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Demands for Quality Energy Measurement Solutions

Powering the world is no simple task, especially as research and innovation into alternative energy sources are at an all time high. Across the energy supply chain there are soaring demands from engineers, scientists, equipment makers and suppliers to provide quality and accurate market solutions.

The energy market is constantly evolving to power our infrastructure as well as finding new ways to reduce our carbon footprint. Interface is a key differentiator when it comes to test and measurement. We play an important role in the development and deployment of effective energy market solutions as our sensor technologies are used to test and monitor energy equipment, sources and methods for extraction and containment. As well, Interface is center in supplying devices used in the development of fueling alternatives and introducing new energy solutions.

To explain our role in the energy market and how are products can be used by engineers in these industries, Interface Energy Solutions Overview details the types of products and examples of applications used by industry market leaders and innovators.

Interface force measurement solutions are used in all types of energy related applications to produce oil, gas, wind, coal, solar, hydrogen, nuclear, geothermal and emerging energy sources around the world. We are recognized as a provider of choice for our reliability and accuracy in designing, engineering, testing, innovating, and manufacturing precision sensor-based solutions for the energy industry.

One of the industries where Interface’s experience and knowledge of force measurement is vertically integrated into production and manufacturing processes is in the energy industry. The conditions energy professionals work in can be harsh. They are often in hazardous environments extracting oil and natural gas, wind, or coal to fuel our world’s dependencies for power. The equipment our energy sector customers use must be rugged and provide the most accurate results possible. If the equipment fails, our customers risk steep losses and exposure to safety hazards.

Based on market requirements, we recently introduced the new Interface Pressure Compensated Downhole Load Cell solution specifically designed for the energy sector. The downhole environment poses many challenges for well-drillers, operators, tool-string designers, and other engineers in the oil and gas industry. This innovation eliminates the need for “wet” load cells to monitor forces on their downhole load strings, which don’t hold up for extended use where there are extreme pressures and temperatures in a caustic environment. Interface created a dry load cell with an innovative protective design that reduces the number of sensors required in any downhole load string, extending the life of the load cell by a decade or more.

The types of products the energy market demands from Interface for these applications include standard LowProfile load cells, various torque transducers, multi-axis sensors and all types of instrumentation. We supply engineered to order and custom products for various energy testing environments and OEM solutions. The range of options include uniquely designed torque transducers, load washers, tension and compression load cells, load pins, wireless gear and more.

ENERGY APPLICATIONS USING INTERFACE PRODUCTS

  • Solar panel design and testing
  • Wireless monitoring devices
  • Submersible and hazardous environment products
  • Hydrogen electrolyzer devices
  • Storing and transporting crude oil and natural gas
  • Windmill testing and management
  • Wireline spool tension control
  • Oil and gas equipment
  • Hydro power generation
  • Hook load tension
  • Torque tong monitoring
  • Tool recovery and fishing
  • Wave energy
  • Downhole OEM parts
  • Calibration and equipment maintenance

Interface force measurement solutions are used in components, machines and field equipment for energy R&D and production. From prototyping to monitoring equipment, our durable load cells and torque transducers assist suppliers of parts along with energy industry leaders and innovators to fuel the world. You can find more energy applications here.

Energy-Brochure-1

To learn more about our work in the energy industry or to inquire about how our force sensors can benefit your next project, contact our application engineers today.

Additional Resources

Interface Helps Power the World

Interface Most Promising Energy Tech Solution Provider

Announcing the Launch of the Interface Pressure Compensated Downhole Load Cell

Fueling Global Demand for Interface Solutions

 

Interface Helps Power the World

As technology and infrastructure have advanced to accommodate various forms of energy collection, the role of force measurement in the test and manufacturing of these machines has grown significantly. As a precision force measurement solutions provider, Interface has been a long-time partner to these global production and equipment customers in the energy industry. Interface sensors are used in different applications for various sectors, including oil, gas, wind, coal, solar, hydro, geothermal, nuclear, renewables and emerging alternatives around the world, as detailed in our energy solutions overview.

As a pioneer of load cell technology, Interface is recognized globally for providing the most accurate and reliable force measurement solutions utilized by energy market leaders and suppliers of parts, machines and technologies used in the sector. Accuracy matters for safety and reliability in energy-related test and measurement projects, engineering and product design, and in the original equipment manufacturing of components that require precision sensor technologies.

Interface products are used in several different applications for the energy marketplace. In fact, Interface is recognized as the prominent oil and gas solutions provider of force measurement solutions. These companies within the energy industry recognize Interface for product reliability, accuracy, and innovative design, as detailed here: Interface Most Promising Energy Tech Solution Provider.

To meet the growing demands for best-in-class energy market solutions, Interface recently launched our new downhole force measurement solution for high-pressure, high-temperature applications, the Interface Pressure Compensated Downhole Load Cell (IPCD). The IPCD is a Wheatstone bridge foil-gaged-based force measurement solution using proprietary compensation methods and designed to provide highly accurate force data in harsh environments, like those found in the oil and gas industry, while requiring limited maintenance compared to similar solutions on the market. Read the new IPCD technical white paper here.

