Standing the test of time......
In today’s throwaway society, it's very rare that you can truly say something was built to “stand the test of time”.
Surely this term was invented for this set of Brodie birotor meters installed in a high capacity crude oil transfer system in Oklahoma. The name plate on these B103 meters pre-dates the relocation of the Brodie manufacturing facility to its present site in Statesboro, GA, meaning that they were built in the early 1950’s or 60+ years ago.
The Birotor technology has been the mainstay of upstream pipeline transportation for decades, can handle all the differing qualities of crude oil including paraffin wax and provides measurement stability in applications where other newer technologies have failed. Brodie International's aftermarket services manager, Todd Morrison was in town to carry out preventive maintenance and training, when he took this image and the opportunity to discuss the throughput of this installation with the end users technicians. With mean continuous flow rates of around 1,600 BPH, these meters each measure in excess of 250,000 barrels per week, or more than 1 million barrels per month or greater than 12 million barrels per year. Now multiply that by 60+ years of active service, then it’s safe to assume, over there lifetime, each one of these 8 inch meters has measured over 700 million barrels of crude oil. Talk about a return on your initial investment!
Got to be a one-off right? Wrong. I have traveled the world representing Brodie and have seen 100’s of similar successful installations, where the Birotor meter outlasts anything else in these high capacity application. A wise engineer once told me “Invest wisely and you will only do it once”.With the bi-annual service accomplished and the meters field calibrated with no significant shift in meter factor realized, this is a perfect demonstration that the Birotor meter technology can really stand the test of time.
Especialista en Medición y Manejo de Petróleo y Gas / Auditoria ISO 10012 / SAT Anexo 30 - 31 / Energy Advisor / Calibración
4 年Very good flowmeter, I have performed tests for the statistical control of the meter factor of several flowmeters and the results have been within the requirements of the API MPMS.
BD Director S & SE Asia,
4 年Living examples of serviceability leading to 'lived ever after' investments and compelling reason to consider serviceability with performance as an important factor to derive true value.
Presidente y fundador de SYZ | Mentor | Petróleo y Energía | Soluciones para manejo y control de fluidos industriales | Instrumentación, Automatización, Mecánica, Eléctrica | Innovación e Industria 4.0
4 年Comparto esta perla de medidores Brodie International, dignos de estar en un museo, de más de 50 a?os que estaban en proceso de calibración en fabrica, y pasaron sin ningún inconveniente. Fíjense en las registradoras!!!
Full Service Systems Integrator & Process Specialist for Manufacturers, Muni's, Campuses w/ Process Control & Instrumentation. Primary focus Emerson Rockwell Allen Bradley Siemens Honeywell ABB PLC / DCS in the Southeast
4 年Thanks for sharing this impressive story of meter longevity Darren. I like your advice - A wise engineer once told me “Invest wisely and you will only do it once”.
Regional Sales Manager at Brodie International
4 年Dependability in a throw-a-way world. Good products from a good company. Thanks for sharing!