Innovative Thermowell Design Improves Reliability in Oil & Gas Pipelines

Okazaki Manufacturing Company (OMC) has developed a unique design of thermowell that is easily and safely installed in process pipelines if a standard thermowell has failed the ASME Performance Test Code (PTC 19.3).

Following extensive R&D and independent evaluation, OMC’s VortexWell® thermowell incorporates an innovative helical strake design that eliminates the need for a velocity collar. This is cost effective in terms of purchasing, installation and maintenance costs.

By using the latest CFD software to visualise the flow behaviour, OMC was able to accurately compare a standard tapered thermowell with the VortexWell®. While the standard tapered thermowell showed classic shedding behaviour as expected, the VortexWell® demonstrated no signs of regular flow behaviour. The helical strake design disturbed the flow sufficiently to interrupt the regular formation of vortices.