Instrumentation in petrochemical industries
Encyclopedia
Instrumentation in petrochemical industries are basically flowmeters, pressure transmitters, level meters, temperature
instruments, and analysis instruments, etc.
industries. platinum
Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTD's) are often used as they are more instrictive and give a better response. Thermocouple
s are used in locations that need a more durable sensor. Thermocouples come in many types.
to Current
converter (P/I converter) in the petrochemical industries to measure and show the amount of pressure developed by the Liquified Petroleum Gas
(LPG), crude oil, petrol, and various other petroleum
byproducts. In the P/I converter, the indicated pressure can be a digital or an analog form. The main advantage is that it can be directly shown in the control panel in the control room
. This is also the same for temperature measurement
.
when refined oil is measured before leaving the refinery. Because the refined oil is volatile
, it is important to make it clear how much oil is transported at each measurement site along the pipeline. It is also true for natural gas
. Therefore, the measurement of crude oil and natural gas plays an important role in oil industry. The competition in flowmeter market is extremely intense, and flowmeters generally consist of the vortext, Positive Displacement (PD), Differential Pressure (DP), Coriolis, and ultrasonic.
. Besides instruments of traditional technologies like differential pressure level meters, there are also level meters of radar, magnetostrictive, and magnetic float, etc. applied extensively.
The petroleum and gas industry is an important segment where level meters witness high growth over recent years. As China improves the industrial technologies of extracting and transporting oil, some new high-end level meters will have a wide application in this segment.
One of the problems with a significant number of technologies is that they are installed through a nozzle and are exposed to products. This can create several problems, especially when retrofitting new equipment to vessels that have already been stress relieved, as it may not be possible to fit the instrument at the location required. Also, as the measuring element is exposed to the contents within the vessel, it may either attacked or coat the instrument causing it to fail in service. One of the most reliable methods for measuring level is using a Nuclear gauge, as it is installed outside the vessel and doesn't normally require a nozzle for bulk level measurement. The measuring element is installed outside the process and can be maintained in normal operation without taking a shutdown. Shutdown is only required for an accurate calibration.
The petroleum and gas industry is also an important sector for the growing analysis instruments over the past few years. With the improvement of industrial technologies in oil extraction and transportation in China, some analysis instruments serving to improve the product quality and industrial security are being applied increasingly.
Temperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
instruments, and analysis instruments, etc.
Temperature Indicator
The measurement of temperature is a vital part of instrumentation in petrochemicalPetrochemical
Petrochemicals are chemical products derived from petroleum. Some chemical compounds made from petroleum are also obtained from other fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas, or renewable sources such as corn or sugar cane....
industries. platinum
Platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTD's) are often used as they are more instrictive and give a better response. Thermocouple
Thermocouple
A thermocouple is a device consisting of two different conductors that produce a voltage proportional to a temperature difference between either end of the pair of conductors. Thermocouples are a widely used type of temperature sensor for measurement and control and can also be used to convert a...
s are used in locations that need a more durable sensor. Thermocouples come in many types.
Pressure Measurement
We use a PressurePressure
Pressure is the force per unit area applied in a direction perpendicular to the surface of an object. Gauge pressure is the pressure relative to the local atmospheric or ambient pressure.- Definition :...
to Current
Electric current
Electric current is a flow of electric charge through a medium.This charge is typically carried by moving electrons in a conductor such as wire...
converter (P/I converter) in the petrochemical industries to measure and show the amount of pressure developed by the Liquified Petroleum Gas
Liquified petroleum gas
Liquefied petroleum gas is a flammable mixture of hydrocarbon gases used as a fuel in heating appliances and vehicles. It is increasingly used as an aerosol propellant and a refrigerant, replacing chlorofluorocarbons in an effort to reduce damage to the ozone layer...
(LPG), crude oil, petrol, and various other petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
byproducts. In the P/I converter, the indicated pressure can be a digital or an analog form. The main advantage is that it can be directly shown in the control panel in the control room
Control room
A control room is a room serving as an operations centre where a facility or service can be monitored and controlled. Examples include:*in television production, the master control is the technical hub of a broadcast operation common among most over-the-air television stations, television networks...
. This is also the same for temperature measurement
Temperature measurement
Attempts of standardized temperature measurement have been reported as early as 170 AD by Claudius Galenus. The modern scientific field has its origins in the works by Florentine scientists in the 17th century. Early devices to measure temperature were called thermoscopes. The first sealed...
.
Flowmeter
The measurement of petrol is conducted in an oil refineryOil refinery
An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas...
when refined oil is measured before leaving the refinery. Because the refined oil is volatile
Volatility (chemistry)
In chemistry and physics, volatility is the tendency of a substance to vaporize. Volatility is directly related to a substance's vapor pressure. At a given temperature, a substance with higher vapor pressure vaporizes more readily than a substance with a lower vapor pressure.The term is primarily...
, it is important to make it clear how much oil is transported at each measurement site along the pipeline. It is also true for natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
. Therefore, the measurement of crude oil and natural gas plays an important role in oil industry. The competition in flowmeter market is extremely intense, and flowmeters generally consist of the vortext, Positive Displacement (PD), Differential Pressure (DP), Coriolis, and ultrasonic.
Level Meters
The petroleum, natural gas, and petrochemical industries place high requirements on level measurementLevel measurement
Level measurement refers to instrumentation techniques designed to measure the height of a fluid or solid within a containing vessel.- Liquid/fluid measurement techniques :*Radar*Guided radar*Electromechanical*Ultrasonic*Capacitance*Hydrostatic pressure...
. Besides instruments of traditional technologies like differential pressure level meters, there are also level meters of radar, magnetostrictive, and magnetic float, etc. applied extensively.
The petroleum and gas industry is an important segment where level meters witness high growth over recent years. As China improves the industrial technologies of extracting and transporting oil, some new high-end level meters will have a wide application in this segment.
One of the problems with a significant number of technologies is that they are installed through a nozzle and are exposed to products. This can create several problems, especially when retrofitting new equipment to vessels that have already been stress relieved, as it may not be possible to fit the instrument at the location required. Also, as the measuring element is exposed to the contents within the vessel, it may either attacked or coat the instrument causing it to fail in service. One of the most reliable methods for measuring level is using a Nuclear gauge, as it is installed outside the vessel and doesn't normally require a nozzle for bulk level measurement. The measuring element is installed outside the process and can be maintained in normal operation without taking a shutdown. Shutdown is only required for an accurate calibration.
Analysis Instruments
Industrial chromatographs are generally used in the olefin processing in the petrochemical industry. Every year, usually hundreds of sets are needed in China. However, influenced by the project cycle, demand fluctuates greatly. Despite a small number of those being applied, the industrial chromatographs cover a large proportion in the sales volume of analysis instruments because of their high prices. Furthermore, continuous gas analyzers are also widely applied to the petrochemical industry.The petroleum and gas industry is also an important sector for the growing analysis instruments over the past few years. With the improvement of industrial technologies in oil extraction and transportation in China, some analysis instruments serving to improve the product quality and industrial security are being applied increasingly.
See also
- PetrochemicalPetrochemicalPetrochemicals are chemical products derived from petroleum. Some chemical compounds made from petroleum are also obtained from other fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas, or renewable sources such as corn or sugar cane....
- PetroleumPetroleumPetroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
- Petroleum productPetroleum productPetroleum products are useful materials derived from crude oil as it is processed in oil refineries.According to crude oil composition and demand, refineries can produce different shares of petroleum products. The largest share of oil products is used as energy carriers: various grades of fuel...
s - Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries