Solvent deasphalting unit
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The pipeline at the bottom of the extraction tower in our plant’s solvent deasphalting unit has a diameter of 40 inches, and it tends to get clogged easily during shutdown periods (specifically in the section from the bottom of the extraction tower to the flow control device). Are there any effective methods to prevent this? The diesel line cannot be flushed, and there is a propane injector at the bottom of the extraction tower; as a result, propane prevents diesel from getting in!
I’m not very familiar with this issue. We use butane for deasphalting, but I think if there’s no way to modify the process, the only options are to enhance the heating system or carry out major modifications... Just trying to help a bit here: lol
All the flushing lines of our device have been cut off; once it gets clogged, it’s impossible to flush it at all； Steam tracing or electric tracing can be considered ； The key is to operate properly during shutdowns to avoid clogging; we rarely encounter such situations when shutting down.
The amount of solvent returned from the extraction tower to the furnace should not be too small; it is necessary to maintain a longer circulation time for the solvent. Once a portion of the solvent in the system has flowed outward, the pressure in the extraction tower should be reduced. Diesel should then be used to flush the system, with the diesel being sent toward the bottom of the extraction tower in reverse flow. After flushing for a while, the normal process can be followed to send the solvent back to the furnace for recovery. This process can be repeated several times. In the case of butane deasphalting, it is important to use diesel with a higher density, in order to prevent it from evaporating into the solvent tank.
Won’t using diesel that way contaminate the solvent?