Black Powder Contamination
Black powder is the industry term for the abrasive, reactive contamination present in all hydrocarbons, hydrocarbon derivatives and process fluids. Black Powder precipitates out from chemical and bacterial corrosion and builds through the erosion of pipeline and process equipment.
Company
Black Powder Solutions (BPS) is a Canadian company that designs and manufactures patented magnetic separator systems as an inline, full-flow solution to removing Black Powder™ contamination from hydrocarbon fluids and gases, refined products, petrochemicals, process fluids and water.
Product
Magnetic separator systems have been in service globally for over 10 years and are proven to slash disposable filter costs, improve process reliability, extend pipe and machinery life, reduce safety hazards and minimize environmental footprint. These cleanable systems do not use disposable filters, do not wear out and are effective in capturing ferrous and non-ferrous particulates below 0.1 microns.
Targa was experiencing high levels of Black Powder™ (black powder) contamination at its Galena Park terminal in purity NGL products and loading, vapor handling and facility lubrication systems. Black powder is a type of particulate contamination that is common in hydrocarbons and it consists of both ferrous and non-ferrous elements and compounds, in varying amounts, typically in high concentrations of particles under 10 microns in size. It is difficult and expensive to remove with conventional filtration, and as a result it has significant negative impacts on oil and gas equipment and facilities; this includes pipelines, pumps, compressors, meters and so on, as well as product quality.
Since installation, the lube oil system has functioned at a significantly higher level due to the removal of the black powder contamination. The cost of the magnetic separator was $19,989, and the total quantifiable annual savings have been in excess of $300,000 per year.
