Innovations in Chloride Measurement
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Page 1 of 3 Innovations in Chloride Measurement Desalting is an essential first step in crude oil refining. If not managed properly, the desalter can create an entire system bottleneck that jeopardizes crude oil production and could overload the wastewater treatment system. When present in crude oil, both organic and inorganic chlorides can lead to rapid corrosion of overhead lines and catalyst fouling downstream. Inorganic chlorides are typically present as brine that comes from production of the crude oil. These salts can include sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, and calcium chloride. When the crude oil is heated, these salts hydrolyze and produce hydrogen chloride, which can become hydrochloric acid when it comes into contact with water. This acid can cause serious corrosion problems in a very fast timeframe, especially under extreme heat and pressure. Organic chlorides can show up in crude oil mainly as a contaminant. They can come from the processes to produce the crude oil or even from previously used transportation vessels. These organic chlorides are not removed in the desalting process, and thus need to be found and removed quickly before they cause issues further downstream. High levels of organic chlorides can foul up the heat exchangers and cause further corrosion. Corrosion from chlorides can happen quickly and severely. Therefore it becomes essential to precisely measure chloride levels at all critical points around the desalter and downstream. The XOS Clora Analyzer provides the precision necessary for measuring chlorides at and around the desalter. Using high performance x-ray optics technology, the Clora Analyzer measures down below 0.5 ppm to help better control the process and provide insight into the crudes in the system. The Clora is easy to use and provides analysis results in only 5-10 minutes, displaying the measurement on a user-friendly interface screen. To begin, simply put the prepared sample in the sample cup, place it into the analyzer and press the “measure” button. When the measurement cycle is done, you’ll get a direct measurement in ppm. There is no need for titration, consumables or furnaces. XOS benchtop analyzers use MWDXRF technology in order to providethe best results possible in just minutes. MWDXRF uses state-of-the-art focusing and monochromating optics to increase excitation intensity and dramatically improve signal-to-background over high power traditional WD XRF instruments. This enables significantly improved detection limits and precision and a reduced sensitivity to matrix effects. A monochromatic and focused primary beam excites the sample and secondary characteristic fluorescence x-rays are emitted
Transcript of Innovations in Chloride Measurement
Page 1 of 3
Innovations in Chloride Measurement
Desalting is an essential first step in crude oil refining. If not managed properly, the desalter can create an entire system bottleneck that jeopardizes crude oil production and could overload the wastewater treatment system. When present in crude oil, both organic and inorganic chlorides can lead to rapid corrosion of overhead lines and catalyst fouling downstream. Inorganic chlorides are typically present as brine that comes from production of the crude oil. These salts can include sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, and calcium chloride. When the crude oil is heated, these salts hydrolyze and produce hydrogen chloride, which can become hydrochloric acid when it comes into contact with water. This acid can cause serious corrosion problems in a very fast timeframe, especially under extreme heat and pressure. Organic chlorides can show up in crude oil mainly as a contaminant. They can come from the processes to produce the crude oil or even from previously used transportation vessels. These organic chlorides are not removed in the desalting process, and thus need to be found and removed quickly before they cause issues further downstream. High levels of organic chlorides can foul up the heat exchangers and cause further corrosion. Corrosion from chlorides can happen quickly and severely. Therefore it becomes essential to precisely measure chloride levels at all critical points around the desalter and downstream. The XOS Clora Analyzer provides the precision necessary for measuring chlorides at and around the desalter. Using high performance x-ray optics technology, the Clora Analyzer measures down below 0.5 ppm to help better control the process and provide insight into the crudes in the system. The Clora is easy to use and provides analysis results in only 5-10 minutes, displaying the measurement on a user-friendly interface screen. To begin, simply put the prepared sample in the sample cup, place it into the analyzer and press the “measure” button. When the measurement cycle is done, you’ll get a direct measurement in ppm. There is no need for titration, consumables or furnaces. XOS benchtop analyzers use MWDXRF technology in order to providethe best results possible in just minutes. MWDXRF uses state-of-the-art focusing and monochromating optics to increase excitation intensity and dramatically improve signal-to-background over high power traditional WD XRF instruments. This enables significantly improved detection limits and precision and a reduced sensitivity to matrix effects. A monochromatic and focused primary beam excites the sample and secondary characteristic fluorescence x-rays are emitted
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from the sample. A second monochromating optic selects the chlorine characteristic x-rays and directs these x-rays to the detector. MWD XRF is a direct measurement technique and does not require consumable gasses or sample conversion. XOS also recently introduced Accu-Flow Technology for its lineup of laboratory instruments. Accu-Flow technology helps to minimize effects of particulate setting, which can be very common when testing for chlorides in crude oil using XRF. Over a typical measurement cycle, the heavier particles can settle to the bottom of the sample cup and cause higher than normal results. Accu-Flow technology pushes the sample through the system keeping the sample uniform and delivering a result that better reflects crude streams as they exist in the refinery.
There has also long been talk of automating the process of measuring for chlorides, but there must first be a means for continuous chlorine measurement in order to develop and implement the control strategy necessary for automation. No continuous, reliable measurement solution has been available—until now. The XOS Clora On-line Analyzer precisely measures total chlorine in raw and desalted crudes, as well as overhead condensate and desalter effluent water, eliminating the need for frequent, labor intensive lab sampling.
The chart above demonstrates how the XOS Clora On-line Analyzer provides precise, stable measurements over time at very low concentrations.
The graph to the left demonstrates how Accu-Flow Technology eliminated particulate settling in a Bonga Crude sample, which occurred within just minutes as seen in the static measurement results without using Accu-Flow.
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The Clora On-line Analyzer features and benefits include:
No extraction Low maintenance No titration Complete measurement in 5 minutes 15-second snapshot analysis Automatic validation Handles temperatures up to 300°F Stream switching available
For additional information on either the Clora benchtop or on-line analyzer, or to speak with an XOS field expert, contact [email protected] or call 1-518-880-1501.
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References:
A. Bagdasarian, J. Feather, B. Hull, R. Stephenson, R. Strong, “Crude Unit Corrosion and Corrosion Control,” General
Electric, 2010.
