should be fitted. On heavily contaminated processes,
a duplex filter or strainer should be considered to
remove the possibility of process interruption.
• Inspection: Regularly inspecting the internal and
shaft seals will help prolong operational service.
• Viscosity: For process fluids with a high viscosity
(+ 300 cP), Honeywell may recommend de-rating
the maximum flow rate of the prover to avoid
unnecessary strain on the retraction system.
• Correct Seals: Honeywell offers a range of sealing
compounds based upon data provided by the
client and will individually specify a seal combination
to provide the best compatibility and longevity.
• Seal Life: Seal life is determined by the degree of
particle (trash) contamination in the fluid as well
as the number of prover cycles. By utilizing
Teflon-based seals, it is possible to reach 50,000
cycles before a seal change is needed.
• Thermal Pressure Relief: Protecting a permanently
installed prover from over pressuring is vital to
successful operations and Honeywell recommends
that a correctly sized relief valve is positioned
downstream of the prover, but within the isolation
boundary.
“We are commonly asked if a small volume prover can be used in crude oilapplications. Ideally, the SVP can be used on any fluid without makingadjustments or changes. However, there is generally a higher concentrationof trash or particle contamination in crude oil. This raises a legitimate concern that sand or trash would prematurely wear out the flow tube. Whilewe certainly endorse the use of an SVP, we recommend a chrome-plated,stainless steel tube for extensive use with crude oil. It would last significantlylonger than a lined, sphere prover or an unlined, carbon steel prover. In terms of hardness and durability, there is no comparison. At any rate,replacing a flow tube is probably less expensive than relining a sphere prover.Given our considerable experience, we would expect an SVP to outlastany other type of prover in a harsh application. In fact, the level of trash incrude oil would impact the meter long before the prover.”
Steve WhitmanPresident, Coastal Flow MeasurementHouston Texas
For More Information
To learn more about Honeywell Enraf’s solutions,
contact your Honeywell Enraf account manager
or visit www.honeywellenraf.com.
Americas
Honeywell Enraf Americas, Inc.
2000 Northfield Ct.
Roswell, GA 30076 USA
Phone: +1 770 475 1900
Email: [email protected]
Asia Pacific
Honeywell Pte Ltd.
17 Changi Business Park Central 1
Singapore 486073
Phone: +65 6355 2828E
Email: [email protected]
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Honeywell Enraf
Delftechpark 392628 XJ Delft
The Netherlands
Phone: +31 (0)15 2701 100
Email: [email protected]
www.honeywellcalibron.com