Petrochemical

Analyzers and systems for measurement and control in petrochemical processing

Preventing Contamination Protects Your Business

Contamination in petrochemical processes can cost millions of dollars in damaged equipment, poor product quality or cause potentially fatal explosions. Operators have to control levels of typical contaminants or other undesired impurities such as moisture, oxygen, hydrogen and carbon dioxide to ensure safety, protect equipment and maximize the quality of their end product.

PST Global Footprint and Petrochemical Industry Experience

PST customers benefit from direct access to the manufacturer via our global service and sales network of experts with excellent technical skills. Our products are purpose designed and manufactured for the challenges of the petrochemical industry. For specific needs our experienced systems engineering departments will work with you to create custom systems and packages.

Products Designed For the Challenges of Petrochemical Processes

We offer measurement equipment for continuous monitoring of moisture, oxygen, hydrogen or other gas impurities. Products range from small-footprint process transmitters, lightweight portable analyzers for spot checking or transmitters for direct installation where space or cost-efficient measurement matters. Trace impurities are measured with our latest Plasma Emission Detection gas chromatograph systems or online analyzers.

Product Selector

Ethylene/Propylene Production

Application/Service Purpose of Measurement Parameter/Measurement Range Measured Gas/Background gas Recommended Product
Molecular sieve drying system To prevent the formation of hydrates and ice compounds which could block pipes and/or damage equipment Moisture in liquid (ppmW) or gas (ppwV) depending on process sample point and user preference.

<5ppmV in gas,
<1pppmW in liquid
Cracked petrochemical feedstock (typically naphtha and natural gas) Liquidew I.S.
Promet EExd
Promet I.S.
QMA601
Furnace and distillation columns Ensure optimal cracking process, CO, CO2, H2 reduce the catalytic effect of the reactor and increase downtimes

Measure Ethylene/Propylene end quality (incl. air gases removal induced with steam)
Trace impurities (H2, O2, N2, CH4, CO, CO2)

<10ppmV
Cracked petrochemical feedstock (typically naphtha and natural gas) MultiDetek 3 EX
MultiDetek 3
LDetek Accessories

Polymerization

Application/Service Purpose of Measurement Parameter/Measurement Range Measured Gas/Background gas Recommended Product
Polyethylene, Polypropylene production: Measuring moisture to protect catalyst and ensure feedstock purity. Ensure product quality - Physical properties of polymer (moisture reacts with catalytic sites & interferes with polymerization) Moisture in Liquid (ppmW) and/or gas (ppmV)
<5ppmV ingas, <1ppmW in liquid
Ethylene, propylene, solvent (hexane) QMA401
Promet I.S.
Promet EExd
Liquidew I.S.
Polyethylene, Polypropylene production: Measuring oxygen to protect catalyst and insure feedstock Prevent contamination with O2 which can spoil the process and affect product quality 50ppb to 10 ppm Oxygen Ethylene, propylene, N2 Blanket GPR 18 MS
GPR-18 ATEX
GPR-1200
Minox-I
Polyethylene, Polypropylene production: Monitoring levels of impurities to protect catalyst and maintain feedstock purity Ensure good quality of the final product Monitoring for typical impurities eg permanent gases (hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon monoxide) and moisture.
<10ppmV
Ethylene, propylene HyDetek MultiDetek 3
MultiDetek 3 Ex
Accessories
Polymerization: Monitor oxygen purity used for polymer production Enable production cost savings e.g. switching feedstocks to less expensive alkane, reduce explosion hazards % Oxygen
100% O2
Oxygen Michell XTP601

Syngas

Application/Service Purpose of Measurement Parameter/Measurement Range Measured Gas/Background gas Recommended Product
Syngas: Steam methane reforming (SMR) Catalyst protection, process efficiency and to ensure good quality of the final product Trace impurities <10ppmV Hydrogen rich syngas (H to CO ratio of 3) HyDetek
MultiDetek 3
MultiDetek 3 Ex
Accessories
Syngas CO2 (or dry) reforming Process efficiency, ensuring good quality of the final product Trace impurities <10ppmV Syngas (H to CO ratio of 1) HyDetek
MultiDetek 3
MultiDetek 3 Ex
Accessories
Syngas: Partial oxidation (POX) Catalyst protection (if catalytic POX), process efficiency, ensuring good quality of the final product Trace impurities <10ppmV Syngas (H to CO ratio of 2) HyDetek
MultiDetek 3
MultiDetek 3 Ex
Accessories
All gasification processes Safety O2
0 to 5% or 0 to 25%
Syngas Minox-I
GPR-28

