Product category:
Gas monitoring and analysis
News Release from: Servomex | Subject: Servomex 2500 analyser
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 26 July 2004
Unique solution for measuring water in
Sulfinol
A collaboration between gas analysis experts Servomex and engineers at ExxonMobil Chemicals at Mossmorran in Fife has solved the problem of measuring the presence of water in the Sulfinol process
A collaboration between gas analysis experts Servomex and engineers at ExxonMobil Chemicals at Mossmorran in Fife has solved the problem of measuring the presence of water in sulfinol as used in the Sulfinol process ExxonMobil Chemicals operates an ethylene plant at Mossmorran in which Servomex gas analysers have been installed for routine process analysis for several years
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 3 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Measurement of nitrogen in argon and helium
Exceptional precision, proven reliability and impressive connectivity makes the Kontrol Analytik k2001 on-line analyser the best choice for the measurement of trace nitrogen in argon or helium
Oxygen analyser in catalyst production SIS loop
Sud-Chemie AG is one of the world's largest manufacturers of catalysts for the chemical and petro-chemical industries: Servomex process oxygen analysers play a crucial role in the plant safety
The feedstock of ethane, propane and butane used for the production of ethylene comes from an adjacent natural gas processing plant and this feedstock inevitably contains levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen sulphide (H2S), which are corrosive and capable of causing damage to the ethylene liquefaction plant.
These corrosive gases are removed using the Sulfinol process.
This is a widely applied gas treatment process, which has been in use since the 1960s and for which some 200 installations have been licensed worldwide.
Further reading
Petrochemical gas analysis for CEM and safety
A major Middle Eastern ethylene production (EO/EG) facility is using Servomex gas analysers for CEM (continuous emissions monitoring) and safety applications
Six combustion gas analysers help BP Chemicals
Servomex oxygen and combustibles analysers supplied for a refurbishment project at the BP Chemicals acetic acid production plant in Hull have contributed to a significantly reduced fuel consumption
MCERTS approval for N2O measurements
MCERTS approval makes Servomex infra-red gas analysers attractive to companies seeking to reduce Nitrous Oxide emissions and claim credits under the Kyoto protocol
H2S and CO2 are removed using an absorbtion medium called Sulfinol, an organic solvent mixture made up of Sulfolane (tetrahydrothiophene) and alkanolamines in an aqueous mixture.
The feedstock is subjected to absorption, regeneration, heat exchange and recycling and simultaneous physical and chemical absorption of the acid gases occurs under conditions of elevated pressure and moderate pressure.
This reduces the water content of the feedstock, and its water content after processing provides a quality indicator of the efficiency with which the process is operating.
ExxonMobil had been checking the water content of the processed feedstock using off-line laboratory gas chromatograph techniques, but decided that they wanted simple on-line continuous monitoring of the water content so as to have an immediate indication if the water level increased.
The Servomex Customer Applications team asked ExxonMobil to let them have some samples of Sulfinol containing various known levels of water.
Detailed analyses at Servomex using laboratory Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) demonstrated that a measurement of water content at near infrared wavelengths was realistically possible at useful water concentrations.
Based on the laboratory spectroscopic data and its previous experience of Servomex infrared gas analysers, ExxonMobil installed a Servomex 2500 analyser to monitor its Sulfinol process on a continuous basis.
Servomex also designed and built a custom-made sampling system and enclosure, suitable for hazardous areas.
Experience has shown that the new system has enabled the operators to control the absorption of water more efficiently, with consequent cost savings.
The on-line analysis has also reduced the foaming of the Sulfinol, which can cause production problems downstream of the analyser.
In many other applications, the 2500 infrared gas analyser and its sampling system successfully monitor the presence of water from trace level (0-50ppm wt) to 0-50% wt in various organic solvents and liquids.
The 2500 provides reliable and accurate performance with excellent long-term stability and is certified for use in hazardous areas.
• Servomex: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Processingtalk email newsletter
• Processingtalk Home Page
