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Singapore, August 2012

Claus Weihermueller

Case Study: POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE (PET) Polycondenzation

Place for application relevant picture!

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Agenda

Customer and Case 1

Application Description 2

FLEXIM Solution 3

Customer Benefits 4

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PET – history and applications

PET is short for polyethylene terephthalate - the chemical name for polyester. PET is made by

combining ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid under high temperature and low vacuum pressure to

form a polymer chain. The resulting polyester polymer is extremely stable, tough and essentially inert.

PET is highly resistant to chemical or biological reaction with other substances. This non-reactive

quality is at the heart of PET's safety.

PET was first synthesized in the U.S. during the mid-1940s by DuPont chemists, who were searching

for polymers that could be used to make new textile fibers. DuPont would later brand these polyester

fibers as "Dacron."

In the late 1950s, researchers found a way to stretch a thin extruded sheet of PET to create PET film,

which today is used extensively as video, photographic and X-ray film, as well as for packaging films.

In the early 1970s, the technology was developed to allow for the blow-stretch molding of PET into

strong, lightweight and shatterproof bottles. In 1973, the PET bottle was patented and quickly gained

market acceptance. In 1977, the first PET bottle was recycled.

Today PET is one of the world's most commonly used, versatile and trusted materials. More than half of

the world's synthetic fiber is made from PET, and almost all individual-sized bottles of carbonated soft

drinks and water sold are made from PET resin.

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Customer and Case

Sail Cloth are typically made out of PET

resin – better known as polyester or the

brand name DRACON

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Agenda

Customer and Case 1

Application Description 2

FLEXIM Solution 3

Customer Benefits 4

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PTA

PET is made by combining ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid (PTA) under high temperature and

low vacuum pressure to form a polymer chain.

Terephthalic acid is the organic compound with formula C6H4(COOH)2. This colourless solid is a

commodity chemical, used principally as a precursor to the polyester PET, used to make clothing and

plastic bottles.

By 2006, global purified terephthalic acid (PTA) demand had exceeded 30 million tons / annum.

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Application – PET polymerization process

FIT

PTA, Glycol and Catalyst

are mixed in the

esterification reactor.

From there the high viscose

slurry mixture is pumped

into the polycondensation

reactor

The Flow Measurement is

important to monitor the

pump performance and to

control the batch.

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Application – earlier used Flow Technology

Initial installed technology - Coriolis Omega Tube 3” size

The PTA /Glykol / Catalyst mixture is a high viscosity slurry.

Due to the low flow velocity (of 0.2m/s in 6” size) particles tended

to foul the Omega tubing causing the Coriolis meter to drift

Another vendor of Coriolis meter promoted his Straight Tube

design which consists of much shorter tubes without bends and

was supposed not to accumulate particles

Nevertheless the Straight Tube Coriolis design has to be taken

out of the process to be cleaned monthly.

RECRON was searching for a flow meter technology which can

operate long time without being affected by particles and

viscosity.

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Agenda

Customer and Case 1

Application Description 2

FLEXIM Solution 3

Customer Benefits 4

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Application - Measurement Point

INSTALLATION of GRK Transducers in DIRECT MODE on 6” SCHED10 stainless steel pipe

Diagnosis values obtained PTA/Glycol mixture

SNR: pink color (around 35 dB)

SCNR: blue color (around 42 dB)

Gain: green color (around 60 dB)

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Solution - Performance

Measured flow velocity stable at 0.20 m/s

The medium has shown to have a high viscose

signal damping. The measurement is possible with

Lambwave in single (direct) path only

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Agenda

Customer and Case 1

Application Description 2

FLEXIM Solution 3

Customer Benefits 4

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Solution - Results

RECRON Malaysia is operating 4 PET plants with 2 polymerization reactors each.

Recron has made budget to install the first 2 Clamp On meters in late 2012 to proof operational

reliability for 4000 hours and will then replace the other 8 straight tube coriolis installations

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Evaluation of Potential

PET is a commodity and is produced in the countries where it is used, hence PTE plant can be

found in any country.

The medium is a heavy slurry with viscosity up to 100 cSt. We tried CDM transducer in direct

mode with no result. CRK transducers work very well in direct mode but are not strong enough

for reflection mode installation.

So far it seems that Coriolis meter in size 3” are the industry standard here. Those meters are

expensive in Capex and have to be cleaned regularly.

RECRON assured us that the purpose of the measurement to the reactor is for monitoring and

accuracies of 2-3% are absolutely sufficient here.

From what we have seen so far I must believe that our regular competitors as E+H, GE,

KROHNE and so on wont be able to handle this application.

I therefore give it a high priority to pursue the PET plants in your territory