In a petroleum refinery, crude oil is processed and transformed into an overhead liquid distillate, known as naphtha. Catalytic reforming upgrades low-octane naphthas into high-octane gasoline blending components called reformates. Using heat and pressure with platinum catalysts to rearrange hydrocarbon molecules, this process converts low-octane gasoline fractions into petrochemical feedstocks and higher octane stocks suitable for finished gasoline blending. Reformates can also be used as a source of chemicals that are important in plastics production, such as benzene or xylene.
Magnetrol® has produced an applications brochure for the petroleum refining industry detailing level measurement challenges and solutions for each step of the refining process. This blog post is part of an occasional series exploring each application in detail.
Level Measurement Challenges and Considerations
A hydrogen-rich gas stream is removed from the separator for recycling. Liquid product monitored for level at the bottom of the separator is sent to a stabilizer. Where stabilizer fouling has occurred due to the formation of ammonium chloride and iron salts, a monitored water wash system should also be included.
In addition, any level solutions selected to monitor catalytic reformers must be able to withstand the challenging process conditions in petroleum refineries, including high temperatures and corrosive media. Delivering accurate measurement readings in the face of these conditions will ensure the safety and reliability of the catalytic reforming process.
Level Measurement Solutions
MAGNETROL has produced level measurement solutions for catalytic reforming:
·   For point level:
Series 3 float-actuated external cage level switch
·   For continuous level:
E3 Modulevel® displacer-actuated transmitter; Eclipse® Model 706 guided wave radar transmitter; or Pulsar® Model R86 radar transmitter
·   CONTACTUS by E-mail: marketing@magnetrol.be or Web:www.magnetrol.com
