Critical Technical Advantages
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Elite Metrological Performance: The FLOWSIC900 is designed to reduce financial risk during large-scale LNG transfers. It adheres to the highest accuracy classes (OIML R117 Class 0.3), ensuring that billing for ship-to-shore or plant-to-tanker transfers is precise and defensible.
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Full Bore, Zero Pressure Drop: In LNG operations, pressure drops can lead to localized warming and the formation of gas bubbles (flashing), which causes measurement errors and increases Boil-Off Gas (BOG). The full-bore design of the FLOWSIC900 ensures an unobstructed flow path, minimizing BOG losses and maximizing pumping efficiency.
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Factory Thermal Pre-Insulation: Managing thermal gradients is critical in cryogenic applications. The meter comes with factory-fitted thermal insulation, which simplifies installation and ensures that the meter body remains at a stable, uniform temperature, protecting the accuracy of the ultrasonic signal.
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Cryogenic Ultrasonic Transducers: The device utilizes intrinsically safe transducers specifically designed to maintain acoustic integrity at extreme temperatures. These sensors are resilient to the thermal shocks common during the cooling and “loading” phases of LNG transfer.
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Remote Signal Processing Unit (SPU): To ensure easy access for maintenance and data retrieval, the processing electronics are housed in a remote SPU. This allows operators to perform commissioning and diagnostics in a convenient location away from the cryogenic pipework and potential hazardous zones at the meter body.
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Real-Time Diagnostics: Integrated diagnostic functions provide dynamic, real-time transparency. The system monitors signal quality and sound velocity, allowing operators to verify the liquid state and detect the onset of flashing or cavitation before it affects the measurement.
Detailed Technical Performance Matrix
| Specification | Technical Details and Ranges |
| Measured Medium | Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) |
| Accuracy Class | OIML R117 Class 0.3 / API MPMS Ch. 5.8 |
| Temperature Range | Down to -196 °C (-320 °F) |
| Measurement Principle | Ultrasonic transit-time (Multi-path) |
| Nominal Pipe Sizes | DN100 to DN600 (4″ to 24″) |
| Design Pressure | Up to 40 bar (higher on request) |
| Insulation | Factory-fitted cryogenic pre-insulation |
| Control Unit | Remote Signal Processing Unit (SPU) |
Primary Applications
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LNG Liquefaction Plants: Measuring the output of liquefaction trains for inventory and production balancing.
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Ship-to-Shore Custody Transfer: High-precision fiscal measurement during the loading and unloading of LNG carriers.
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LNG Storage Terminals: Monitoring flow between storage tanks and regasification units.
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LNG Bunkering: Accurate measurement for the refueling of LNG-powered vessels.
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Offshore FLNG/FSRU: Rugged, high-accuracy measurement for Floating Liquefied Natural Gas vessels and Floating Storage Regasification Units.
