Interface measurements in desalters are often regarded as not being very critical, even though every drop of oil, to be refined, passes through the desalter. As refineries try to maximize their margins, so-called opportunity crudes are often used. These crude oils generally contain increased levels of sulphur, oil sands, bitumen, heavy oils and oils with high TAN. This can lead to problems with the proper operation of the desalter. In addition, refineries are increasingly confronted with stricter environmental regulations. The efficient level control of water/emulsions/oil layers in the desalter ensures that salts and minerals are effectively removed and that environmental requirements are met. Therefore, more and more operators are turning to radiometry as a highly reliable and accurate measurement solution for this application.
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Most people are more familiar with – and often use – instruments for measuring pressure relative to the atmospheric pressure evident around us. However, some applications require absolute measurements, and this is where absolute pressure sensors come in.
DPharp digital sensor uses two single crystal silicon resonators vibrating at their natural frequencies. When pressure is applied, one of the resonators goes into tension, while the other goes into compression mode. The CPU directly counts the sensor output frequencies without any additional A/D conversion. Due to the excellent elastic properties of silicon material, the DPharp sensor exhibits greater linearity and repeatability, with no inherent hysteresis. Resonant sensor also provides a large output signal resulting in greater sensitivity and higher turndown.
Topics: Yokogawa, Differential Pressure, Pressure Solutions
Monitoring of Ammonia Leaks With Laser-Based Gas Detection Technology
Process engineers in the fertilizer industry are keenly aware of the toxic and combustible properties of ammonia (NH₃). While the tragic 2013 ammonium nitrate explosion at a fertilizer storage plant in West, Texas, that took 15 lives was ruled an arson incident, the force of the explosion was the equivalent of 7.5 to 10 tons of TNT according to multiple sources. The improper handling or monitoring of NH₃ can be a deadly serious mistake.
Topics: MSA, Gas Detection Solutions, Fixed Gas Solutions, Safety, techstar
What is Flow Rate and Why is It Important in Process Applications?
In an industrial setting, controlling processes with accurate data is an essential part of keeping the process running smoothly. Control systems are equipped with instrumentation like thermal flow meters to feed flow data like gas temperature and gas flow rate into the system. So, what is flow rate and why is it important? The flow rate of the gas tells the system how much of a gas is flowing through a cross section of a pipe at a prescribed unit of time. Flow rate data can help with many things, including the following:
Topics: Fox Thermal, Thermal Gas Mass Flow Meters, Flow Solutions, flow
Condition & Vibration Monitoring Solutions For The General Industry
For industries such as steel, mining, cement, pulp and paper, maritime and others, our monitoring solutions for rotating machinery are in use in many applications around the world. They all require dedicated monitoring solutions and strategies:
Topics: vibration, Condition Monitoring, BK Vibro
Today, terabytes of signal data are being generated from sensors embedded in industrial equipment. The capability to handle such large streams of data and draw actionable conclusions from is a task that requires artificial intelligence.
Topics: vibration, Condition Monitoring, SKF
TECHSTAR FLEX | ONE-TOOL SOLUTION FOR PROCESS COMMUNICATION
Introducing the TechStar FLEX – the latest in HART Communicators! While not the first on the market, the FLEX is the more cost-effective and FLEXible option available, providing a one-tool solution for your programming, troubleshooting and HART maintenance needs. Benefits of the TechStar Flex include:
Optimizing Boiler Efficiency | Increase Your Bottom Line
Optimizing boiler efficiency will increase your bottom line. Did you know that every 10% excess oxygen results in 1% in wasted fuel? With that in mind, Yokogawa Zirconia Oxygen analyzers have a 50-year proven success record for providing:
Topics: Yokogawa, Analytical Solutions, Analyzer
Common Results of Gas Uses in Industrial Processes
There are three key results of measuring the flow of air or gases with industrial gas flow meters in industrial applications:
- efficiency improvement
- leak reduction
- increased product quality
Topics: Fixed Gas Solutions, Fox Thermal, Thermal Gas Mass Flow Meters, flow