Keeping the Balance at All Levels
On floating platforms, a stable and upright position of the drilling and extracting facilities in the water is important for the safety of the crew and the equipment. Oil and gas platforms or FPSO ships with several thousand tons of weight must be balanced exactly. Load shifts due to varying distribution of the extracted raw material as well as external effects from wind and waves must not compromise the stability of the structure in the water.
Stabilization is mainly achieved by the use of seawater in ballast tanks. These tanks are filled or emptied depending on the mass distribution on the platform or ship. The level measurement in the ballast tanks must be both accurate and resistant to the corrosive effects of seawater in order for the ballast system to function properly.
Level Measurement with the VEGAWELL 52
The level in the ballast tank is measured with the cost-effective The level in the ballast tank is measured with the cost-effective VEGAWELL 52. This submersible hydrostatic pressure transmitter is designed to be installed directly in the ballast tank. The high overpressure rating of the ceramic measuring cell makes the VEGAWELL 52 immune to pressure shocks from waves. The PE-coated stainless steel housing and the PUR cable prevent corrosion caused by high salt concentration that can be present in ballast water.
For installation on segmented platforms and ships, submersible plug connectors specially developed for maritime applications are available.
