We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to browse this website, you agree to our use of cookies. More information.
Many potential sources can cause chronic flares and chimney sampling problems. These problems in petrochemical and refining operations (Figure 1) are caused by poor or inaccurate sampling equipment, limited funding, or lack of maintenance. Perhaps the most complex sampling problem to be solved may not even have to do with the equipment.
Figure 1. Refining and petrochemical operation experience process and chimney sampling problem
The culture of traditional techniques and concepts that led to successful results in the past may prevent sampling teams from accepting new techniques that help improve sample reliability and reduce detection limits. The methods used in the past may not be suitable for the "new reality" of digital one-million or even one-billionth sampling requirements, which are regulated by regulations such as Tier 3 and more demanding customers. Discussed below are five misunderstandings that lead to process and stack sampling issues.
Currently, regulations specify extremely low sulfur detection limits. It takes several days to several weeks to organize and passivate millions of active sites in the stainless steel sampling flow path with a few parts per million sulfur process flow. In addition to this problem, subsequent desorption can cause random sulfur spikes, complicating the measurement process (Figure 2).
This problem can be solved by coating the sample flow path with an inert coating such as Dursan® or SilcoNert®. The inert coating almost eliminates adsorption, and the inert coating helps prevent the interaction between the user's active sulfur sample and the adsorbed stainless steel, thereby ensuring an inert flow path.
Saving money by not coating filters or accessories is not a good decision. Sulfur will stick to the uncoated surface and provide useless test results. Even a single uncoated sintered metal filter can absorb almost the entire sample, causing product contamination, customer anger, or compliance issues (Figure 3).
Figure 3. H2S disappeared completely within a few hours.
Small amounts of water trapped in the sample cylinders, joints, or pipes can adsorb sulfur and increase corrosion, which can severely disrupt low-level sample readings. The use of inert/hydrophobic properties (such as Dursan®) and a robust system design can quickly remove moisture from the sampling system, ultimately reducing sulfur adsorption and allowing the sampling team to control moisture (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Moisture removal time (minutes)
Corroded sampling components can absorb almost the entire H2S sample, making a consistent sampling process futile (Figure 5).
It is necessary to inspect the inside of the sample cylinder regularly to ensure that the internal surface is free of rust particles and corrosion. Sulfur can be quickly absorbed by rust particles, resulting in abnormally low readings, which may result in the delivery of contaminated products to customers.
Waiting for the H2S reading to stabilize can be expensive and dangerous. The refinery does not want to work for days or hours under abnormal conditions, nor does it want to send raw materials to downstream processors, just to understand that the supply is contaminated. Compared with uncoated stainless steel, SilcoTek® coating can improve the response of the system by several orders of magnitude (Figure 6). The transfer of sulfur may be greatly delayed, which will lead to chaos in the refinery for days or hours.
Figure 6. Compared to uncoated stainless steel, SilcoTek® coating can improve system response by orders of magnitude.
This information is derived from materials provided by SilcoTek and has been reviewed and adapted.
For more information on this source, please visit SilcoTek.
Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your paper, essay, or report:
Silicon Branch. (2019, July 24). 5 misunderstandings that led to the problem of sulfur samples. AZoM. Retrieved from https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=12779 on November 22, 2021.
Silicon Branch. "5 Misunderstandings Leading to the Problem of Sulfur Samples". AZoM. November 22, 2021. <https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=12779>.
Silicon Branch. "5 Misunderstandings Leading to the Problem of Sulfur Samples". AZoM. https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=12779. (Accessed November 22, 2021).
Silicon Branch. 2019. 5 misunderstandings that led to the problem of sulfur samples. AZoM, viewed on November 22, 2021, https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=12779.
Do you have any questions about this article?
AZoM talks with Dr. Robert Shepherd from Cornell University. In their research, Dr. Shepherd and his team produced a key component of a technology that can make inflatable braille that changes shape under the touch of the user a reality. Triggered by burning, Dr. Shepherd and his team created a hapt
Michael is part of a team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which has developed a data-driven system that accelerates the process of discovering new 3D printing materials.
Coxem has developed a new automated large-area particle analyzer based on SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope), which can be used to analyze and classify particles by size and element.
The knife grinder GRINDOMIX GM 200 has two sharp, sturdy blades and a powerful 1000 W motor, making it an ideal instrument for grinding and homogenizing food and feed.
The Extrel VeraSpec atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometer (APIMS) is designed to provide reliable and reproducible low part-per-trillion detection limits for pollution control in ultra-high purity (UHP) gases used in semiconductor and other high-tech industrial applications.
For many years, rotovaps have been the standard for laboratories and industries that perform chemistry, such as laboratories in the pharmaceutical, chemistry, life sciences, materials, environment, and cannabis sectors.
AZoM.com-AZoNetwork website
Owned and operated by AZoNetwork, © 2000-2021