SEPARATORS
Most upstream liquid-liquid separators are designed to separate immiscible liquids by gravitational force as the higher density liquid falls to the bottom while the lighter liquid rises to the top. These can be two-phase or three-phase separators in a variety of shapes.
As with any separation process, particularly upstream Oil & Gas, it is imperative to maximize profitability by recovering as much of the oil as possible while limiting oil removal mixed in with the water. Better visibility into the thickness of the emulsion layer helps accomplish this.
Another difficulty often found in upstream operations is sand or sediment accumulation at the bottom of separators. Oftentimes, a separate instrument is required to identify when sand reaches a certain level. A multiphase detector can reduce the necessary openings in the vessel by providing a sand measurement in addition to the various interface levels.
QUENCH WATER SETTLERS
In ethylene production, feedstock is cracked into a variety of hydrocarbons and hydrogen. This effluent from the furnaces will attempt to recombine into larger molecules unless it is immediately cooled in the quench tower. Historically, direct cooling using quench water or oil is an effective method to prevent unwanted reactions from occurring.
Quench tower operation is critical to efficient production/throughput and product quality. Because of the constituents of the effluent, fouling is of primary concern and will result in high operating and maintenance costs. Caustic water and heavy hydrocarbons accumulate at the bottom of the tower and into the quench settler (or quench water separation drum).
Based on the residence time in the settler and properties of the liquids, an emulsion can form while the liquids separate. Understanding the top and bottom of the emulsion layer mitigates fouling concerns by reducing the hydrocarbons being recirculated back into the quench tower (gas crackers) while increasing the efficiency of the dilution steam system which assists the cracking operation. This ultimately increases productivity by maximizing ethylene production from a given feedstock.
CONCLUSIONONCLUSION
Measuring dynamic conditions in the most difficult types of separators is now achievable with the Genesis TDR multiphase level transmitter. Genesis is a powerful, yet cost-effective, solution capable of measuring total level, top of emulsion, bottom of emulsion and sediment from a single instrument.
Measuring dynamic conditions in the most difficult types of separators is now achievable with the Genesis TDR Multiphase Detector. Genesis is a powerful, yet cost-effective, solution capable of measuring total level, top of emulsion, bottom of emulsion and sediment from a single instrument.
8 / EMULSION IN THE FIELD: The Genesis of TDR Multiphase Level Measurement
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93
