Pentagon's successful chemistry with KROHNE

6th August 2003

The outstanding performance of KROHNE flow and level meters employed by Pentagon Chemicals in its manufacturing process has resulted in repeat orders and Pentagon recommending the equipment to other users.

Workington-based Pentagon manufactures speciality, performance and fine chemicals and is a long-standing user of KROHNE products. It relies on KROHNE's H 250 variable area meters to provide simple yet accurate flow measurement of additives being batched to its chemical reactors, whilst KROHNE's BM 100 and BM 102 TDR level meters play a vital role in monitoring the levels of Pentagon's finished products stored inside tanks. 

The KROHNE equipment installed at Pentagon's state-of-the art multi-plant facility measures a range of products from water and gas to aggressive liquids including Methyl Bromide and Phosphoric Acid.  Careful control of each chemical reaction is vital, so each of the H 250 flowmeters must provide consistently reliable and accurate readings.

Pentagon Engineering Manager Simon Savage comments,  "Adding chemicals to the reactor too quickly could cause an exothermic reaction, adding the chemicals too slowly can cause solidification and also slow the whole production process down."

The plant often deals with highly aggressive substances that arrive in tanks and remain enclosed throughout the entire process. Pentagon is so impressed by the accuracy of the KROHNE flowmeters that they are relied on as the only means of monitoring the addition of the aggressive chemicals to the reactor. Their ability to withstand corrosion is also a key requirement in this role.

With over ½ million units installed world wide, KROHNE's H 250 is now accepted as the industry standard for variable area flowmeters.  It can be tailored to give accurate and reliable results in all process applications and its modular construction enables simple plug-in upgrading of optional features such as limit switches, flow totalisers, high temperature adapter and transmitters. To reduce process interruption and downtime, options can be added at any time without having to re-calibrate the instrument.

Pentagon also uses KROHNE's BM 100 and BM 102 reflex radar TDR level meters to measure levels of  amines in tanks as well as the finished products, such as crude fuel additive.

The TDR BM 100 is ideal for accurate and repeatable level  measurement of liquids and powders and is immune to dust, vapours and foam, whilst the 2-wire TDR level meter, the BM 102, provides easy installation and keeps cabling costs at a minimum.  Both meters are suitable for all tank shapes and are virtually maintenance free.

"We regularly work with KROHNE," adds Simon,  "KROHNE's equipment has always performed reliably and accurately and we've never hesitated to use it wherever it suits a particular application."