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What are the methods and guidelines to predict SRU Claus Catalyst life.
 
Answers
27/05/2014 A: Rajesh Nandanwar, Bharat Oman Refineries Limited, Bina, rajesh.nandanwar@borl.co.in
For quick understanding of the catalyst life of catalyst, a graph can give you activity profile of the catalyst bed. Plot the graph of temperature Vs bed height and check how it is varying.
1. A good catalyst would give you total exotherm on 1st layer of thermocouple at top of bed and thereafter uniform almost horizontal curve till bottom outlet. If activity is full and no fouling at bed top , exotherm of 70-75 deg C in first thermocouple of bed for 1st converter is possible.
2. If deactivation is uniform then then the curve would shift to right, it will have similar exotherm but achieved at 2nd thermocouple.
3. If severe deactivation has happened then the 1st thermocouple would not show any exotherm but it would start at lower level in bed and may continue till 3rd thermocouple.
4. For complete deactivation from top to bottom, exotherm would be achievable at 75-100 % of bed depth. This is the time when catalyst life is considered exhausted.
To check channeling in the bed- different column temperature graphs can be made. (4-6 columns of temperature indications are available in the bed with each column have 4 -6 thermocouples at diff depth as per the bed height)
Monthly comparison of the graph with previous would tell the performance deterioration and actions required during turn around.
For more details you may refer to std literature available on SRU Claus converters.
26/05/2014 A: Rajesh Nandanwar, Bharat Oman Refineries Limited, Bina, rajesh.nandanwar@borl.co.in
For quick understanding of the catalyst life of catalyst, a graph can give you activity profile of the catalyst bed. Plot the graph of temperature Vs bed height and check how it is varying.
1. A good catalyst would give you total exotherm on 1st layer of thermocouple at top of bed and thereafter uniform almost horizontal curve till bottom outlet. If activity is full and no fouling at bed top , exotherm of 70-75 deg C in first thermocouple of bed for 1st converter is possible.
2. If deactivation is uniform then then the curve would shift to right, it will have similar exotherm but achieved at 2nd thermocouple.
3. If severe deactivation has happened then the 1st thermocouple would not show any exotherm but it would start at lower level in bed and may continue till 3rd thermocouple.
4. For complete deactivation from top to bottom, exotherm would be achievable at 75-100 % of bed depth. This is the time when catalyst life is considered exhausted.
To check channeling in the bed- different column temperature graphs can be made. (4-6 columns of temperature indications are available in the bed with each column have 4 -6 thermocouples at diff depth as per the bed height)
Monthly comparison of the graph with previous would tell the performance deterioration and actions required during turn around.
For more details you may refer to std literature available on SRU Claus converters.