Flow metering modification for avoiding control valve cavitation in hydrocarbon industry

Abstract

This paper presents a practical technique for solving noise and vibration problems caused by control value cavitation in existing pipeline measurement system for condensate residue flow metering of an aromatics plant in hydrocarbon industry. A cause of cavitation in the control valve is due to change in the purpose of flow metering system from use for custody transfer measurement to use for normal process monitoring and control. In order to avoid damaging effects of cavitation, pipeline modification by installing a new monitoring and control system is proposed. Based on the recommended practice of International Society of Automation (ISA) for evaluating control valve cavitation, the evaluation results confirm that no incipient cavitation occurs in the selected control valve for new installation in the proposed modification under normal service conditions.