Method and system for detecting coking growth and maldistribution in refinery equipment
US9880035B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 27, 2014 |
| Grant date | Jan 30, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 3, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01J2219/00247
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Systems and methods for detecting coking in a wash bed of a vacuum pipe still with a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array aligned with a heating element disposed in the vessel. An optical signal interrogator is configured to measure a first temperature profile at a plurality of sensor locations to determine a flow distribution. An excitation source is configured to propagate at least one heat pulse through the heating element and the optical signal interrogator is configured to measure a second temperature profile corresponding to the heat pulse at the sensor locations. A control unit is configured to detect coking by determining one or more properties of the media exposed to the sensing cable at each of the plurality of sensor locations based on the second temperature profile corresponding thereto.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.