This procedure provides instruction for the cleaning of pipe provers prior to
calibration
PIPE PROVER CLEANING | PROCESS & CONTROL SYSTEM
Frequency As required by the calibration procedure
Procedure Meter provers used for refined products, such as motor spirit, diesel and
kerosene, should be flushed with fresh, clean water prior to commencement
of the calibration.
PIPE PROVER CLEANING
Crude oil and fuel oil provers should be cleaned from any oil, scale or
hydrocarbon products according to the following procedure:
1. Ensure the following items are available prior to commencement of the
cleaning exercise:
a. Sufficient quantity of diesel to fill the prover and 50% of the
reservoir.
b. Clean, fresh water supply.
c. A reservoir and pump with electrical isolator/starter.
d. Suitable hoses to circulate the system.
e. A non-foaming de-greasing detergent. Example, Sotin 2000,
Perolin PK800, or equivalent.
2. Drain all process fluids and isolate the prover by fitting blind flanges on
inlet and outlet pipework.
3. Install the pump to the reservoir outlet and a hose from the pump
discharge to the inlet calibration connection of the pipe prover.
4. Connect the return hose from the outlet calibration connection of the
pipe prover to the reservoir.
5. Fill the system with diesel by starting the pump and venting at the
prover high point vent valves.
6. With the prover and associated pipe work full and the reservoir
approximately half full, start the pump. Circulate the diesel, by cycling
the sphere interchange valve to move the sphere around the prover, a
minimum of eight trips, venting at the high point vent valves after each
trip.
7. Verify the movement of the sphere in the calibration section of the
prover by monitoring the operation of the detector switches. Detector
switch operation can be observed by indication, at the flow computer,
or by listening at the prover pipe adjacent to the detector.
8. Leave the prover full of diesel for a minimum twelve hours.
9. Circulate the diesel, by cycling the sphere interchange valve to move
the sphere around the prover, a minimum of four trips, venting at the
high point vent valves each trip.
10. Drain the diesel from the system and open the closure to inspect the
prover lining.
11. If, by observation, crude oil contamination is still present it may be
necessary to repeat the diesel cleaning process two or three times
before the prover is ready for the water and detergent solution.
12. Fill the prover with fresh water from the reservoir.
13. After filling the system with fresh water, ensure that the reservoir is
approximately half full. Add the correct quantity of de-greasing
detergent, according to the detergent manufacturer’s instructions.
14. Circulate the water and detergent solution, by cycling the sphere
interchange valve to move the sphere around the prover, for a
minimum of eight trips, venting at the high point vent valves each trip.
Leave the prover for a minimum twelve hours with the water and
detergent solution in the system.
15. Circulate the water and detergent solution, by cycling the sphere
interchange valve to move the sphere around the prover, a minimum
four trips, venting at the high point vent valves each trip.
16. Drain the system and re-fill with fresh water, venting at the high point
vent valves.
17. Circulate the fresh water, by cycling the sphere interchange valve to
move the sphere around the prover, until, by observation, the discharged water is clean.
18. If traces of the detergent solution remain it may be necessary to re-fill
the system once or twice to achieve clean discharged water.
19. The prover is now ready for calibration. Leave full of clean water if
there is a delay.