On-Line Industrial Equipment Decontamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial equipment in facilities like refineries and petrochemical plants becomes contaminated with materials like asphalt and heavy asphaltenic materials, reducing efficiency and necessitating costly shutdowns for cleaning, which can impact economic performance.
Innovation Solution
A method for decontaminating industrial equipment in operation by reducing the total volumetric flowrate and injecting a decontamination composition comprising a solvent mixture, including methyl soyate, dimethyl sulfoxide, and a cationic surfactant, which contacts and removes contaminants while the equipment remains operational, using a recycled stream to heat the composition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the industrial equipment is shut down for cleaning and decontamination, then the equipment can be cleaned effectively, but the facility productivity and economic efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous cleaning of industrial equipment while it operates at full capacity. The cleaning system injects decontamination composition into the flowing process stream, allowing the equipment to be cleaned without interruption to production operations, thus maintaining continuous useful action of both cleaning and production simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a decontamination composition as an intermediary substance that is injected into the process stream. This composition contains cleaning agents that remove contaminants from the equipment surfaces while being carried by the process fluid, enabling cleaning action without requiring equipment shutdown or direct mechanical contact
2Productivity
If the industrial equipment operates with contaminant buildup, then productivity is maintained, but the equipment efficiency and performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary cleaning action by continuously introducing decontamination composition into the process stream before significant contaminant buildup occurs. This preventive cleaning approach maintains equipment efficiency over time by removing contaminants incrementally rather than allowing accumulation that would require shutdown for thorough cleaning
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
Enables continuous operation of industrial equipment during decontamination, improving efficiency by removing contaminants without the need for shutdowns, thus minimizing economic losses and maintaining product specifications.
Implementation Method 1
the decontamination composition comprises a solvent composition and a carrier fluid; allowing the decontamination composition to come in contact with any contaminant material disposed on the industrial equipment, wherein the contact removes the contaminant material from the industrial equipment
Implementation Method 2
heating the decontamination composition via a recycled stream of the industrial equipment
Implementation Method 3
the decontamination composition comprises a solvent composition and a carrier fluid; the contact removes the contaminant material from the industrial equipment
Data Source
AI summary
A method for decontaminating industrial facility equipment while the equipment remains in operation (i.e., on-line decontamination). In one embodiment, the method comprises reducing the total volumetric flowrate, injecting a decontamination composition into the industrial equipment at an injection point while the industrial equipment remains in operation, wherein the decontamination composition comprises a solvent composition and a carrier fluid, allowing the decontamination composition to come in contact with any contaminant material disposed on the industrial equipment, wherein the contact removes the contaminant material from the industrial equipment, and managing the contaminant material removed from the industrial equipment.