389-Methanol Operations / 748
Met
h
anol
Op
erations
BOS-PRD-07.900609
4
.
2
.
4 L
oa
d
in
g
Met
h
anol
Loading methanol
Moor alongside the supplier or hold relative position on DP if applicable.
Make sure the supplier is aware of the quantity to deliver to avoid overflow. Consequences could be
disastrous. High level 95% alarm
shall
be checked before the operation.
Double check PV valves are operational.
Connect the methanol loading hose.
The methanol loading hose
should
be filled with nitrogen by the supplier (chemical tanker, shore installation
…) who blows the line at the same time to make sure there’s no obstruction on the system.
There
should
not be any pressure when the tank is empty and with minimum loading rate. In any case, if the
pressure rises on the system, it means that there is an obstruction further on the line to the tank, or PV valve
is stucked closed.
Usually, tanks are loaded 85% of methanol. Bridge monitors tank level gauge.
Start at minimum rate, around 10 m3/h, and increase progressively to maximum rate (120 m3/h is usually the
rate bared by supply vessels). Minimum rate
should
be kept the time necessary to be confortable with the
loading and all safety checks.
The pressure valve may remain slightly opened at times because of increase of pressure inside the methanol
tank. Make sure the pressure valves are not stucked in opened position, this would result in waste of
nitrogen. Indeed, if the PV valve remains opened, the pressure drops to 0 bar and it becomes necessary to
fill with additional N2 to compensate the loss of pressure. This compensation, automatically done at the PV
Valve line, is called padding.
Version 04. Original date: 22/06/2012. Version date: 31/12/2014. Valid version only on QMS site. Uncontrolled document when printed.
Procedure prepared by: BOS Head of Operations. Approved by: BOS Head of Operations. Validated by: BOS Quality Representative.
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