1 Article – Diversifying level measurement technology in the LNG industry
Diversifying level measurement technology
in the LNG industry
By Tai Piazza, Refining Industry Manager, VEGA Americas
Cryogenic processes and applications place high
demands on level measurement instrumentation.
Any sensor or transmitter must be robust
enough to handle low dielectric fluids, volatile
liquid surface conditions, and have the ability to
withstand the high demands of potential thermal
shock. The LNG, or liquified natural gas, industry
experiences these challenges every day.
Considered to be a cleaner, more environmentally friendly
alternative to oil, natural gas has seen a recent boom thanks
to technological developments in production, storage, and
transportation. As infrastructure and new innovations have
made natural gas a more economically feasible energy source,
worldwide demand and production have grown. Fortunately,
level measurement technology has grown with it, enabling
upstream, midstream, and downstream companies to safely
maximize vessel usage and optimize their processes.
The LNG industry has traditionally relied on floats, displacer
technologies, and differential pressure for level measurements.
However, these devices are prone to measurement errors
because of mechanical wear and tear as well as fluid density
changes. As a result, newer facilities are being engineered
and built with newer, more modern level measurement
technologies and at the same time, older facilities are
upgrading and adapting.
2 Article – Diversifying level measurement technology in the LNG industry
Since natural gas extraction, processing, and transportation
use complex processes involving extreme temperatures,
pressures, or both, level measurements are rarely a one-size-
fits-all. A single facility may need to employ multiple different
technologies for level measurements throughout its operation.
This paper will highlight a few of those technologies, their
uses, and advantages: 80 GHz radar, guided wave radar, and
vibration point level switches.
Isolated, non-contact level measurements in
storage tanks
Filling and emptying large LNG storage tanks are lengthy
processes, so any downtime is time and money lost. Since
mechanical level measurement instrumentation is often
associated with high maintenance costs, they reduce the
efficiency of any operation.
To further complicate matters, natural gas is stored in its
liquid form at temperatures of -162°C or colder. Variations
from this temperature alter the product’s density, and any
change in density can result in measurement errors when
using pressure measurements for level.
These obstacles can easily be overcome with an electronic
80 GHz radar sensor mounted on a ball valve for isolation.
Radar sensors make accurate level measurements despite
any changing densities, and radar sensors with 80 GHz
transmission frequencies use a hyper-focused signal to deliver
a level measurement in the tightest of spaces, including ball
valves. Radars like VEGA’s VEGAPULS 64 not only use 80
GHz technology, but they use more sensitive electronics,
which enable the sensor to detect a wider range of signals,
including those returning from a poorly reflective product
like LNG.
The ball valve on an LNG storage tank serves to isolate the
instrument from an ongoing, potentially hazardous process.
In the rare instance the radar sensor requires maintenance,
operators can simply close the ball valve and remove the
sensor – all while the storage tank continues to fill or empty
without interruption.
Measuring sudden level changes in surge drums
Surge drums are scattered throughout any LNG processing
facility, guaranteeing a steady flow between process units all
while separating liquid out of gas. A level measurement in
this vital application ensures the surge drum continues to
operate at peak capacity without any liquid carryover that
could potentially damage downstream equipment.
The environment inside a surge drum is volatile, and rapid
level changes are the norm. Heavy vapors and an array
of liquids are constantly entering the vessel, which cause
temperature and pressure changes in addition to liquid
density fluctuations. Guided wave radar technology has
proved to be most effective at outputting accurate, reliable
level measurements in this type of application.
Guided wave radar sensors have no moving parts, which
eliminates the possibility of any mechanical failure. The
technology has the added ability to measure interface
applications if necessary. Measurements are immune to any
vapors in the air as well as changing temperatures, pressures,
and densities. Installation is simple with flexible mounting
options, either inside the vessel itself or inside a bypass
chamber or bridle for an isolated measurement that doesn’t
affect the process.
3 Article – Diversifying level measurement technology in the LNG industry
A little preparation in selecting the right guided wave radar
sensor can save time during startup later. First and foremost,
technicians should confirm they select a sensor capable
of withstanding the surge drum’s high pressures. VEGA’s
VEGAFLEX 86 easily falls within these specifications, and if
the required process data is available, these sensors can arrive
on site preassembled, preadjusted, and ready for installation.
Pump control and overfill protection in the
recondenser with point level vibration switches
In any LNG operation, boil-off gas (BOG) is inevitable, and
efficient operations send this BOG to a recondenser. The
recondenser liquifies the BOG and uses a special pump to
recirculate the LNG back into storage.
Without any level measurement controls, overfills result in
severe safety risk to personnel, environmental damage, and
economic losses. Because of the risks associated with the
recondenser, all instrumentation must comply with overfill
safety rules and regulations.
When recondenser levels drop too low, the pump runs dry,
resulting in damages. Repairing or replacing the pump are
costly and time consuming. And without a pump on the
recondenser, the complete processing unit could be forced
to shut down.
Any point level sensor must be able to withstand the high
pressures and cryogenic temperatures associated with the
recondenser. A vibrating fork point level switch like VEGA’s
VEGASWING 66 is the type of robust sensor necessary
for this task, and it complies with all API 2350 guidelines
for overfill safety. This point level switch, when paired with
a controller like the VEGATOR 121, can provide overfill
alarming along with proof testing that can provide online
function tests, confirming the switch is still operating properly.
The push button test function using VEGA’s VEGATOR 121
evaluates damage to the vibrating forks, their frequency and
amplitude, and even the incoming power. Testing functions
like these eliminate the need for manual instrumentation
inspections, giving operators peace of mind and keeps
the recondenser operational, and by extension, the entire
LNG terminal.
Multiple level measurement technologies for
safe, efficient operations
As the world continues to search for energy sources with
fewer emissions, natural gas will continue to be a part of the
energy puzzle that powers our world. It’s crucial for every
operation in the supply chain – from extraction to processing
to transportation – to be as efficient as possible to meet the
world’s energy needs. Reliable, accurate level measurement
instrumentation is a part of this solution.
With diverse processes and conditions, it only makes sense
for operators and technicians to take advantage of the diverse
level measurement technologies available today. Some level
measurements may be better suited for non-contact radar, so
the sensor can more easily be isolated from the process using
a ball valve. Measurements in bypass chambers may require
guided wave radar technology. And sometimes, robust
vibrating point level switches can provide overfill protection
and vital pump controls.
When choosing a measurement technology for a specific
application, consulting level measurement experts like VEGA
can provide insight and experience to help operators make
better decisions. VEGA level measurement instrumentation
can be found at many of the world’s largest and most modern
LNG processing facilities along the United States Gulf Coast.
VEGA’s robust level measurement instrumentation provides
essential information for safe and efficient operation.
VEGA Americas, Inc
4170 Rosslyn Drive
Cincinnati OH 45209 USA
1-800-FOR-LEVEL
americas@vega.com
www.vega.com