Wellhead automation is gaining traction in both on and offshore production facilities for its cost-effective production, monitoring, and safety benefits. Automating processes ensures operations are not only more streamlined, but reduces one of the biggest costs that occurs in production – downtime and manual intervention.
North Ridge Pumps were recently engaged by a specialist company focused on providing wellhead automation and design. Their requirement was for a metering pump capable of transferring anti-foam from either an intermediate bulk container or a truck to a skid-mounted tank designed for injection, which contained traces of Kerosene.
The ATEX metering pump requested needed to be a proven, dependable unit suitable for operation within an automated setting. It had to deliver precise performance consistently over extended periods with minimal maintenance or inspection requirements.
Form Formation & Issues
In oil and gas production, a reduction in pressure can lead to the formation of foam or gas entrainment within hydrocarbons, detrimentally impacting production efficiency and necessitating increased processing efforts to achieve effective separation.
Additionally, depressurization of oil can induce foam generation within separators, diminishing separator capacity. Defoamers are utilised to regulate foam levels within acceptable levels, removing the need for excessively large separators, which may not be feasible due to space constraints often found in offshore structures.
Furthermore, the client's specifications highlighted the necessity for an antifoam injection pump capable of withstanding temperatures up to 65°C, while maintaining full compliance with ATEX standards.
Why we specified a peristaltic pump
Peristaltic pumps are an excellent choice for any number of applications involving the transfer of either small metered or bulk amounts of clean, solid laden or corrosive liquids.
In addition, they perform well when handling liquids which are viscous, abrasive, gaseous and volatile. They are usually specified for use with a variety of fluids from pastes, glues, sludges, food and ink to cement, chemicals and slurries ranging in viscosity from 1 to 50,000cst.
Overall, there were seven key factors which lead to us selecting an ATEX peristaltic metering pump for this project:
1. Low shear
One of the main benefits of this pump technology is that they are low shear. This means that they transfer fluids gently without creating foam, whilst maintaining the separation of the kerosene and anti-foam in this particular case.
2. Self priming
Thanks to their positive displacement design, peristaltic pumps can self-prime up to 8m vertically, with the inlet and outlet rotated to match the installation specification. This means that they offer the flexibility of fitting in a range of locations outside of the fluid, and not just at the bottom of a tank in a hard-to-reach position.
In addition, motors can be mounted vertically reducing the unit’s footprint and opening up even more spaces for installation.
3. Variable flow, reversible or intelligently controlled
Thanks to their design, peristaltic pumps are also known as volumetric pumps. This means that the flow rate is proportional to speed, but pressure remains constant. Their rotation can be reversed, so they can be used in a range of different situations including container filling or emptying. This can also ensure that any equipment connected to the unit like a hose for instance, can be drained if necessary.
4. Temperature tolerant
Peristaltic pumps can handle temperatures up to 100°C, and operate within large temperature ranges. Compare this with other positive displacement pump types such as progressing cavity pumps which only work within narrow bands of temperatures, and air-operated diaphragm pumps which have an operating limit of 80°C.
5. Low maintenance and easy clean
Peristaltic pumps have just one wearing part – a heavy duty textile inlay hose. When this begins to show wear, it can be swapped out and then recycled or disposed of. All in all, peristaltic pumps are up to four times quicker to clean and maintain than other types of positive displacement pumps.
6. Non-clog, hardwearing and Run Dry Capability
Peristaltic pumps can accommodate solids as wide as the internal diameter of the hose, and because of the gentle pumping action they don’t clog. This design feature makes them well suited to processing food, cement, pastes, sludges, slurries, sewage, and other fluids which can contain large solids, stones or unexpected objects.
In fact, thanks to the tough, hardwearing hose, slow speed and gentle action, peristaltic metering pumps can handle the most abrasive of slurries – anything from mining and biogas, to dewatering and other flows which may contain sharp particles or debris.
Moreover, because there are no valves, mechanical seals or O rings there’s less chance of clogging taking place. That’s because damaging fluids like glues, latex or other abrasive liquids can’t cause seal failure which would allow air to get in, reducing pump efficiency and leading to loss of valuable product.
Finally, the pump’s construction and the absence of valves and seals, means it can run without fluid without suffering any damage. This makes a peristaltic pump ideal for dry, abrasive or viscous sticky liquids which would cause serious issues for other types of pump.
7. Accessories not Required
Unlike other pump designs, peristaltic pumps don’t need ancillaries like pressure-loading valves, check valves, filters, dip tubes or level controls to operate effectively.
All of these factors made it an easy decision to select the peristaltic anti-foam injection pump for this application. As the pump was also being mounted on a skid we knew space was of great importance. So we incorporated a herringbone gearbox into the design which enabled the motor to be mounted vertically.
If you have a chemical transfer application requiring the transfer of hazardous or flammable liquids and aren’t sure which pump to specify, contact North Ridge Pumps on 01773 302 660, email sales@northridgepumps.com or visit www.northridgepumps.com to see how we can help.
North Ridge Pumps
- 01773302660
- sales@northridgepumps.com
- http://www.northridgepumps.com
- North Ridge House 3 Chrysalis Way Eastwood Nottinghamshire NG16 3RY GB
About us
North Ridge Pumps are an independent manufacturer and distributor of pumps. Having been established since 1998, we have a vast array of experience having become accustomed to supplying pumps for most processes.
We work within a range of industries both UK and Internationally, specifying pumps for a wide variety of applications from the transfer of corrosive and aggressive chemicals, to dewatered sludge, viscous grease, resin, glues, food and Seawater.
Our pumps range from standard centrifugal and multistage pumps, to immersed and process overhung solid handling pumps. We also supply a wide range of positive displacement pumps including Vane, Piston, Progressing Cavity and Peristaltic enabling us to specify more than one solution for your application, but also ensuring the majority of applications remain within our reach.
We offer the following services:
Technical support – We know at times pump selection is difficult. Pump selections are made with confidence by technical sales engineers who understand your process, ensuring equipment is engineered beyond your needs.
To select the correct technical solution for your requirement, longevity of design is prioritised. If there are existing issues you need assistance with, we work with you to solve these which could be high maintenance costs, frequent service periods, repeated equipment breakdown leading to lost revenue, inconsistent flow rates, clogging or where pumped product is inconsistent.
Application experience – Due to our 20 years of application experience we work with you to ensure our pumps operate according to your desired application. Our experience means we have most likely provided a solution for a similar process previously. With proven results, we know how to achieve your outcome sooner.
As our pumps are completely configurable, we design pumps with materials according to your requirement, and to your required duty point. Pumps are engineered specifically for your process whether they be baseplate mounted, within a mobile frame or in kit form with couplings, hoses, and dispensing nozzle.
Industry knowledge – We have a thorough understanding of a range of industries through experience from supplying the offshore oil and gas market, to paper mills, chemical plants and food manufacturers to name a few.
We not only understand the importance of downtime but also what each process requires and how small design improvements specific to the nature of your industry and application can reduce downtime, facilitate maintenance and improve longevity.
If you have a process or application you require a pump for, or a process which requires improving, get in touch to see how we can help.
What we do in a nutshell
Pump Specification & Supply
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