When a well-respected Kansas oil refiner needed to implement a new sulfur dioxide emissions monitoring system for its crude oil vacuum heaters, the number-one concern was reliability. The E&I Project Engineer didn't need to search any further than the plant's existing incinerator stack.

Their incinerator stack had a Western Research Model 721 SO₂ analyzer from AMETEK Process Instruments that proved to be a very reliable piece of equipment, so they decided to acquire another for the crude oil heater application.

The customer discussed the application with Ted Schrein, an AMETEK sales representative with whom he worked on several prior instrumentation projects.

"Our customer needed a turnkey solution," explains Schrein. "He wanted an analyzer, sample-conditioning system, report generating software, and a shelter to install it in. And, he wanted to deal with a single vendor for the entire project."

AMETEK Process Instruments with its Model 914 Continuous Emissions Monitoring System offered the solution.

"Once our customer gave us the go-ahead for the project, Glen Bignell, a project leader with AMETEK Process Instruments at its Calgary, Alberta, manufacturing facility became involved," notes Schrein.

"Glen was very helpful and responsive to their needs and to all of their change requests. If a request involved a scope addition, Glen would document the request in an e-mail along with a cost estimate and then wait for customer approval before making the changes. He also offered cost-saving ideas for their consideration."

When the system was ready for factory acceptance testing, a senior plant maintenance technician from the refinery was sent to Calgary. The technician reported back on how easy it was to work with AMETEK and that AMETEK's personnel were more than willing to go out of their way to ensure customer satisfaction.

Upon delivery, refinery personnel examined the system and were very satisfied with the quality of the shelter and its equipment. The plant's technicians also were pleased that the shelter contained plenty of room to work on the equipment.

AMETEK provided start-up assistance and training from its sales and service facility in Houston, TX. AMETEK service technician Randy Clements was described as "very helpful" by those who worked on the start-up and training. The system passed its RATA testing on its first try.

"Overall it was a very successful project," notes Schrein. "It came in on target and on budget. Our customer was happy with its installation, start-up, and RATA test performance and said they would recommend us to anyone who needed a turnkey continuous emissions monitoring system for their plant or refinery."

Phone: (800) 222-6789
Fax: (302) 456-4444
E-mail: sales.info@ametek.com
Web: www.ametekpi.com
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