Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring amounts of submerged solid consumable. A GWR (Guided Wave Radar) component can provide a measurement of a reflection at a fixed position in a particle bed. The reflection represents aggregate dielectric properties in a vessel. The measurement includes hydrocarbon and solid consumable properties of a mixture in the vessel, wherein a measurement value is indicative of a greater amount of the solid consumable in the mixture in the vessel. If data is measured by the GWR component indicating that the measurement value is approaching the measurement value of the hydrocarbon, this data is indicative that the material (e.g., solid consumable such as salt) in the vessel should be replenished.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring amounts of submerged solid consumable. A GWR (Guided Wave Radar) component can provide a measurement of a reflection at a fixed position in a particle bed. The reflection represents aggregate dielectric properties in a vessel. The measurement includes hydrocarbon and solid consumable properties of a mixture in the vessel, wherein a measurement value is indicative of a greater amount of the solid consumable in the mixture in the vessel. If data is measured by the GWR component indicating that the measurement value is approaching the measurement value of the hydrocarbon, this data is indicative that the material (e.g., solid consumable such as salt) in the vessel should be replenished.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a processing unit; a feed conduit and an effluent conduit connected to the processing unit; at least one operating parameter device associated with the processing unit, the feed conduit, the effluent conduit or a combination thereof; a catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor in fluid communication with the processing unit, the feed conduit, the effluent conduit or a combination thereof; and a computer processor electrically connected to the catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor, has been developed. A pressure indicator may be positioned to indicate the pressure of fluid passing through the catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor and there may be an electrical connection between the computer processor and the pressure indicator. The catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor may be a palladium-nickel catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a processing unit; a feed conduit and an effluent conduit connected to the processing unit; at least one operating parameter device associated with the processing unit, the feed conduit, the effluent conduit or a combination thereof; a catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor in fluid communication with the processing unit, the feed conduit, the effluent conduit or a combination thereof; and a computer processor electrically connected to the catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor, has been developed. A pressure indicator may be positioned to indicate the pressure of fluid passing through the catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor and there may be an electrical connection between the computer processor and the pressure indicator. The catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor may be a palladium-nickel catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor.

Abstract: A process for controlling a refinery or chemical process has been developed. The process comprises flowing a feed stream to a process unit; operating on the feed stream in the process unit to generate an effluent stream; flowing the effluent stream away from the process unit; passing at least a portion of the feed stream or the effluent stream through a catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor and generating a signal corresponding to the concentration of hydrogen present in either the feed stream or the effluent stream; passing the signal to a display unit; and adjusting at least one operating parameter of the process in response to at least the signal generated by the catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor. The catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor may be a palladium-nickel catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor. The adjustments may be based on a calculated mole percent hydrogen.

Abstract: A process for controlling a refinery or chemical process has been developed. The process comprises flowing a feed stream to a process unit; operating on the feed stream in the process unit to generate an effluent stream; flowing the effluent stream away from the process unit; passing at least a portion of the feed stream or the effluent stream through a catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor and generating a signal corresponding to the concentration of hydrogen present in either the feed stream or the effluent stream; passing the signal to a display unit; and adjusting at least one operating parameter of the process in response to at least the signal generated by the catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor. The catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor may be a palladium-nickel catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor. The adjustments may be based on a calculated mole percent hydrogen.

Abstract: A process for sensing hydrogen in a refinery process stream or a chemical process stream has been developed. The process comprises flowing at least a portion of the refinery process stream or the chemical process stream through a conduit which is part of a main support and through a series of flow components which are attached to the main support and in fluid communication with the conduit. The flow components comprise, a needle valve, a pressure indicator, a catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor, and a back pressure regulator. The catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor may be a palladium-nickel catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor. The process continues with generating a signal indicating the amount of hydrogen in the stream using the catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor and communicating the signal to a display device or a computer processor. The process may further include adjusting an operating parameter based upon the signal indicating the amount of hydrogen in the stream, or based upon a calculated mole percent hydrogen.

Abstract: A modular assembly for sensing hydrogen in a refinery process stream or a chemical process stream has been developed. The assembly comprises a main support having a flow conduit with flow components attached to the main support and interacting with the flow conduit. The flow components comprise a needle valve, a pressure indicator, a catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor, and a back pressure regulator. There is an electrical connection between the catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor flow component and a display device or computer processor. Additional optional flow components include a filter, a check valve, and a thermocouple. There may be an electrical connection between the pressure indicator and the display device or computer processor. The assembly may be used for controlling a process operating parameter with an electrical connection between the computer processor and an operating parameter device.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a processing unit; a feed conduit and an effluent conduit connected to the processing unit; at least one operating parameter device associated with the processing unit, the feed conduit, the effluent conduit or a combination thereof; a catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor in fluid communication with the processing unit, the feed conduit, the effluent conduit or a combination thereof; and a computer processor electrically connected to the catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor, has been developed. The apparatus may also have at least one operating parameter device and an electrical connection between the computer processor and at least one of the operating parameter devices. The apparatus may be used for the control of a processing unit or operation. A pressure indicator may be positioned to indicate the pressure of fluid passing through the catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor and there may be an electrical connection between the computer processor and the pressure indicator.

Abstract: A process for controlling a refinery or chemical process has been developed. The process comprises flowing a feed stream to a process unit; operating on the feed stream in the process unit to generate an effluent stream; flowing the effluent stream away from the process unit; passing at least a portion of the feed stream or the effluent stream through a catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor and generating a signal corresponding to the concentration of hydrogen present in either the feed stream or the effluent stream; passing the signal to a display unit; and adjusting at least one operating parameter of the process in response to at least the signal generated by the catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor. The display unit may be part of a computer and the adjusting of at least one operating parameter may be performed automatically using the computer. The catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor may be a palladium-nickel catalytic alloy hydrogen sensor. The adjustments may be based on a calculated mole percent hydrogen.

Abstract: A process of continuously controlling at least one characteristic of a simulated moving bed para-xylene separation process has been developed. The characteristics controlled may be the purity or the recovery of the para-xylene. The process involves measuring the concentrations of the para-xylene, meta-xylene, ortho-xylene, and ethylbenzene in the pumparound or pusharound stream, calculating the value of the characteristic, and making required adjustments to operating variables according to an algorithm which relates changes in the value of the characteristic to the changes in the concentrations of the components resulting from changes in the operating variables. The process is unique in that the necessary quantity of data to control the separation is rapidly generated, thereby providing increased efficiency, precision, and accuracy.

Abstract: A process of continuously controlling at least one characteristic of a simulated moving adsorbent bed separation process has been developed. The characteristics controlled may be the purity or the recovery of the component of interest. The process involves measuring the concentration of the components in the pumparound or pusharound stream, calculating the value of the characteristic, and making required adjustments to operating variables according to an algorithm which relates changes in the value of the characteristic to the changes in the concentrations of the components resulting from changes in the operating variables. The process is unique in that the necessary quantity of data to control the separation is rapidly generated, thereby providing increased efficiency, precision and accuracy.