What’s on a Blending Skid?

A blending skid consists of various instruments and components that work together to facilitate the blending process. The configuration may vary by industry, but the following are common components found on blending skids:

Storage Tanks or Silos:
These containers store materials like liquids, powders, or granules. They hold the required volumes of each component, which provides easy access and controlled dispensing.

Metering Devices:
These instruments measure the flow rates of components during blending. Commonly used devices include flow meters, mass flow controllers, and volumetric devices. They ensure accurate blend ratios, which are essential for process consistency.

Control Valves:
These valves regulate the flow of materials through the system. They can be manually or automatically operated, allowing precise control over flow rates and blending ratios. Additionally, actuation can be pneumatic, hydraulic, or electric, depending on the system requirements.

Pumps:
Pumps move liquids or slurries from storage tanks to the blending skid. They create the pressure and flow rates needed to ensure efficient blending, contributing to smooth operations.

Mixers:
Mixers, such as agitators or static mixers, blend the components for uniform distribution and homogeneity. They can either be placed in-line or inside blending tanks, depending on the process design.

Sensors and Transmitters:
These instruments monitor parameters like temperature, pressure, level, and pH during blending. By providing real-time feedback to control systems, they allow for continuous process adjustment and optimization.

Control System:
The control system integrates all instruments and components, allowing automated regulation of flow rates, blend ratios, and other parameters. As a result, the system ensures consistency throughout the blending process.

Safety Devices:
Pressure relief valves, emergency stop buttons, and alarms ensure safe operation. They protect against overpressure or hazardous conditions, helping to comply with safety regulations and preventing system failures.

The specific components of a blending skid depend on factors such as the application, industry standards, and material properties.

When selecting flow meters for blending skids, the choice depends on various factors, including material characteristics, accuracy requirements, and budget. Below are common types of flow meters used:

Differential Pressure (DP) Flow Meters:
These meters measure flow rate using the pressure difference across a constriction in the flow path. While they are simple and cost-effective, they may require compensation for non-ideal fluids or varying conditions. However, they remain a popular choice for many applications.

Magnetic Flow Meters:
These meters utilize Faraday’s Law of electromagnetic induction to measure flow in conductive liquids. They are accurate, provide low-pressure drops, and resist corrosion, making them suitable for challenging environments.

Coriolis Flow Meters:
These meters measure mass flow by detecting the deflection of fluid through vibrating tubes. Known for their high accuracy, they perform consistently across a range of fluid properties and are ideal for both liquids and slurries.

Ultrasonic Flow Meters:
These meters use ultrasonic signals to measure flow. They come in two types: Doppler and transit-time meters. Since they do not contact the fluid, they are ideal for clean, non-conductive fluids, offering non-intrusive and reliable measurements.

Volumetric Flow Meters:
Positive displacement and turbine meters directly measure the fluid volume passing through. Positive displacement meters are well-suited for viscous liquids, while turbine meters excel with clean liquids at high flow rates.

Also check out, “Blending Skid“, “Blending Technology“