A South American soap manufacturer specialises in certified organic and sustainable soaps and cosmetics made from palm oil. The company also produces and processes sustainable (RSPO-IP) palm kernel oil and its by-products within a fully traceable supply chain.

For shipping purposes, the company operates a truck loading station to transport crude palm oil from the palm fruit processing plant to various destinations, including local customers. A single dispatch system has been implemented to enable the simultaneous loading of multiple trucks. The loading process takes place at a station equipped with bays that allow up to three trucks to be loaded with palm kernel oil at the same time, ensuring high accuracy.

Application Data

To ensure quality control and efficient tanker truck loading, accurate and long-term stable measurement of the palm oil flow rate and density is essential. The company was therefore looking for high-performance flow instrumentation with a proven track record in loading applications. The company also aimed to optimise its mass balance and enhance inventory management, ensuring traceability at all stages of the process. The flowmeter was required to provide reliable data for quality control, facilitating better decision-making and streamlined inventory management. Additionally, easy integration with the existing automation system was a key requirement for rapid implementation.

KROHNE supplied three OPTIMASS 6400 Coriolis flowmeters. These flowmeters are designed for high accuracy mass flow and density measurement of palm oil and other vegetable oils. The twin bent tube flowmeters were provided with size stainless steel measuring tubes (S80). Unlike many other flowmeter types, OPTIMASS 6400 Coriolis mass flowmeters do not rely on an undisturbed flow profile and can be used without the need for inlet and outlet runs. This allowed the KROHNE flowmeter to be installed in the confined space of the truck loading system.

The customer has also equipped the flowmeters with its own electrical trace heating on both sides to increase the flowability of the palm oil and minimise pump capacity. However, KROHNE could also have supplied bespoke heating jacket and insulation for the Coriolis meters ex works on request.

The installation was designed for seamless integration into the existing loading system, allowing each truck to be efficiently and reliably supplied from a single control point. To ensure the product remains within the required specifications, each flowmeter was configured with PROFINET to output mass flow rate and allow for real-time density monitoring.

The OPTIMASS 6400 flowmeters offer highly accurate and reliable truck loading, leading to significant improvements in overall process efficiency. The KROHNE instruments also help the operator improve mass balancing and inventory management. Real-time inline density measurement provides fast response times, enabling immediate adjustments.

As a result, the Coriolis meters ensure that palm oil consistently meets the high-quality standards set by the company. This in turn leads to reduced waste and fewer inventory inconsistencies. Additionally, the seamless integration of the flowmeters with the existing automation system lowers implementation costs, streamlines workflow, and enhances traceability of the palm oil.