Method for process control
AssigneeAmoco Corporation
InventorsErnest H. Baughman, Barbara R. Coughlin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Improved process control is achieved in processes for which it is useful to control variable process conditions based upon on-line determinations of the concentration of weak acids and weak bases, or their soluble salts, in liquid streams of the processes. For example, amine system energy savings and waste treatment system control improvements are taught.
Claims11
A method for controlling the energy input into an amine regenerator affected by weak acid or weak base components of one or more liquid streams comprising:
- volatilizing substantially all of the acid or base components of each of a plurality of individual, repetitive samples taken from said liquid stream or streams, the samples being of essentially constant size;
- separating said volatilized components from said individual sample by means of an analyte carrier stream which flows at substantially constant rate;
- determining the concentration of said volatilized component of individual samples using one or more detectors and generating a control signal proportional thereto;
- and
- controlling the energy input into said amine regenerator based on said control signal.
A method for controlling lean amine input into an amine contactor affected by weak acid or weak base components of one or more liquid streams comprising:
- volatilizing substantially all of the acid or base components of each of a plurality of individual, repetitive samples taken from said liquid stream or streams, the samples being of essentially constant size;
- separating said volatilized components from said individual samples by means of an analyte carrier stream which flows at substantially constant rate;
- determining the concentration of said volatilized component of said individual samples using one or more detectors and generating a control signal proportional thereto;
- and
- controlling lean amine input into said amine contactor based on said control signal.
A method for controlling nitrogen input into a biological waste treating system affected by weak acid or weak base components of one or more liquid streams comprising:
- volatilizing substantially all of the acid or base components of each of a plurality of individual, repetitive samples taken from said liquid stream or streams, the samples being of essentially constant size;
- separating said volatilized components from said individual samples by means of an analyte carrier stream which flows at substantially constant rate;
- determining the concentration of said volatilized component of said individual samples using one or more detectors and generating a control signal proportional thereto;
- and
- controlling nitrogen input into said biological waste treating system based on said control signal.
A method for controlling influent to a waste treating system affected by weak acid or weak base components of one or more liquid streams comprising:
- volatilizing substantially all of the acid or base components of each of a plurality of individual, repetitive samples taken from said liquid stream or streams, the samples being of essentially constant size;
- separating said volatilized components from said individual samples by means of an analyte carrier stream which flows at substantially constant rate;
- determining the concentration of said volatilized component of said individual samples using one or more detectors and generating a control signal proportional thereto;
- and
- controlling said influent to said waste treating system based on said control signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.