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EP-4308280-B1 - HYDROCARBON PROCESSING PLANT WITH PLUG SUITABLE TO BE INSERTED INTO A REFILL-OPENING ON A TUBE AND METHOD FORMEASURING CATALYST LEVEL

EP4308280B1EP 4308280 B1EP4308280 B1EP 4308280B1EP-4308280-B1

Inventors

  • MUTILVA, Iosu
  • IMÍZCOZ, Pedro

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20220317

Claims (3)

  1. Hydrocarbon processing plant that comprises a network of tubes, whereby one tube (1) has a refill-opening (2) and whereby in the one tube (1) a catalyst (5) is arranged, characterized in that a plug (3) is arranged in the refill-opening (2) and closes the refill-opening (2), whereby the plug (3) suitable to be inserted into the refill-opening (2) on the tube (1), wherein the plug (3) is at least partially made of a refractory material, wherein the material used for the plug (3) is permeable to radar waves (8), wherein the material used for the plug (3) complies with standard ASTM C 155 in the version of 2018 and/or the standard ASTM C892-05 in the version of Nov. 1, 2005, whereby a radar emitting device (6) is provided, whereby the radar emitting device (6) is arranged outside the one tube (1) and whereby the radar emitting device (6) is orientated in such a way that the radar waves (8) emitted by the radar emitting device (6) propagate through the plug (3) into the direction of the catalyst (5).
  2. Hydrocarbon processing plant according to claim 1, characterized in that the plug (3) has • an end face (9) intended to be arranged most deeply into the refill-opening (2), • a top (10) intended to be arranged outside of the refill-opening (2) and • a middle section (11) arranged between the end face (9) and the top (10), whereby the middle section (11) has the shape of a truncated cone.
  3. Method for determining the level of a catalyst (5) in the one tube (1) of the hydrocarbon processing plant according to claim 6, characterized in having the radar emitting device (6) emit radar waves (8) to propagate through the plug (3) into the direction of the catalyst (5) and to receive an echo of these radar waves (8) by a radar receiving device (7), whereby the level of the catalyst (5) in the one tube (1) is determined from the echo received by the radar receiving device (7).

Description

The invention pertains to a hydrocarbon processing plant according to claim 1 that comprises a network of tubes, whereby one tube has a refill-opening and whereby in the one tube a catalyst is arranged. The invention also pertains to a method for determining the level of a catalyst in the one tube of the hydrocarbon processing plant as defined in claim 3. From the prior art it is known that hydrocarbon processing plants that comprise a network of tubes have one tube that has a refill-opening and has a catalyst arranged in that one tube. Such a hydrocarbon processing plant may have a reformer tube that has a catalyst inside in order to convert the process gas to produce high quantity of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The catalyst typically allows this gas conversion, whereby the reaction typically is endothermic. Typically the tubes are being heated from the outside. In those areas of the tube, where the catalyst is present, catalysts can help the reaction to take place and for the tube to be cooled down in that area. On the other hand, if the catalyst level drops, areas of tube exist that are without catalyst inside. Such situations may lead to the tube overheating and may lead to a creep degradation that rises exponentially. As an example DE102007043839A1 describes the re-filling of the tubes of a tubular reactor suitable for a petrochemical plant and the measurement of the level reached by the catalyst particles by means of microwaves / radar measurements within the tubes. A possible cause of the catalyst level to drop can either be the thermal elongation of the one tube, but also can be the catalyst degradation or could be a creep elongation of the one tube. Typically the operators of such hydrocarbon processing plants plan to measure the catalyst level during a shutdown of the hydrocarbon processing plant and plan to fill up the catalyst during such shutdowns. Situations may occur, however, where the catalyst level drops during the operation of the hydrocarbon processing plant and produces damage. Given this background, the problem to be solved by the invention is to suggest means that allow for the catalyst level in the one tube to be determined online. This problem is solved by the hydrocarbon processing plant according to claim 1 and the method for determining the level of a catalyst according to claim 3. Preferred embodiments are given in the subordinate claim 2. The invention is based on the basic idea to have the plug made of a refractory material, preferably of firebrick. It was found out that a plug that is made of a such a material can be permeable to radar waves, which allows the catalyst level to be measured online by way of having radar waves propagate through the material of the plug while the hydrocarbon processing plant is in operation. The application is directed to a plug suitable to be inserted into a refill-opening on a tube. It is believed that such a plug is the smallest marketable good that implements the invention. It is expected that existing hydrocarbon processing plants will be refurbished by exchanging existing plugs with plugs according to the invention. According to the invention, the plug is at least partially, preferably completely made of a refractory material, preferably of firebrick. The wording "is at least partially made of" does not exclude that the plug contains a part that is fully made up of a refractory material and contains other parts that are not made up of a refractory material. It is feasible, for example, for the plug to have a sealing arranged around a central piece, whereby the central piece is made of a refractory material. In a preferred embodiment, of the volume that is taken up by the complete plug, at least 75% of this volume is of a refractory material, preferably at least 80% of this volume is made of a refractory material, preferably 85% of this volume is taken up by refractory material, preferably 90% of this volume is taken up by refractory material, preferably 95% of this volume is taken up by refractory material, preferably 97% or more of this volume is taken up by refractory material. The material used for the plug is The material used for the plug (3) complies with standard ASTM C 155 in the version of 2018 and/or the standard ASTM C892-05 in the version of Nov. 1, 2005. In a preferred embodiment, the firebrick used for the plug has a chemical analysis in weight-% of Alumina - Al2O336 to 80 weight-%, preferably 36 to 42 weight-%Silica -SiO218 to 55 weight-%, preferably 43 to 55 weight %Ferric Oxide - Fe2O30.2 to 0.8 weight-%, preferably 0.25 to 0.8 weight-%Titanium Oxide - TiO20.5 to 1.8 weight-%, preferably 1.4 to 1.8 weight-%Calcium Oxide - CaO0.1 to 20 weight-%, preferably 6.0 to 20 weight-%Magnesium Oxide - MgO0.05 to 0.15 weight-%,Optionally Alkalies, for example Na2O or K2O0.1 to 2 weight-%, preferably 0.1 to 0.7 weight-%. In a preferred embodiment, the material used for the plug falls under the group number 20 or 23 or 26 or 28 or 30,