Detection of distillation column flooding
AssigneeRosemount Inc.
InventorsRoger Kenneth Pihlaja, John Philip Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method comprises sensing a differential pressure signal, filtering the differential pressure signal, generating a flooding indicator as a function of the filtered differential pressure signal, and indicating the onset of flooding. The differential pressure signal is sensed along a distillation flow path. The filtered differential pressure signal is responsive to a phase inversion along the flow path, and the flooding indicator is responsive to an onset of a flooding condition, based on the phase inversion. The onset of the flooding condition is indicated based on a change in the flooding indicator.
Claims25
A method comprising:
- sensing a differential pressure signal along a distillation flow path;
- filtering the differential pressure signal as a function of frequency, such that the filtered differential pressure signal is responsive to a phase inversion along the flow path;
- generating a flooding indicator as a function of the filtered differential pressure signal, such that the flooding indicator is responsive to a flooding condition, based on the phase inversion;
- and
- indicating the onset of the flooding condition, based on a change in the flooding indicator.
A system for sensing a flooding condition in a column, the system comprising:
- a pressure sensor for sensing differential pressure across a vertical height of the column;
- a filter for filtering the differential pressure signal as a function of frequency;
- a processor for generating an indicator function based on the filtered differential pressure signal, wherein the indicator function is indicative of the flooding condition in the column;
- and
- an indicator for indicating an onset of the flooding condition, based on a change in the indicator function.
An apparatus comprising:
- a sensor configured to sample differential pressure;
- means for connecting the sensor across a vertical height of a two-phase counter-current flow column;
- means for generating a frequency-filtered signal based on the differential pressure, such that the frequency-filtered signal is responsive to foaming within the vertical height;
- means for generating an indicator based on the frequency-filtered signal, such that the indicator is indicative of a phase inversion in the two-phase counter-current flow;
- and
- means for indicating a flooding condition in the flow column, based on a change in the indicator function.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.