When traditional depth media filters are combined with
separators and cyclones, as is often the case with wet gas, the
result can be little more than a very expensive array of under
performing filtration technologies.
How to take out black powder
Despite the difficulties of managing black powder contamination,
it is simply too destructive to ignore.
Calgary based Black Powder Solutions (BPS) has taken on
the challenge. BPS has designed and manufactures the most
advanced environmentally friendly industrial magnetic separation
technology on the market. It has won international praise from
customers for its results.
The Black Powder Magnetic Separator System is currently
capable of taking out 99+% of black powder (ferrous and non-
ferrous) down to sub-micron levels. It was developed as a stronger
alternative to traditional filtration and as a definitive yes to the
question: “is anybody going to do anything about black powder?”
The solution builds on the effectiveness of magnetic (vs
depth media) filtration. It utilises rare earth technology (for more
powerful magnetic fields) to increase its separation strength. In
natural gas and hydrocarbon transmission lines, it successfully
enables the separation of black powder during operation, with no
flow restriction, to sub-micron levels.
Self-cleaning with minimal maintenance and negligible
consumables, the automated systems do not require increased
horsepower to maintain flow velocities. They operate redundantly
in isolated locations and can be managed remotely with
electronic communications.
Recommended for employment before compressor, metering
and pumping stations as well as chemical gas plants and refineries,
BPS products will result in increased operational time, reduced
maintenance costs and clean product for end users. In addition to
custom ‘enterprise’ solutions, the product line currently includes:
BPS automatic separator system
This is a full system approach to removing black powder from
natural gas and hydrocarbon fluid lines to sub-micron levels with
minimal flow restriction. Safe and effective, it is the solution of
choice for commercial gas infrastructure, including large-scale
power generation systems. Solutions are custom designed.
BPS scrubbers
Designed for inline filtration on rotating equipment, scrubbers are
installed to remove black powder contamination prior to existing
filtration, pumps or return lines.
BPS separators
With new, powerful, rare earth magnetic technology, separators
protect the pump and components, retain flow rates and
eliminate black powder.
BPS sampling stations
Installed on transmission lines, these slipstream stations sample
flow to remove black powder contamination, and to indicate how
much of it is flowing through your transmission line.
BPS dispenser filters
These filters remove black powder contamination before fuelling
engines for mobile and stationary equipment, furnaces and power
plant applications.
International results
EDP is Portugal’s power generation and distribution leader, with
major, additional business operations in Spain, Latin America, the
US, Brazil, Africa and Macau.
In March 2014, EDP Gás in Porto, Portugal was experiencing
high volumes of black powder plugging off the traditional depth
media filter systems on its 6 in. gas transmission line, flowing
2500 - 3616 m
3
/hr.
This meant poor quality product and jeopardised system
components. Due to the situation, EDP decided to install a
magnetic separator prior to the filters on the line.
Arlindo Pinto dos Santos, EDP’s Technical Director, is “pleased
with the overall performance of the solution,” having removed
95% of the black powder contamination during the first week
after installation.
EDP’s Return on Investment will continue with reductions in
the cost of maintenance, labour and replacement parts as well as
delivery of a cleaner product.
In 2008 in Northern Italy, high levels of black powder
contamination were found in the glycol circulation pumps at the
Stogit Forma Gas Storage Compression Station. The contaminants
were too fine for the existing, traditional Y-strainers to remove.
These Y-strainers were installed before the pumps.
Alex Priori of Renox (BPS’s distributor in Italy) suggested
installing magnetic separators on the Y-strainers of six pumps as a
test to remove the black powder.
While these six pumps have operated without incident since
installing the products, the others have experienced breakdowns.
BPS has also delivered black powder separation solutions
to Brazil’s CTDUT Pipeline Technology Centre; Italy’s largest gas
company, Snam Rete; and Texas, US based Transmontaigne. BPS
has finetuned its filtration capabilities in a number of additional
areas outside of natural gas management. Its hydrocarbon fluid
and rotating equipment filtration solutions, for example, have
elicited favourable response from companies that include CTDUT
(Brazil), Kinder Morgan (Canada), Petrobras (Brazil), Taminco (US)
and Alliance Pipeline (Canada), among others.
Figure 3.
Magnetic separators can be used in upstream,
midstream and downstream applications.
130
World Pipelines
/
AUGUST 2015
