(208b) Detailed Process Knowledge about Refinery Process Operations Using Radioisotope Technologies

For understanding refining processes Engineers have historically relied upon plant process measurements such as flow rates, temperatures, pressures, and model or simulation results for data with which to solve troubleshooting or re-design problems. An array of on-line diagnostic services applying radioisotopes are available that can provide additional data offering real-time information on how pieces of process equipment are actually operating.

One common application is gamma scanning. This technique is primarily applied, but not limited to, distillation or separation columns. Gamma scans provide a density profile of the internal process of operating distillation columns and other process vessels. The density profile can be used to diagnose the hydraulic operating conditions of mass transfer devices such as damage to internals, flooding, degree of entrainment or weeping, liquid levels on trays and distributors, liquid distribution through packed beds, etc. The presenter will show case studies where scanning revealed vital process information that helped solve an operating problem, or helped make a revamp/re-design successful.

A derivative from gamma scanning, CAT-scans, will be demonstrated. The CAT-Scan technique is a specialized horizontal gamma scan used to generate a topographic profile of the internal cross-sectional density of process equipment. This profile is useful for the detailed study of liquid flow distribution through packed columns as well as having applications on fluidized catalytic reactors such as FCC unit risers.

Radioactive tracers are used on operating processes to acquire real-world measurements of process variables that otherwise could only be calculated or estimated. Process variables that can be directly measured with radioactive tracers include volumetric flow rates, flow distribution, residence times, mixing characteristics, etc. Case studies of tracer applications applied specifically to refinery operations such as entrainment studies, flow distribution, and leak tests will be discussed.