Considerations in taking Samples from Lubes De-waxing Reaction Section
Subramanian Bhaskaran
![Subramanian Bhaskaran]()
Subramanian Bhaskaran
Develop, Engineer, Commission Troubleshoot: Process Engineering | Technical Safety | Technical Services | Commissioning
Ever taken a sample from a high pressure reactor outlet? It could be tricky. A sampling system had to be designed to take the reactor outlet high temperature and high pressure sample. Many iterations and several inputs from vendor, licenser, operating staff and safety experts had to be gleaned. The safety issues in taking a sample from a De-waxing unit reactor outlet are as below:
- The sample is at high pressure and high temperature containing hydrogen
- Sample is in two phase state
- sample needs to cooled appropriately
- No sample holder can withstand the the reaction pressure; so needed to let down pressure and have appropriate pressure relief consideration.
- Sampler needed a over temperature protection
- Sampler required adequate pressure and temperature indication
- Appropriate metallurgy and piping class required
- Valving needed to be reliable
- Appropriate purging capabilities required to collect a representative sample
- System needed to have a purge connection to flare
- Required a closed system to avoid an environmental release
- The system required a detailed safety review
- The system required a detailed operating procedure
- Operators required proper training and PPE
Please add any other requirements that you think is critical!
Process Engineering / Commissioning / Technical Service / HSE department
4 年?Extreme care and good judgment are necessary to ensure samples are obtained that represent the high pressure, high temperature, flammable fluids. Clean hands are important. Clean gloves are absolutely necessary when handling at a high temperature for reasons of safety. Never completely fill a sample container, but allow adequate room for expansion, taking into consideration the temperature of the liquid at the time of filling and the probable maximum temperature to which the filled container may be subjected.?? As many petroleum vapors are toxic and flammable, avoid breathing them or igniting them from an open flame or a spark produced by static. When sampling relatively volatile products more than 13.8 kPa RVP, Fill and allow the sampling apparatus to drain before drawing the sample. When sampling non-volatile liquid products 13.8 kPa RVP or less, the sampling apparatus shall be filled and allowed to drain before drawing the actual sample. When samples of more than 1210 kPa RVP are being obtained, be sure to use containers strong enough to meet local safety regulations. After delivery to the laboratory, volatile samples should be cooled before the container is opened.?