Flowmeters help BearCat tame rubberised asphalt

Boulder, Colorado – BearCat Pumps of Phoenix, Arizona, is using high temperature Coriolis mass flowmeters from Emerson Process Management as part of its metering systems for rubberized asphalt, an extremely abrasive, high temperature and high viscosity fluid.

There are two stages in the rubberised asphalt production process where material is blended and then mixed. Measurement accuracy is critical to ensure the correct blend ratios are maintained.

BearCat previously used mechanical gear pumps for flow measurement, but the abrasive asphalt caused wear in the pumps, which allowed measurement accuracy to drift.

The company solved this problem by incorporating Emerson’s Micro Motion high temperature Coriolis meter into its metering systems, which also include a pump and a relief or bypass valve.

At start-up, heat and pressure are applied to the relief valve and sensor, allowing the asphalt to circulate. The sensor of the Coriolis meter is heated using heat-jacketed surfaces that are connected to the existing heating circuit and the complete sensor is then wrapped with an insulating cover.

Developed for harsh environments, the Micro Motion meter is suitable for process temperatures up to 350ºC. Its transmitter can be mounted remotely to protect it from the heat, and the sensor can be installed anywhere with no flow conditioning or straight pipe run required.

The Micro Motion ELITE unit features in-line meter verification, which enables BearCat’s customers to check the sensor tubes and electronics against original factory settings while the meter is in line and the process is flowing,

“Pumping rubberised asphalt is a very challenging application that combines heat, pressure and an abrasive material,” said Kevin Hill, president of BearCat Pumps. “Our experiences with other technologies have confirmed Micro Motion high temperature Coriolis meters … consistently deliver the accurate readings our customers demand.”