TECHNOLOGICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Measurement arrangement of EmulsionSENS and the resulting density profile

Two different arrangements

Aligned arrangement

Graphic EmulsionSENS in a desalter with aligned arrangement
  • Sources and detectors at same height
  • Output: Density values of each detector
  • Very precise point information
  • Density accuracy approx. 0.002 g/cm³
  • Cost effective

Staggered arrangement

Graphic EmulsionSENS in a desalter with staggered arrangement
  • Sources between detectors
  • Outputs: Density values of each detector and level of each layer
  • Precise information also between detectors
  • Reproducibility of the measured level values with accuracy of ± 25 mm
  • Configuration and visualization via transmitter unit

Optimal measuring arrangement

  • Non-contact measurement - Detectors and electronics have no contact with the interior of the vessel
  • Representative measurement due to high-energy gamma sources and a long measurement path in the product
  • Depending on requirements, two different arrangements (aligned or staggered) are available

 

Reliability and safety

  • Use under extreme process conditions possible
  • Redundant readings - density and level
  • Dose minimisation - Use of low activities and sources that can be retracted into flange mounted shields
  • Impervious to wall buildups

Like a dream

"Perfect design and great result. It’s performing like a dream! Many, many thanks to all of you for the focus and making it happen. Bye, bye iron".

‘a prominent British refinery’

SIL certified option

The SENSseries LB 480 density detectors used to measure density in the EmulsionSENS solution are available with a SIL 2 certificate. SIL 3 can achieved with redundant installation of two LB 480 detectors at each location. Berthold is the first manufacturer of SIL certified, radiometric low level, high level, continuous level, and density measurement systems. With these certified detectors, safe operation of critical processes is guaranteed.

More about SIL

 

Whitepaper "Refining the future"

This whitepaper delves into various level measurement technologies and their potential challenges, with a special focus on nuclear density profile systems. It explores how smarter desalter operations can enhance crude processing efficiency, reduce energy consumption and emissions and lower operational costs while improving output quality. Packed with insights and actionable strategies, this is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to achieve operational excellence and sustainability in refinery operations.

Get your copy

Detector retrofit program to improve your production

Especially in low radiation conditions, our highly sensitive detectors improve the signal to noise ratio, what is resulting in superior measurement performance compared to competing systems. Source replacement is costly, time consuming, and does not work towards a reduction in overall site source activity.

Berthold's retrofit solution

The EmulsionSENS system components

High sensitive scintillation detectors

Offering features such as 304 or 316 L housing materials and SIL 2/3 certification, the highly sensitive LB 480 detectors are the ideal density meters for this measurement setup. The number of detectors used depends on the measuring range and the desired resolution. For the correct positioning of the detectors on the vessel outer wall, a robust, tailor-made mounting structure is used. Due to this arrangement, the detectors and the electronics are easily accessible for assembly and are also unaffected by the process temperatures in the vessel itself. The local density values of the individual detectors can be transferred to the customer control system via a 4 ... 20 mA HART signal.

More about this detector

 

Dip tube

A dip tube is inserted inside the vessel to position the sources and prevent them contacting the vessel's contents. In order to ensure an almost identical distance between the dip tube or the source and the container inner wall over the entire measuring range, the geometry of the dip tube depends on the vessel orientation: For vertical vessels, a straight dip tube is used and for horizontally positioned vessels, a curved tube is used. Each dip tube is custom designed and is available in different materials.

Sources

The radiation sources are encapsulated gamma sources (Cs-137), which are installed in flexible rods. The number of sources or flexible rods is determined by the measuring range or the desired measuring arrangement.
Our sources are individually designed by our project engineers for each application, to minimize activity and doserate and optimize accuracy.

Go to sources

Shields

Berthold supplies a flange mounted shield into which the sources and flexible rods can be withdrawn and locked out for transport, storage, and to ensure the safety of workers needing to access the vessel. The height of the shields are minimized by using multiple flexible rods, but the shield effectiveness is maintained to minimize doserate. 

For more information about Berthold shields, please follow the link below.

More about shields

 

 

Transmitter LB 478

If the levels of the individual layers are required, the LB 480 density outputs are connected to an LB 478 transmitter and the sources and detectors are staggered vertically. Using sophisticated algorithms, this LB 478 unit determines the exact position of the individual layers and outputs level values as 4..20 mA HART signals. In this case, monitoring both densities and phase levels ensures redundant signal transmission.  The transmitter LB 478 also provides simple configuration of the system and a visual display of both the individual phase levels and various graphs.  

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