Temperature plays an important role in oil and gas production.
The temperatures of gas, oil and water are all measured in many production vessels; heat is monitored during various forms of separation, and thermostats can be combined with pilots to create safety shut-down controls.
It’s a critically important production condition to monitor and control, so let’s take a closer look at some of the products and features of Kimray Temperature Controllers.
Products
Kimray Temperature Controllers include the standard Thermostat (often called a T12), Pilot Guard, and Indirect Shut-Down.
Let’s look at the features that make these products useful to producers worldwide.
Standard Temperature Controller Features
Direct or Indirect Acting
Kimray temperature controllers can be direct or indirect acting and can be converted from one to the other simply by switching the supply and vent ports.
For direct acting, when temperature rises above your set point, the controller will have a pneumatic output. For example, if a direct acting temperature controller is operating a fail-close burner valve, when the temperature rises above set point, it will close the burner valve, cutting off the fuel to the burner, bringing down the temperature.
For indirect acting, when temperature goes below your set point, the controller will have a pneumatic output.
Zero Emission Capable
A temperature controller requires supply pressure to operate. When it vents, that supply pressure is released into the atmosphere.
To avoid venting natural gas, compressed air or nitrogen can be used for the temperature controller supply pressure when used to operate a High Pressure Control Valve.
Gas or Liquid
While it's typically used in liquid applications, the probe itself can sense gas or liquid.
Base Assemblies / Snap, Throttle and Manual Reset Packages
The base assembly Thermostat has two options– standard and high temperature.
- T12: -30°F to 400°F
- HT12: -30°F to 750°F
By combining the base unit thermostat with various pilots, filters and tubing, packages can be created for snap or throttle, direct or indirect, manual reset and more, depending on your specific application.
For example, a T12 packaged with a manual reset pilot creates a safety device called a high-temperature indirect shut-down.
Ease of Repair
Operators can easily install simple product repair kits to ensure accurate temperature control for years to come.
Combined with a Separable Socket, repairs and maintenance are even easier.
Separable Sockets (Thermowells)
When a Separable Socket is used, it allows you to remove the T12 from service without having to depressurize the vessel. This pressure-containing device can be installed into your vessel during the initial build or can be retroactively added.
Then the T12 is installed along with a high-temperature grease.
Pilot Guard
Pilot Guards are the final category of Kimray Temperature Controllers. There are two options, which only differ in probe length.
Pilot Guards are used as a pilot safety shut-down. The probe monitors the pilot flame, and if it goes out, the pressure decreases to zero, blocking supply gas from entering the rest of the system.
REady for a deeper dive?
To dive further into the applications and capabilities of Temperature Controllers, watch our video Temperature Controllers: Beyond the Basics.
