On-line acid monitor and neutralizer feed control of the overhead water in oil refineries
AssigneeNalco Chemical Company
InventorsRonald B. Lessard, Paul Fearnside
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for automatically measuring the acidity of overhead water in an oil refinery, and dispensing a neutralizing agent into the refinery system at a rate responsive to that measurement. A sample of overhead water is collected and passed through a filter and cation exchange resin. The acid concentration of the sample is then automatically measured and a signal generated based on the concentration. The signal goes to a controller which controls the dispensation rate of neutralizing agent into the refinery system, thus reducing the acidity of the overhead water and limiting the corrosive effects of such acidity.
Claims5
A method for controlling the acidity of overhead water in an oil refinery which includes a crude oil charge and a distillation tower having an overhead vapor line which produces a dew point condensate, comprising the steps of:
- collecting a sample of said dew point condensate from said overhead vapor line,
- automatically titrating said sample to detect the concentration of acid in said sample;
- generating a signal responsive to the detected concentration of acid;
- and
- dispensing a neutralizing agent into said crude oil charge or said overhead vapor line at a rate responsive to said signal to control said acidity.
A method for controlling the acidity of overhead water in an oil refinery which includes a crude oil charge and a distillation tower having an overhead vapor line which produces a dew point condensate comprising the steps of:
- collecting a sample of said overhead water;
- filtering said sample to remove hydrocarbon contaminants;
- passing said filtered sample through a cation exchange resin to convert the acid concentration of said sample to about the acid concentration of said dew point condensate;
- automatically titrating said sample to detect the concentration of acid in said sample;
- generating a signal responsive to the detected concentration of acid;
- and
- dispensing a neutralizing agent into said crude oil charge or said overhead vapor line at a rate responsive to said signal, said neutralizing agent selected from the group consisting of a hydroxide salt, a carbonate salt, anhydrous ammonia, aqueous ammonia, phosphates, or organic amines to control said acidity
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.