Anything that can reduce the turnaround time for marine vessels in port improves their overall operational efficiency. In an earlier post, More Accurate Marine Fuel Measurement, we highlighted how bunker fuel measurements could be improved with mass flow measurements.
Emerson’s Micro Motion team has created a 3:12 Youtube video, Emerson Micro Motion Marine Vessel Operating Guide, which succinctly describes the steps in the bunker fuel custody transfer process. The mass-based flow measurement technology can be used for both loading and unloading fuel to provide mass balance across the supply chain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBl-aJtuVUM
The critical measurement components are sealed to help assure integrity. Before the custody transfer begins, both the bunker fuel tanker and receiving vessel personnel inspect these seals.
The video shows the sequence from initial inspection to verify the mass-flow measurement is zero and no alarms are present. The bunker fuel transfer lines contain air prior to fuel flow, but the Micro Motion meters can continue to accurately measure the flow in spite of the entrained air. How this is accomplished was the subject of an earlier post, Accurately Measuring Processes with Entrained Gas Conditions.
The sequence concludes with a post inspection of the seals, printing the receipt, attaching it to the bunker delivery note, and getting final signatures.
You can connect and interact with other flow measurement experts in the Flow track of the Emerson Exchange 365 community.
