{"id":220146,"date":"2026-06-15T16:56:34","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T14:56:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essmann.com\/filling-checking-securing-how-dow-weighs-its-liquefied-natural-gas-shipments-by-rail\/"},"modified":"2026-06-15T17:04:04","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T15:04:04","slug":"filling-checking-securing-how-dow-weighs-its-liquefied-natural-gas-shipments-by-rail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essmann.com\/en\/filling-checking-securing-how-dow-weighs-its-liquefied-natural-gas-shipments-by-rail\/","title":{"rendered":"Fill, check, secure: How DOW weighs its rail shipments of liquefied petroleum gas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Even a few hundred kilograms of excess liquefied gas in a tank car poses a safety risk. The quality of a loading facility becomes apparent when a failure occurs: the moment a load cell fails or a cable breaks. At the B\u00f6hlen site of DOW Olefinverbund GmbH, every tank car rolling in for liquid gas loading via rail is weighed at four loading points on static ESSMANN HE-SRS rail scales \u2014each equipped with a filling scale for dosing and a calibratable checkweigher that provide mutual backup. The system was installed during ongoing operations, in a potentially explosive atmosphere, above a spill containment tray for highly water-polluting substances. In this use case, you\u2019ll learn what this means in practice, why it\u2019s relevant for every gas loading operator, and what structural requirements come into play. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The starting point: LPG, rail, chemical industry site<\/h2>\n\n

In B\u00f6hlen, DOW operates the centerpiece of its Central German olefins complex: the steam cracker, which converts naphtha into the basic chemical feedstocks ethylene and propylene. Some of these products are processed on-site, while others are distributed to other locations via a group-wide pipeline and logistics network. In B\u00f6hlen, approximately 80 rail cars are handled daily, a significant portion of which are used for loading and unloading liquefied gases. The impetus for the project came from water regulations: To meet the requirements of the Ordinance on Facilities for Handling Substances Hazardous to Water (AwSV), the tank car loading and unloading area was converted at a central loading track and upgraded for the loading of substances hazardous to water. <\/p>\n\n

When loading liquefied gases onto tank cars, three requirements come into play, each of which is challenging in its own right. The fill volume must be measured precisely and in a manner that meets calibration standards, as it forms the basis for commercial, tax, and volume accounting. Overfilling must be technically ruled out, as it poses an immediate safety risk with liquefied gases. And the entire process takes place in a potentially explosive atmosphere, where protection of the soil and groundwater must also be ensured. The facility in B\u00f6hlen fully meets this set of requirements. <\/p>\n\n

Each loading station is equipped with two static scales with clearly defined functions, as well as a reinforced concrete spill containment basin in compliance with water regulations. The tank car remains stationary while being filled and continuously weighed. This system is designed for the controlled, setpoint-driven filling of individual cars\u2014where accuracy and safety take precedence over pure throughput during each loading operation. <\/p>\n\n

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\"Construction\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Work on a track system at an industrial construction site. Metal grates are being installed between the rails. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Industrial\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Industrial complex with rail tracks and technical infrastructure. Rails run through the factory grounds, winding their way between pipelines and control buildings. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n
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Two scales, two tasks: the real safety issue<\/h2>\n\n

At the heart of the system is the interaction of two scales at each loading point. When filling gas tank cars, the international rail regulations for dangerous goods (RID) require that overfilling be reliably prevented and that the fill volume be verified using calibrated measuring equipment, such as weighing on a calibrated scale. Any overfilling must be immediately and safely corrected. The regulation specifies what<\/em> must be ensured. How<\/em> this is reliably achieved from a plant engineering perspective is a matter of engineering\u2014and this is where the ESSMANN concept with the HE-SRS track scales comes into play. <\/p>\n\n

Both scales perform different functions and serve as backups for each other:<\/p>\n\n