Application
Oxygen is measured in inert gases that blanket hydrocarbon and other organic liquids during storage, mixing, or other processes.
Customer’s Challenge
Air can leak into the vapor space above hydrocarbon liquids stored in tanks or process vessels. To remove the oxygen present due to the air leaking into the vessel, inert gases, such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide, are used to purge the vapor space above the liquids. The oxygen level must be kept below the lower explosive limit (LEL) of the hydrocarbon vapors present.
Prior to the use of thermoparamagnetic oxygen analyzers in this application, electrochemical sensors were used, often without a proper sample system, resulting in condensing hydrocarbons fouling/destroying the sensor. Frequent manual calibration to ensure the sensor responds to changes in oxygen and replacement due to liquid carry-over result in high maintenance and operating costs.
Benefits:
Panametrics designed systems maximize uptime:
- Sample system design mitigates liquid carry-over to the sensor
- XMO2 thermoparamagnetic sensor more immune to minor liquid carry-over
- XDP display/controller drives solenoid valves in the sample system for automated calibrations
Panametrics’ Solution
Continuous monitoring of the oxygen content using a thermoparamagnetic oxygen analyzer with an analyzer display package and a properly designed sample system (with solenoid valves for auto-calibration) provides maintenance-free operation. The sample system can mitigate liquid condensation reaching the sensor. The sensor design has no moving parts, thus any liquid carry-over can be easily drained. The automatic calibration triggered by the controller minimizes manual calibration
In most applications, the appropriate location of the oxygen measurement system is at or near the top of the vessel or storage tank. The purge nitrogen source passes through the eductor in the sample system to draw the sample from the headspace. Liquids from the liquid dump, bypass filter bottom flow, and the sample are returned with the nitrogen back to the headspace in a closed-loop system, thus venting nothing to the atmosphere. Alternatively, during calibration, the span gas may be vented to atmosphere so that the system does not introduce air into the headspace, even in small amounts.
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