Have there been any cases of explosions or leaks during the use of flow meters?
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Hello, everyone. Today I watched a video about an explosion of a nozzle flow meter for a high-pressure steam pipeline in Dangyang, Hubei. The direct cause of the incident was the substandard quality of the integrated nozzle flowmeter used in pipeline installation, which led to the accident. The scene was extremely tragic. So I would like to ask the experts here: in our chemical production processes, have there been any instances of flow meters leaking or bursting due to quality issues or pipeline stress during their use? Thank you all for sharing 🙏
The 9.12 flash explosion accident in Dalian Petrochemical’s continuous reforming unit
The 9.12 flash explosion accident in Dalian Petrochemical’s continuous reforming unit
It’s very rare to hear about such things happening
1. When purchasing the primary components of a flow meter, proof of the material used for the body is required, as well as proof that welding inspection has been completed successfully. For important occasions, third-party inspection can be commissioned ； 2. The certificate of conformity for the primary valve itself; if it comes as part of a complete set, a welding certification is also required ； 3. Cases of unqualified venturi weld inspections have occurred on site.
In the past, there were incidents where oxygen tubes used with Veriba flow meters broke, resulting in fires in the tubing systems. I forgot which one specifically.
The key here is to ensure the quality of the materials, as once the flow meter is installed, it is exposed to the same pressures and temperatures as the main pipeline. If the material chosen for the flow meter is inappropriate, or if the product quality is poor, there is a risk of explosion in high-temperature and high-pressure conditions. This shouldn’t be a problem with the electronic part of the flow meter; it’s due to physical reasons.
Material certification, on-site spectral testing where possible, weld inspection certificates; the wall thickness of the flow meter must be consistent with that of the process pipe, and welding of different types of steel is not allowed. Nowadays, special equipment inspection certificates are required for all boiler main steam flow meters
Are there any articles on leaks in flowmeter pressure tap valves? Cases are also fine