Process Flow Solutions for Downstream & Midstream Operators
Across terminals, refineries, and petrochemical facilities, electric motors drive the equipment responsible for moving, cooling, mixing, and processing hydrocarbons. Yet many of these systems still rely on fixed-speed motors combined with valves, dampers, bypasses, or other mechanical means to regulate the process. Converting these applications to variable speed can provide greater process flexibility while reducing mechanical stress and improving equipment longevity.
VIDAR combines a severe-duty Class 1 Division 2 motor with embedded variable-speed intelligence. Its integrated architecture provides a simple way to introduce variable speed at the equipment level, modernizing existing processes without the footprint and complexity of a traditional VFD installation.
Fin Fans or Air-Cooled Heat Exchangers
Fin fans pull ambient air up and through finned heat exchanging coils to reject heat energy from their working fluid. Refineries can have hundreds of these on site, many of which use fixed-speed motors on an ON/OFF or staged control scheme.
VIDAR provides the opportunity to rapidly enhance these systems. With a built-in PID controller, VIDAR can automatically adjust fan speed to maintain a temperature below what downstream requirements dictate. By doing so, energy and mechanical stress are reduced while output stabilizes. When a fan is windmilling, VIDAR can bring its speed to zero before accelerating in the correct direction.
Bearing or seal upgrades are available upon request.
Transfer Pumps
Transfer pumps can be used to take intermediate products like amine to different treating units or finished products to blending tanks or trucks.
One supplier can provide the entire pump, VFD, and motor package on one skid ready for a multitude of services. Have VIDAR hold a header pressure for many end users, control flow rates, or execute tasks using the site’s SCADA system.
Slop Oil Skimmer Pumps
Slop oil skimmer pumps or fixed draw-off bottom pumps exist downstream of a blended tank of oil and water. Their job is to pump only water out of this tank and send it to wastewater treatment.
By pairing a conductivity sensor with VIDAR, it’s able to detect when oil has or is about to enter the line. It then can alert operators to close off the supply tank’s valve, ensuring only water evacuates.
Forced Draft Furnace Fans
These furnace or heater blowers inject ambient air into the combustion stream of equipment like thermal oxidizers and packaged steam boilers.
Remove dampers and save energy by controlling VIDAR’s speed, thus holding a proper air-to-fuel ratio as firing rates change. Set minimum speed limits to guarantee combustion airflow, skip up to five frequency bands to avoid system resonances, and receive broken coupling alerts.
Air Assisted Centrifugal Flare Blowers
Injects ambient air into the flare tip or waste gas stream to increase the oxygen-to-fuel ratio at the flame boundary, guaranteeing the full combustion of heavier hydrocarbon molecules. Beginning in 2022, EPA 40 CFR 60.18 and Subpart OOOOb mandated that 98% of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) must be destroyed (combustion efficiency). It too must be demonstrated not just at design flow rates but across all operating points.
No need for a custom NEMA 4X panel, VIDAR can adjust blower output and hold smokeless combustion as waste stream conditions change.
Tank Agitators
Mixers or agitators blend for heat transfer or consistency, separate or suspend solids, and disperse gas or liquid into other liquids. VIDAR’s inherent variable speed control stabilizes output with changing influent parameters.
Custom acceleration ramp rates and ‘S-curves’ prevent surpassing a gearbox’s accelerating torque limits. Stall and over torque detection can alert or safely manage changing viscosities. Parameters from transducers like tank level, temperature, pH, and concentration can be reported out from VIDAR to the plant’s control systems. Get the motor, VFD, and mixer all from one supplier.
Circulation Pumps
Potable water, cooling water, wash water, condenser water, and condensate pumps are all examples of circulating pumps.
Power and combine an analog flow, temperature, or pressure transmitter with VIDAR to change speed to match your system demands. Use Modbus TCP or Ethernet IP to execute tasks and receive feedback to your control center, such as a leakage warning.
