How to deal with low steam pressure in the compressor dedicated line
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At 7 p.m. today, the steam pressure in the compressor line of this unit (MIP) is too low. What should be done??? I’ll first describe the steps we took to address this issue; please point out any mistakes. First, we used a flare at the compressor outlet, but the pressure in the settler still didn’t drop!!! Then we used a smaller flare at the outlet, and the reaction system’s processing capacity was reduced from 65 to 30, which caused the pressure in the settler to drop!!! The pressure difference between the two vessels became too large, leading to significant loss of catalyst in the regenerator. The bed temperature was too low, so the external heat exchanger stopped the sulfidation process, and all the catalyst in the lift pipe was lost!! We had no choice but to stop feeding material!! After that, we resumed feeding material to the reaction system!! Some people say there’s no need to stop feeding; could any expert explain why?? Could you please provide a detailed description of the correct procedures and precautions to take?? Thank you!!
Handling it this way is certainly wrong. First, it is necessary to specify to what extent the steam pressure is low. 1. Is venting from the compressor outlet intended to reduce the compressor load? If the steam pressure drops to the limit required by the compressor, the compressor should be taken out of service and the inlet steam should be vented. If the low steam pressure is still sufficient to keep the compressor running, its speed should be reduced along with the load, while maintaining the reaction rate.
Not to mention low steam pressure, even if the compressor shuts down, it is not necessarily necessary to stop the feed flow. In such cases, a flare should be installed at the inlet of the compressor to control the pressure in the settler, while also reducing the load on the compressor.
How can severe loss of inventory in the regenerator be avoided? Is it caused by excessive pressure in the regenerator? What are the things to keep in mind for reaction positions? ?
If there is loss of material in the regenerator, it is generally not related to pressure levels; rather, it is closely associated with pressure fluctuations. In addition, the mechanical strength of the catalyst and its wear index also play a role. The biggest factor affecting this situation is the centrifugal separator – problems with this separator, such as blockages in the feed legs or the presence of debris at the inlet, can lead to severe material loss. In terms of operation, if it’s a centrifugation issue, no matter how much adjustments are made, they usually don’t have much effect. For other aspects, it’s important to maintain stable pressure, avoid making large adjustments, control the amount of material stored appropriately, prevent overheating, and ensure that the steam temperature isn’t too low.
If the steam pressure is too low, the efficiency of the compressor will decrease. Measures such as using an inlet flare or reducing the pressure in the reabsorption tower should be taken. If necessary, the compressor can be shut down, allowing the reaction pressure to be controlled by the inlet flare. Maintaining an appropriate differential pressure between the two vessels is a necessary condition for reducing catalyst loss