Tracerco launches DrumVision™ to deliver real-time process visibility in delayed coking and demanding interface measurement applications
Global industrial technology company, Tracerco, has launched DrumVision™, a next-generation non-contact interface measurement system designed to provide operators with real-time visibility inside critical and challenging process vessels.
Delayed coking coke drums operate under extreme conditions, where fluctuating process environments, foaming, and high temperatures can cause conventional level instruments to degrade or fail. Without reliable interface measurement, operators are often forced into conservative operation, leading to excessive chemical usage, unstable separation performance, and costly unplanned process delays.
DrumVision™ addresses this long-standing challenge by delivering stable, externally mounted measurement using neutron backscatter technology, enabling operators to detect and track interfaces through the vessel wall in real time.
Unlike conventional instruments that require vessel penetration and depend on unstable properties such as density or dielectric constant, DrumVision™ operates entirely outside the vessel. By measuring hydrogen content near the vessel wall, it provides reliable, non-intrusive level measurement that remains unaffected by fouling, foam, or changing process conditions.
A key differentiator of DrumVision™ is its ability to provide true three-phase visibility, distinguishing between vapour, foam, and coke inside the drum. This capability is particularly valuable in delayed coking operations, where uncontrolled foaming can result in anti-foam overuse, product carryover and downstream equipment damage.
By providing early warning of foam growth and quantitative feedback on foam collapse and liquid recovery, DrumVision™ enables data-driven anti-foam strategies, helping refiners to optimise chemical consumption, improve control, and enhance product quality.
Designed with operational practicality in mind, DrumVision™ is externally mounted, requires no vessel penetration, and can be deployed as a retrofit solution for sites operating legacy neutron backscatter instrumentation. Solid-state detector technology eliminates the need for re-gassing, reducing maintenance requirements while ensuring long-term stability and reliability. While initially proven in the demanding environment of delayed coking, DrumVision™ is suitable for applications requiring precise discrimination between solid, liquid, foam, and vapour phases.
Paul Hartley, Measurement Instruments Managing Director at Tracerco, said: “In high-value processing, what you can’t see will cost you. Operators in delayed coking and other demanding applications have long relied on instruments that struggle in the very conditions where accurate measurement matters most. DrumVision™ changes that — delivering stable, real-time interface measurement from outside the vessel, with no penetrations, no re-gassing, and no compromise on performance.
“Interface position governs separation efficiency, chemical usage, and product quality. Without precision interface measurement, operators have no true visibility into what is happening inside the vessel. DrumVision™ closes that gap, providing the insight needed to optimise performance, reduce waste, and prevent costly delays in critical refining applications.”
DrumVision™ will be showcased at RefComm Galveston 2026, the world’s leading technical conference for delayed coking, FCC, and sulfur recovery professionals. Tracerco specialists will be available at Stand 122 throughout the event to discuss DrumVision™ capabilities and explore deployment opportunities with refinery operators and engineers.
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