CALDON LEFM 280CiLT Ultrasonic Flow Meter

Cameron was the first company to develop an ultrasonic flow meter, the LEFM 280CiLT, for dynamic custody transfer of LNG. The LEFM 280CiLT low temperature ultrasonic flow meter has been voted the 2010 Innovation Award by the readers of Flow Control magazine. The LEFM 280CiLT meter offers many benefits for measuring LNG. The major advantage is the 8-path design. The two-plane arrangement of the eight acoustic paths makes the meter insensitive to velocity profile asymmetry and swirl. The LEFM 280CiLT does not require a flow conditioner and needs minimal straight runs of pipe upstream/downstream of the meter. In 2005 Cameron supplied an LEFM 280CiLT to a joint ExxonMobil/ConocoPhillips project designed to assess flow technologies for LNG projects. These tests confirmed the effect of swirl was equal and symmetrical between the two planes and that averaging the velocities between the 8-paths eliminated any bias due to swirl.

Being able to measure LNG with higher accuracy than traditional methods using the LEFM 280CiLT can result in real savings. The monetary value of the LNG on an average tanker is approximately $31.9MM, based on an average tanker size of 266K cubic meters and an April 2010 estimated value of LNG of $120/cubic meter. An overall improvement of just 0.10% in uncertainty by using the LEFM280CiLT can result in a potential savings of $31.9K per tanker load. The elimination of a flow conditioner lowers overall pressure loss which equates to additional annual savings in pumping costs or faster ship loading times.

Features:

• Full bore meter designed specifically for dynamic custody transfer of LNG
• Calibration methodology and uncertainty verified by NMi
• Available in 8-inch to 24-inch sizes
• Uncertainty of +/-0.16 to +/-0.18%
• OIML R117 (0.3 Class)