Another area that is growing tremendously are alternative energy applications. Recently, Interface has been involved with projects involving wind and water energy, as well as playing a significant role in testing batteries on electric vehicles. Also, our energy customers come to us needing a custom force measurement solution to deal with these unique challenges for all energy types including thermal, radiant, chemical energy, nuclear, electrical, motion, sound, elastic, and gravitational energy.

Types of energy industry applications that utilize Interface products, services and technologies include:

  • Oil and gas extraction equipment and parts
  • Hydro power generation
  • Windmill energy equipment
  • Wireline spool tension control
  • Fuel management and measurement
  • Solar panel testing
  • Hook load tension
  • Torque tong monitoring
  • Tool recovery and fishing
  • Wave energy generator
  • Downhole equipment
  • Plug setting
  • Calibration and equipment maintenance
  • Storing crude oil and natural gas
  • Transporting crude oil and natural gas
  • Wireless monitoring equipment
  • Activation of components and embedding sensors

We recently introduced a new solutions brochure on our energy solutions page.  Additionally, we have included a few application examples below to give you an idea of the type of work we do and the customers we serve in energy:

 

Wave Energy Generator

A scientist had been tasked to create electricity by using the energy that is generated by ocean waves. As electricity is generated by ocean waves, an Interface load cell was used measure tether line tension using a submersible 3200 Hermetically Sealed LowProfile® Precision Stainless Load Cell. The mooring line was attached to the load cell base and the platform generator was connected to the load cell hub. This measured the forces that were generated by the ocean waves and data was later analyzed by the customer’s Data Acquisition System (DAQ). Scientists used force data to make adjustments to the tether line. Also, if tether line breaks free, the scientist can be notified immediately to reattach the tether line.

Windmill Energy

A customer wanted to improve the performance of a windmill by adjusting the blade pitch and measuring the torque generated as power ramps are studied. Interface offered a T2 Ultra Precision Shaft Style Rotary Torque Transducer which can be coupled between windmill blade propeller and electric generator. Information is sent to customer’s Data Acquisition System (DAQ). Using this solution, the customer was able to use torque data to determine the optimal blade pitch for the windmill and generate more power with less stress on the bearings.

Interface has worked with market leaders and innovators in the energy industry for decades. As new forms of energy are developed, new force innovations are required to confirm and test accuracy and reliability. As well as enhancements to machines, parts, equipment and materials, Interface is a supplier of choice for standard, modified and custom solutions. Our sensors are embedded into equipment, as well as part of everyday monitoring of force and pressure.  To learn more about our work in the energy industry, visit our solutions page at https://www.interfaceforce.com/solutions/energy/.

Additional Resources

Interface Leads Innovation in Oil and Gas Force Measurement

Announcing the Launch of the Interface Pressure Compensated Downhole Load Cell

Interface Pressure Compensated Downhole Load Cell White Paper

 

Interface Leads Innovation in Oil and Gas Force Measurement

The oil and gas industry is among the world’s most dangerous and expensive industries. There’s also the inherent risk of ecological harm caused by faulty machinery. Because Interface is able to address these challenges, the company’s products have become a heavy favorite among oil and gas companies.

Oil and gas companies recognize the interface for product reliability, accuracy, and innovative design.

The oil and gas industry has used “wet” load cells to monitor forces on their downhole load strings for several years. These downhole load strings are equipped with various sensors that travel down thousands of feet during exploratory drilling operations. These load cells provide data to the user that measures the forces on the load string to ensure it doesn’t break due to forces greater than the string has been designed to. When one of these strings breaks, it leaves up to a million dollars worth of equipment trapped underground until it can be fished using expensive recovery techniques.

The problem with wet load cells is that they don’t hold up for extended use in wells that extend several thousand feet underground with extreme pressures and temperatures in a caustic environment. These wet load cells typically last about a year or two before being damaged beyond further use. The turnover rate of these products becomes extremely expensive and can also cause critical measurement inconsistencies or the complete loss of measurement feedback.

These wet load cells break down after a year or two because the sensors on this product are exposed to the harsh underground environment. To address this issue, Interface created a “dry” load cell that protects the sensitive parts with innovative design, reduces the number of sensors required in the customer’s downhole load string, and allows the load cell to last 10 years or more.

“Our dry load cell technology provides Interface’s signature accuracy in a ruggedized package that will stand up to the harsh environments of a deep oil well. These design iterations that allow for longer product lifespans are critical to our customers because of the cost savings and consistency of using a single force measurement solution.” Ken Vining, Chief Engineer at Interface

Interface initially developed this technology as a custom solution to address a customer’s challenge of constantly replacing wet load cells. Based on the positive feedback Interface received, the company has begun developing a standard version of the dry load cell. The standard load cell will be more cost-effective than wet and custom-designed dry load cells.

For more information on Interface’s products for the oil and gas industry, click here.  For details on all Interface solutions, please visit www.interfaceforce.com.

Contributor:  Ken Vining, Chief Engineer at Interface