EARLY PREDICTION AND DETECTION OF SLIDE VALVE STICKING IN PETROCHEMICAL PLANTS OR REFINERIES

• Main Authors: Green, Alex, Horn, Ian G, Lattanzio, Louis A, Wojtowicz, Matthew R
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 27.09.2018
• Subjects: ACTUATING-FLOATS; BLASTING; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; COCKS; CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; CONTROLLING; CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; FUELS; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; LIGHTING; LUBRICANTS; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; METALLURGY; MINERAL WAXES; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS ORELEMENTS; PEAT; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; PHYSICS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVEHYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, ORGASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; REGULATING; SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES; TAPS; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; VALVES; WEAPONS

A plant or refinery may include equipment such as condensers, regenerators, distillation columns, pumps, slide valves, or the like. Different operating methods may impact deterioration in equipment condition, thereby prolonging equipment life, extending production operating time, or providing other benefits. Mechanical or digital sensors may be used for monitoring equipment to determine whether problems are developing. Specifically, sensors may be used in conjunction with one or more system components to predict and detect slide valve sticking. An operating condition of the plant or refinery may be adjusted to prolong equipment life or avoid equipment failure.