Handling of voltage fluctuations and power outages in diesel hydrogenation processes

In the event of a power fluctuation, start the hydrogen circulation pump and the new hydrogen pump right away; waiting too long before taking action will result in further time losses. After that, start the hydrogen feeding pump, and then light the furnace (in our company’s hydrogenation unit, the interlock system only shuts off the main burner, leaving the pilot light intact, which makes it easier to light the furnace at this point). During these procedures, the operator on duty must closely monitor the pressure levels from high-pressure to low-pressure areas, as well as the liquid level and temperature in each tower. The main steps are done; you can take your time with the rest – don’t worry. In the event of a power outage, the reaction system loses pressure; the manual valves at the outlets of the high-pressure pumps close, feed of raw materials is halted, the valves for discharging the product close as well, and the manual valves between the high-pressure and low-pressure sections close. Based on changes in liquid level and pressure, dedicated personnel are assigned to operate these manual valves in order to relieve pressure and discharge the material. During the cooling down of the device, strict routine inspections of all cooling and heat exchange components are carried out to prevent leakage accidents. Once the main tasks are completed, the rest will depend on the circumstances. By strengthening training in this area regularly, there are generally no major problems.

Note on power outages: 1. In the event of a power outage, make sure to shut down the heating furnaces in the fractionation unit to prevent oil coking in the furnace tubes. 2. Reduce the pressure in the low-pressure column and lower the valve setting of the stripping tower. 3. The three return and one discharge valves of the new hydrogen compressor must be shut down immediately to prevent overpressure in the new hydrogen tank. 4. Utilize the limited power supply time of the UPS and the air pressure of the instrument air to adjust the control valve, so as to prevent the device from overheating or overpressuring. 5. Pay attention to the high-temperature flanges in the reaction system and distillation system; in case of a leak, cover it promptly with steam.

Protecting the hydrogen circulation machine is of utmost importance. As for the other furnaces, feed pumps, and new hydrogen generators, they can be stopped simply by turning them off; as long as there is no pressure buildup, everything will be fine. But if the hydrogen circulation machine cannot be started, it may be necessary to release pressure and lower the temperature. Therefore, it is most important to start the hydrogen circulation pump as soon as possible to maintain hydrogen circulation within the system. Then, raise the temperature, resume feeding, and add new hydrogen according to the specific conditions.

Expert – concise and to the point. I personally think mental resilience is very important; I know people around me who are usually key members of their teams, but end up in a state of chaos when things go wrong.

Agreed, mental strength is very important. They talk at length when things are calm, but lack determination when faced with challenges; they panic when it’s time to make decisions.

If there’s a power fluctuation, don’t panic – just start driving； In the event of a power outage, it is sufficient to stop the system safely to prevent high voltage from affecting low voltage levels and to avoid excessive temperature rise

During a lightning surge, high-voltage equipment usually stops working. The large bypass should be shut off as soon as possible to maintain the circulation rate as much as possible, while paying attention to the temperature rise in the bed layer ； Switch off the new hydrogen machine’s three circuits to prevent voltage surging ； Shut off the equipment outlet and use the feed pump outlet to purge with hydrogen. Recovery begins by restarting the hydrogen generator, followed by restarting the new hydrogen generator, feed pump, and other equipment that are shut down. Remember to turn off the purge hydrogen before starting the feed pump.

May I ask why the pressure needs to be released if the hydrogen circulation machine cannot start up in a short period of time?

You can’t operate the circulating hydrogen for short periods of time, as the heat generated by the reaction cannot be dissipated, leading to overheating. Apart from releasing pressure to ensure safety, what other measures are there? ! !