Acid Catalyst Analyzer for HF Alkylation Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing acid catalyst analyzer systems for hydrocarbon conversion suffer from noise in flowmeter readings, which affects the accuracy of concentration determination in multiphase flows, particularly in HF Alkylation processes where precise control of HF and ASO concentrations is crucial to avoid acid runaway and optimize octane production.
Innovation Solution
An acid catalyst analyzer system utilizing multiple Coriolis flowmeters, separation vessels, and valves to separate and measure components like isobutane and HF mix, with a control feedback loop to regulate valve positions, ensuring balanced separation and reducing noise in readings, allowing for accurate determination of component concentrations and dynamic response to changes in the proportion of isobutane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple flowmeters and separation vessels are used to separate and measure components, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the multiphase flow into separate phases using a separation vessel, with dedicated flowmeters for each phase (first flowmeter for acid catalyst mix, second flowmeter for hydrocarbon phase, third flowmeter for separated acid catalyst). This segmentation allows precise measurement of each component's flow rate independently, resolving the measurement precision issue while managing complexity through functional division.
Solution Approach 2:
A separation vessel acts as an intermediary device between the multiphase flow input and the measurement system. It separates the acid catalyst mix and hydrocarbon phase before measurement, enabling accurate concentration determination without requiring direct measurement of the complex multiphase mixture, thus improving precision while using a standardized intermediary component.
2Measurement precision
If valve positions are dynamically controlled to balance separation, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A control feedback loop continuously monitors the flow rates measured by the three flowmeters and dynamically adjusts the position of the first valve to maintain balanced separation. The feedback mechanism ensures that the separation vessel operates at optimal conditions for accurate measurement, improving measurement precision through real-time adjustment while using a standard control feedback approach to manage complexity.
3Measurement precision
If grab-sampling extraction is used for laboratory analysis, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous online measurement using multiple flowmeters and a separation vessel, eliminating the need for periodic grab-sampling and laboratory analysis. The continuous measurement of flow rates through the separated phases provides ongoing concentration data without interruption to the alkylation process, maintaining precision while eliminating time loss associated with sampling and lab analysis.
4Productivity
If online analysis is used for continuous monitoring, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The online analysis system is enhanced by segmenting the multiphase flow into separate phases before measurement. By measuring the flow rates of individual phases (acid catalyst mix, hydrocarbon phase, and separated acid catalyst) separately rather than attempting to measure the mixed stream, the system maintains high measurement precision while achieving continuous monitoring capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides accurate and noise-reduced measurements of HF, ASO, and water concentrations, enabling optimized operation of the HF alkylation unit, improving safety and profitability by minimizing HF consumption and preventing acid runaway, while simplifying instrumentation and reducing maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
two Coriolis flowmeters... The first Coriolis flowmeter is implemented to measure a mass flow rate and a density of the sample volume... The second Coriolis flowmeter measures a mass flow rate and a density of the iC4-free HF mix
Implementation Method 2
separates the iC4 from the HF mix... The second valve is open such that the iC4-free HF mix flows from the separation vessel through the second Coriolis flowmeter
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a system (100) to determine concentrations of components of a multiphase fluid, the system (100) comprising: a first flowmeter (108) configured to receive a fluid flow and to generate one or more measurements of the fluid flow, the fluid flow including a first liquid and a second liquid, wherein the first and second liquids are immiscible; a separation vessel (114) configured to receive the fluid flow, and to at least partially separate the first liquid and the second liquid; a second flowmeter (106) configured to receive either the second liquid or a mixture of the first liquid and the second liquid, through a valve and to generate one or more measurements of either the second liquid or the mixture of the first liquid and the second liquid, wherein a proportion of the second liquid to the first liquid in the mixture is greater than a proportion of the second liquid to the first liquid in the fluid flow; a third flowmeter (110) configured to receive the first liquid and to generate one or more measurements of the first liquid ; and a data processing apparatus (124) operatively coupled to the first flowmeter (108), the second flowmeter (106), the third flowmeter (110), the data processing apparatus (124) configured to perform operations comprising: receiving the one or more measurements of the fluid flow from the first flowmeter (108); receiving the one or more measurements of the second liquid or the mixture of the first liquid and the second liquid from the second flowmeter (106); receiving the one or more measurements of the first liquid from the third flowmeter (110), and determining a concentration of the second liquid in the fluid flow.