California refiner identifies crude tower instability using root cause analysis

An atmospheric crude tower at Atlantic Richfield Co.'s Carson, California, refinery experienced a severe operating instability shortly after being revamped. During the revamp, high-capacity trays were installed in the mid-pumparound (PA), and heat exchange surface was added to the top and mid-P...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Oil & gas journal 2002-02, Vol.100 (7), p.42-48
Main Authors: KISTER, H.Z, HANSON, D.W, MORRISON, T
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Case studies
Cold
Crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products
Data interpretation
Distributed control systems
Energy
Exact sciences and technology
Field tests
Fuels
Heat
Heat exchange
Hydraulics
Maintenance management
Petroleum industry
Petroleum refineries
Processing of crude oil and oils from shales and tar sands. Processes. Equipment. Refinery and treatment units
Refineries
Simulation
Temperature
Trouble shooting
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Summary:An atmospheric crude tower at Atlantic Richfield Co.'s Carson, California, refinery experienced a severe operating instability shortly after being revamped. During the revamp, high-capacity trays were installed in the mid-pumparound (PA), and heat exchange surface was added to the top and mid-PA circuits. The problem was unrelated to the new trays, although they were initially suspected as the cause. The problem's root cause was the draw pan above the new trays, which had been in the tower since the original design. Low-cost modifications to the draw pan completely eliminated the instability, allowing full benefits from the tower revamp. The key to the revamps success was systematic troubleshooting, based on field tests and data interpretation, which led to a correct diagnosis of the problem's root cause.
ISSN:0030-1388
1944-9151