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Asphalt Flow Meter DN80: Achieving Perfect Mixes in In-Line Blending Skids
Quick Answer: A DN80 Coriolis mass flow meter is the most reliable choice for inline asphalt blending skids where hot bitumen, polymer additives, and fillers are mixed. It measures mass flow and density directly, unaffected by changing viscosity or temperature. This accuracy ensures the right additive ratio, cuts waste, and meets highway-grade specification consistently.
The Cost of Poor Flow Measurement in Asphalt Blending
Asphalt blending operators in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa face a tough problem. Traditional volume-based flow meters get stuck when hot bitumen cools or when polymer-modified asphalt becomes sticky. A displacement meter can jam and cause ratio errors. Even a small drift in additive dosing wastes expensive SBS or crumb rubber. In practice, we have seen a blending plant in Indonesia lose USD 120 per batch because the flow meter over-dosed polymer by 0.8 percent. That adds up fast over a month of production.
In-line blending skids pump bitumen at 150 to 190 °C. The pipe size is often DN80 for flow rates from 5,000 to 35,000 kg/h. A volumetric meter needs viscosity compensation and still suffers from slippage. A Coriolis mass flow meter does not care about viscosity changes. It reads mass directly and survives the high temperature.
Why a DN80 Coriolis Meter Fits In-Line Blending Skids
Silver Automation Instruments supplies a dedicated Coriolis flow meter in DN80 size with process connections matching ANSI or DIN flanges, Class 300 or PN40 rating. The meter body is stainless steel 316L, with a secondary containment shell. No moving parts inside. Because the measurement tubes vibrate at their natural frequency, the meter provides real-time mass flow, density, and temperature. In a blending skid, the density signal helps detect air pockets or wrong binder grade instantly.
Many engineers ask us if a straight-tube Coriolis meter is okay for asphalt. Yes, a dual bent-tube DN80 Coriolis handles high viscosity up to 50,000 cP without plugging. The internal diameter is large enough to avoid pressure drop issues. The meter also tolerates particles up to 1.5 mm, important when crumb rubber is added in the modified asphalt line.
How the Meter Handles High Temperature and Viscosity
Hot asphalt is abrasive and tends to coat all surfaces. The DN80 Coriolis meter from Silver Automation Instruments is designed for continuous service at 200 °C. The sensor has an integrated PT100 temperature element for mass flow compensation and density correction. Process engineers can order the meter with a separate jacket or heat tracing connections. But the sensor itself stays stable without extra heating if the pipe is properly lagged.
We recommend a zero stability check at operating temperature before the season starts. A quick field calibration with a proving tank or weighbridge confirms accuracy. Most of our customers in Dubai and Johor report 0.15 to 0.2 percent mass flow accuracy over a 20:1 turndown. That is tight enough for tough bitumen specifications like PG 76-22 or PMB 45/80-65.
Specifications That Matter: Silver Automation Instruments Asphalt Flow Meter
Model SI-100 Coriolis for heavy oil and asphalt. Nominal size DN80. Process connection flange DN80 PN40 or 3 inch ANSI Class 300 RF. Wetted material 316L. Measuring range 0-45,000 kg/h. Accuracy ±0.15% of rate for mass flow and ±0.5 kg/m³ for density. Fluid temperature up to 200 °C, higher on request. Output signals: 4-20 mA HART, pulse, RS485 Modbus. Power supply 24 V DC. Hazardous area certifications: ATEX Zone 1 II 2G Ex db IIC T6 Gb, IECEx, and SIL2 for safety systems. Enclosure IP67.
This Coriolis meter replaces old oval
Installation Example: A Blending Skid in Vietnam
Last year a contractor in Ho Chi Minh City built a portable polymer-modified bitumen blending unit for road projects near Can Tho. They needed a flow meter that could handle 12 m³/h of hot bitumen at 175 °C and 12 bar. The skid consisted of a storage tank, a heat exchanger, a colloid mill, and two dosing pumps for SBS and sulphur. They chose a DN80 Coriolis meter from Silver Automation Instruments after a local trial. The meter was mounted vertically in the bitumen discharge line before the mill. It provided real-time mass flow to the PLC, which adjusted the SBS pump speed. After three months of continuous runs, the blending ratio error stayed below 0.3 percent. The project manager told us they saved 1.7 tonnes of SBS additive over the previous system, which paid for the meter in six weeks.
Because the meter has no wearing parts, maintenance stopped. The only routine work was cleaning the sensor once per quarter with diesel flush. That is a typical feedback we get from blending skid operators in the Middle East too.
Getting a Quote: The Data You Need to Send
To get a fast, accurate quote for a DN80 Coriolis asphalt flow meter, send us these details: your normal and maximum flow rate in kg/h or t/h, operating temperature in °C, pressure in bar, pipe size in DN, fluid type (neat bitumen, PMB, cutback, emulsion), and hazardous area requirement (ATEX Zone 1 or safe area). Tell us if you need factory calibration with hot oil and a material certificate 3.1. Our team at Silver Automation Instruments will provide a quote within one working day. We ship to Australia, Malaysia, UAE, Nigeria, Chile, and all target markets from our hub in China.
FAQ
Q: Why is a Coriolis flow meter better than a positive displacement meter for asphalt blending?
A: Positive displacement meters have moving gears or pistons that wear quickly when hot bitumen solidifies or when sticky polymers build up. A Coriolis meter has no moving parts in the flow path and measures mass directly. It does not drift with viscosity changes, so the additive ratio stays accurate for every batch.
Q: What accuracy can I expect with the DN80 Coriolis meter for hot bitumen?
A: Under stable temperature conditions at 170 to 190 °C, the meter delivers ±0.15% of rate for mass flow and density uncertainty of ±0.5 kg/m³. We have field reports from blending skids in Thailand showing repeatability better than 0.05% over a week of continuous operation.
Q: Does the meter require heating or insulation?
A: The sensor itself does not require a heating jacket if the pipe is fully insulated and the process temperature stays above the softening point. However, for cutback bitumen with solvents, a jacket or trace heating prevents cold spots. We can supply the meter with a heat tracing tube option if requested.
Q: Is the meter certified for hazardous areas like ATEX Zone 1?
A: Yes. Our standard DN80 Coriolis meter for asphalt has ATEX Zone 1 and IECEx certification for gas groups IIB or IIC and temperature class T6. SIL2 certification is also available for safety instrumented systems in blending plants.
Q: What is the typical delivery time for a DN80 asphalt flow meter to a refinery in Saudi Arabia?
A: Standard delivery time is 2 to 3 weeks after receiving the purchase order and confirmation of technical details. For urgent orders, we can arrange air freight and deliver within 7 days to Dammam or Jeddah. Email your process data to [email protected] and we will confirm stock availability.