Sulfuric acid alkylation process in the oil & gas industry

Feed of propene and butene monitoring

Sulfuric acid alkylation process in the oil & gas industry

The lighter oils originating from the lower parts of the distillation column, after passing through Hydrotreaters and the Fluid Catalytic Cracker (FCC), produce low-molecular-weight alkenes (butenes (C4), pentenes (C5), propene (C3H6)) and also isobutene (C4H10). The acid alkylation process converts these streams into alkylate, a high octane and clean burning gasoline blending component. Depending on the acid used, the process is called either SAA (Sulfuric Acid Alkylation) or HFA (Hydrofluoric Acid Alkylation).

Significant amounts of sulfuric acid are used during the alkylation process: to withstand the effects of the corrosive liquids on such instrumentation, KROHNE has developed a dedicated electromagnetic flowmeter. For flow measurement of the feed of propene and butene and for the produced alkylate measurement, KROHNE has a series of ultrasonic flowmeters available.


Process details

Requirements:

  • Process control
  • Changing composition

Recommended products and solutions:

OPTISONIC 3400

Ultrasonic flowmeter for liquid process applications

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Requirements:

  • Process control
  • Agressive medium

Recommended products and solutions:

OPTIMASS 7400

Coriolis mass flowmeter for advanced process applications

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OPTISONIC 3400

Ultrasonic flowmeter for liquid process applications

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Requirements:

  • Avoid contamination
  • Varying levels of hydrocarbon emulsion and sulfuric acid

Recommended products and solutions:

OPTIFLEX 1300

Guided radar (TDR) level transmitter for heavy-duty level and interface applications

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BM 26 A

Magnetic bypass level indicator for liquid and liquid-liquid interface applications

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Requirements:

  • Prevent overfill
  • Determine level in scrubber

Recommended products and solutions:

BM 26 F2200

Magnetic bypass level indicator with guided radar (TDR) for liquid level applications

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Requirements:

  • Maintain mass balance
  • Process control

Recommended products and solutions:

OPTISONIC 3400

Ultrasonic flowmeter for liquid process applications

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Requirements:

  • Visualisation and monitoring of critical processes
  • Control of reporting, trends and alarm handling
  • Statistical evaluation of measurement data

Recommended products and solutions:

SynEnergy Supervisory and visualisation software

Solution for continuous process monitoring and reporting

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CalSys Analyser Management software

Solution for analyser management and data acquisition (AMADAS)

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