Use Metering Stations Along Your Pipeline? 3 Things You Should Regularly Be Doing
If you're in charge of a pipeline system, you've got a lot of things that need your attention. Overlooking the metering stations measuring the flow of gas throughout the system is not uncommon, but if something goes wrong at those stations, you may rely on faulty data or have to shut down the entire system until problems are fixed. To make sure you don't have to do that, ensure that you or someone on your staff is doing the following regularly.
Replacing Batteries
These stations are typically not in areas where there are a lot of people or in areas you can get to easily. In fact, that's why they can be monitored so irregularly. For that reason, batteries running the stations can run down in power until it's absolutely necessary that they be replaced. Without the battery, a station will stop sending information, and that could affect the whole pipeline. Therefore, have a set schedule to replace batteries at each station whether you think it is necessary or not. That will prevent gaps in data.
Inspecting Filters
Because you're focused on gas and the information you get from each station, forgetting about the filters is easy to do. When everything works right, the filters are silent components of the system. Even during cleaning, filters may just be set to the side instead of themselves being inspected. However, when filters become torn or clogged, that allows the flow of contaminated gas and distortions in the data you receive from a particular metering station. Be certain that the person who cleans the meters also checks on the filters.
Re-Calibrating Meters
The actual meters doing the work at these stations along your pipeline should also be re-calibrated on a regular basis. As time goes on, it's not unusual for rust and particles to start to accumulate on and inside the meters, affecting their ability to work well. Because the meters are still working, you may not suspect that readings are in fact off. That can cause the regulators adjusting the system to respond poorly. Therefore, re-calibrating meters is something that should happen often, especially after changing a filter or battery.
These tasks are necessary if you hope to keep your metering stations functional. To get professional help with these things and to ensure that they're done, you may wish to work with a pipeline management company, like claritysoft, who can handle these and other issues related to your system.
