Emerson has launched the TESCOM RC-X motorised injection rate control valve to support accurate, repeatable dosing of offshore chemicals to maintain flow assurance for refineries and decrease overall chemical injection costs
Flow assurance is essential to the design and operation of offshore production facilities, especially as the industry moves to deeper water and wells, longer tiebacks, and higher-temperature and higher-pressure reservoirs. Transitioning into these new environments leads to conditions that restrict flow, such as hydration, corrosion, or the buildup of wax, asphaltene, scale, and emulsion.
Refineries use chemical treatments to mitigate these blockages, but over- or under-injecting chemicals can cause detrimental effects. Over-injection can increase chemical consumption, resulting in costs and additional field trips to replenish chemical storage tanks. It can also cause adverse impacts on downstream processing or treatment programs, leading to contamination penalties. Whereas under-injection can be ineffective, risking mechanical integrity and production output.
Julia Villa, product marketing manager with Emerson’s fluid and motion control business, said, “Proper chemical dosing in deepwater and high-pressure/high temperature refining environments can prevent blockages and flow instability, helping to ensure optimum fluid behaviour, protect asset integrity and stimulate production.
“Specifically designed to work with Micro MotionTM Coriolis flow meters in offshore chemical injection processes, TESCOM RC-X motorised injection rate control valves enable accurate dosing that reduces downtime and chemical waste associated with over injection.”
With a short-stroke design of less than 1/8 of an inch, TESCOM RC-X control valves remain accurate up to 15,000psi and provide ultra-low flow rates of 0.02-500 litres per hour and repeatable function with 4-20mA control for precise flow assurance. Electric actuation eliminates air requirements, preferable when compressed air has become unavailable or unreliable.
Available in medium- and high-pressure models, modular TESCOM RC-X control valves are lightweight and compact, enabling smaller, lighter skid designs.
The valve also features fewer moving parts, reducing risk of mechanical failure over time, performing more consistently and requiring less maintenance.
With an IP67 rating and compliance with NACE MR0175, the valves are explosion-proof. Designed to meet a range of industry demands, Micro Motion Coriolis flow meters provide accurate, repeatable mass flow measurement for liquids, gases, and slurries.
