Outside Influences on Nuclear Levels in Refineries

Presented By

David Williams - Berthold Technologies

Conference: Valencia 2018

In a modern refinery, there are many processes that rely on radiometric measurement device to ensure safe and reliable operation of the process unit. These units include: delayed coking units, continuous catalyst reformers, resid hydrocrackers (both slurry and ebullated bed) and many tower bottoms such as FCCU frac tower, vacuum towers and main crude towers. When these systems are correctly engineered, installed and calibrate, they can provide many years of useful operations. After many years of useful service, they start giving erroneous trips or level readings. What can be causing these issues all of a sudden? Are you building a new unit which requires several radiography tests? If so, this can be your source of issues. We will look at various issues that cause erroneous trips and/or level readings such as NDT radiography, interference from adjacent vessels, water.

  • What is radiography?
  • Why does it causes issues?
  • Does shielding work?
  • Why not?
  • Interference from adjacent vessel?
  • Interference from different type of technology (NBS vs Gamma)
  • Interference on NBS
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