Tube Skin Thermocouple For Refineries

Thermometrics Corporation manufactures temperature sensors, radiant tubeskin thermocouples, petrochemical sensors and gasifer thermocouples for refining facilities around the world. Tube skin refinery thermocouples manufactured with superior metallurgy are used to measure the temperature of process such as Coker, Purge Gas Recovery, Primary Reformer, and Synthesis Converter systems. The size of the sensors are designed for each particular application by an engineer during construction or retrofit of a factory or process. The type of thermocouple sensor used is generally a Type K due to it's optimum temperature range and cost factors. Tube skin thermocouples unique design with expansion loops allows the thermocouple temperature sensor tip to move as the process vessel expands and contracts.

Given the complexities of refining and the variations in processes, Thermometrics Corporation is staffed by professional's who understand the fundamental concepts, processes, equipment and substances associated with petro chemical engineering, refining and its ancillary activities.

Contents

What are Coker Furnaces?


What is Purge Gas Recovery?

What is a C02 Removal System?

What is a Deep Hydrolyser?

What are the Energy Savings?

What are the Standard Plant Types?
 
 What are Coker Furnaces?




Coker furnaces are used during the refining process of crude oil to manufacture gas. This process involves high temperatures, vibration, corrosive atmospheres, and a volatile environment. This in turn creates a high risk to the environment, and a high cost if a process in lost or has to be burned off.



What is Purge Gas Recovery?



In order to achieve optimum conversion in a synthesis convertor, it is necessary to purge a certain quantity of gas from synthesis loop so as to as to reduce inerts concentration in the loop. This purge gas containing about 60% Hydrogen was fully utilised as primary reformer fuel. A cryogenic purge gas recovery unit is used to recover H2 from it which is recycled back convert it to Ammonia while the by - product tail gas from PGR Unit is burnt as fuel in the primary reformer.



At times, extremely tall cylinders are constructed to perform purge gas recovery operations. Typically, thermocouples are installed to monitor inlet and outlet gas temperature of each bed (bottom) of these cylinders.



What is a C02 Removal System?



In the modified system LT Shift Converter effluent is cooled in the condensate Reboilers via heat exchange with CO2 Stripper water wash condensate. Low pressure steam is generated and is utilised as motive steam for flash drum ejectors. The semilean solution is taken to a flash tank. The pressure is reduced in successive stage resulting in a move complete flashing of the stream water. A temperature drop of 121 deg C to 111 deg C result. The flashed steam is compressed by the motive steam in the ejectors & reintroduced in the stripper. This stream of flashed & motive steam is used to provide a portion of the required regeneration heat.



What is a Deep Hydrolyser?



Before incorporation of the scheme, the waste water containing about 4 - 5 % of Ammonia & 0.3 % of Urea is pumped by Distillation tower feed pump to Waste water distillation column, where the ammonia is stripper off. The stripping vapours are regenerated by boiling the purified water in a re-boiler heated with steam. From the re-boiler the treated water was cooled and sent to battery limit. After incorporation of hydrolyser the feed for hydrolyser is taken from 21st tray of the distillation column. Before entering the hydrolyser the solution is preheated in a heat exchanger by means of solution coming from hydrolyser itself. The hydrolysis heat is provided by HP Steam. The solution leaving the hydrolyser after passing through the exchanger is sent to distillation column. From the distillation column the water is cooled and then sent in the cooling tower as make.



What is the Energy Savings?



Accurate temperature measurement and a through analysis of operating conditions of a plant can improve efficiency and realize a cost savings in the hundreds if not millions of dollars yearly.



Burner Combustion Control


Boilers are often the principle steam or hot water generator system used in industrial plant or commercial heating.



Burner combustion control generally includes one or a combustion of the following methods;



Total heat control,

Regulation of excess air,

Burner cross - limiting.



Tube skin thermocouple sensors are used to control advance warming of flue gases to provide a better heat transfer rate in boilers. This can result in substantial savings on fuel.



Summary



Refinery thermocuples are commonly used in refinry equipment to measure process variable data in the following;



Absorber - Exit temperature of the absorbing liquid and exit specific gravity for the absorbing liquid.

Condenser - Outlet gas stream temperature.

Carbon absorber - temperature of carbon bed.

Thermal incinerator – Firebox temperature.

Catalytic incinerator - Temperature upstream and downstream of the catalyst bed.

Boilers or process heaters - Firebox temperature.