ISSN 2594-3626
23º Seminário de Energia, Utilidades e Transição Energética — Vol. 23 , num. 23 (2001)
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In the cryogenic air separation process, where pure oxygen and nitrogen are produced from ambient air, the presence of hydrocarbons in reboilers can lead to a potentially dangerous condition. The plugging of flow channels within reboilers, often caused by the freezing out of N₂O and CO₂ can lead to the build-up of hydrocarbon impurities which, when in the presence of high purity oxygen, could lead to an explosion in the reboiler. The latter was the case in a cryogenic air separation plant in Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia where an explosion destroyed the entire plant and damaged a neighboring facility. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how continuos on-line measurement of trace levels of N₂O and CO₂ can help to avoid explosions in reboilers. By monitoring the presence of these two gases, which freeze-out and plug reboiler lines, plant operators can take the necessary steps to avoid expensive damages to plant equipment and the high cost of loss of production.
In the cryogenic air separation process, where pure oxygen and nitrogen are produced from ambient air, the presence of hydrocarbons in reboilers can lead to a potentially dangerous condition. The plugging of flow channels within reboilers, often caused by the freezing out of N₂O and CO₂ can lead to the build-up of hydrocarbon impurities which, when in the presence of high purity oxygen, could lead to an explosion in the reboiler. The latter was the case in a cryogenic air separation plant in Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia where an explosion destroyed the entire plant and damaged a neighboring facility. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how continuos on-line measurement of trace levels of N₂O and CO₂ can help to avoid explosions in reboilers. By monitoring the presence of these two gases, which freeze-out and plug reboiler lines, plant operators can take the necessary steps to avoid expensive damages to plant equipment and the high cost of loss of production.
Palavras-chave
Analysis, Safety, Air separation, Cryogenic plants, On-line measurement
Analysis, Safety, Air separation, Cryogenic plants, On-line measurement
Como citar
Newell, Todd; Ferreira, Sergio L.C..
ON-LINE ANALYSIS OF TRACE LEVELS OF N₂O AND CO₂ FOR SAFE OPERATION OF CRYOGENIC AIR SEPARATION PLANTS,
p. 159-166.
In: 23º Seminário de Energia, Utilidades e Transição Energética,
None,
2001.
ISSN: 2594-3626, DOI 10.5151/2594-3626-23EnergPC-159-166
