Servomex provides unique solution for ExxonMobil
Collaboration between Servomex and engineers at ExxonMobil Chemicals in Fife, Scotland, has solved the problem of measuring the presence of water used in the sulfinol process. ExxonMobil Chemicals' ethylene plant uses ethane, propane and butane for the production of ethylene. These inevitably contain levels of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, which are corrosive and capable of causing damage to the ethylene liquefaction plant. The gases are removed suing the Sulfinol process, a widely applied gas treatment process which reduces the water content of the constituents. The water content after processing provides a quality indicator of the efficiency of the process. Servomex designed and built a custom-made sampling system, based on its infrared gas analyser, the 2500, which allows continuous monitoring of the water content and indicates immediately if the water level increases. The new system enables ExxonMobil to control the absorption of water more efficiently, and a further advantage has been the consequent cost savings. On-line analysis has also reduced the “foaming” of the sulfinol, which could cause production problems downstream of the analyser.