Komax Custody Transfer Mixer

The Komax Custody Transfer Mixer or CT mixer is installed upstream of the crude oil sampling transfer line. They assure that the bottom sediment and water – B, S & W – is thoroughly dispersed throughout the crude oil stream for optimal crude oil metering performance. An even water droplet size and distribution occurs over a wide flow range and pipe size range. Our automation means a truly representative and repeatable oil sampling process.

Komax CT mixers are installed in petroleum custody transfer sampling lines such as ship and tank truck terminals or refinery transfers in combination with a LACT unit where proper crude oil metering is an absolute must. CT mixers are typically supplied with weld neck flanges or ends prepared for welding. For ease of installation, Komax CT mixers are supplied complete with a two-inch flanged port for the automatic sampler connection. Dimensions and design graphs for all CT mixers are listed below.

Special features provide effective mixing

The Komax CT mixer was specially designed to solve conventional custody transfer sampling and mixing problems. The CT mixer may be installed in a horizontal or vertical pipeline. In a horizontal line, the first mixing element is set 30 degrees off the centerline so the bottom mixing element ear acts as a ramp, forcing the bottom water up into the crude (see Figures 1 and 2). The internal vortices or back-mixing created by the Komax mixing elements also send a portion of the flow back upstream within the mixer, minimizing spikes of BS&W concentration. This combination of smart mixing helps the custody transfer sampler maximize its accuracy. Komax uniquely understands site-specific smart mixing, avoiding overmixing or emulsifying, and produces a very uniform distribution and droplet size of the water in the custody transfer metering process.

The very important feature of the Komax CT mixer is the addition of a special exit straightening fin that cancels all of the axial rotation of the flow downstream of the mixer. Violent rotation of the stream would cause the centrifuging problem (barber poling) of the water to re-occur. The automatic sampler is located two to four pipe diameters downstream of the mixer. The resulting samples provide highly reliable net crude oil measurements.