Reforming

Application/Service Purpose of Measurement Parameter/Measurement Range Measured Gas/Background gas Recommended Product
Monitor moisture in semi-regenerative catalytic reforming (SRR) and continuous catalyst regeneration (CCR) Catalyst protection, process efficiency, avoid coking in catalyst bed Moisture, ppmV
10 to 25 ppmV (up to 1,000 ppmV during regeneration)
Typically 75% H2, 25% C1- C8
Hydrocarbon Gas (potentially with HC Liquid)
QMA601 (Asymmetric cycle version)
OptiPEAK TDL600 (with special reformer gas settings and calibration)
Promet EEXd
Promet I.S.
(special purge/isolate sampling system)
Reforming: Measure trace impurities in semi-regenerative catalytic reforming (SRR) and continuous catalyst regeneration (CCR) Catalyst protection, process efficiency, avoid coking in catalyst bed Trace impurities
Low ppmV
Typically 75% H2, 25% C1-C8
Hydrocarbon Gas (potentially with HC liquid)
MultiDetek 3
Accessories
Reforming: Measure hydrogen level in semi-regenerative catalytic reforming (SRR) and continuous catalyst regeneration (CCR) Catalyst protection, process efficiency, avoid coking in catalyst bed % H2
0-100%, 50-100% H2
Typically 75% H2, 25% C1-C8 Hydrocarbon Gas (potentially with HC liquid) XTC601

Aromatic HCs

Application/Service Purpose of Measurement Parameter/Measurement Range Measured Gas/Background gas Recommended Product
Aromatic HCs: Moisture in liquid mesurement in BTX Fractionation from Naptha Reformate Ensure Quality of raw material feeding downstream processes Moisture in liquid, ppmW 0-100ppmW normal <1ppmW
C6, C7, C8 aromatic HC (Benzene, toluene and xylene) liquids Michell Liquidew I.S.
Michell Easidew PRO XP LQ

Isomerization

Application/Service Purpose of Measurement Parameter/Measurement Range Measured Gas/Background gas Recommended Product
Isomerization: Naptha dehydration - Monitor moisture in molecular seive Catalyst protection Moisture in liquid, ppmW
0-100ppmW, normal <1ppmW
C5-C6 HC Liquid Michell Liquidew I.S.
Michell Easidew PRO XP LQ

Sulfur Recovery

Application/Service Purpose of Measurement Parameter/Measurement Range Measured Gas/Background gas Recommended Product
Sulfur recovery: Monitor Oxygen purity in sulfur recovery unit Reduce SO2 emissions and enable use of heavier crude

Prevent poisoning of catalyst with H2S
Oxygen purity 30%-100% O2
Natural gas and refined petroleum products Michell XTP601

Hydrosulfurization

Application/Service Purpose of Measurement Parameter/Measurement Range Measured Gas/Background gas Recommended Product
Hydrosulfurization (HDS): Measure impurities levels during sulfur removal Reduce SO2 emissions and enable use of heavier crude

Prevent poisoning of catalyst with H2S
Trace impurities (H2S, COS) <10 ppmv
Natural gas and refined petroleum products LDetek MultiDetek 3 EX
Accessories
GPR-7500/7100

Synthetic Rubber Plant

Application/Service Purpose of Measurement Parameter/Measurement Range Measured Gas/Background gas Recommended Product
Synthetic Rubber Plant: Monitor moisture in feed liquids to co-polymerization Ensure product quality, physical properties of rubber Moisture in liquid, ppmW
0-100 ppmW, normal <1 ppmW
1,3-Butadiene, ethylbenzene and styrene liquids Michell Liquidew I.S.

Confined Space (e.g. Storage tanks, Reaction Vessels)

Application/Service Purpose of Measurement Parameter/Measurement Range Measured Gas/Background gas Recommended Product
Confined spaces (e.g. storage tanks, reaction vessels) Monitoring ambient oxygen levels to prevent risk of asphyxiation for workers performing routine maintenance Oxygen

0-25% O2
Air OxyTx
FGD10

Liquid Vessels & Storage Tanks

Application/Service Purpose of Measurement Parameter/Measurement Range Measured Gas/Background gas Recommended Product
Monitor oxygen levels in blanket chemicals and refined feedstocks Ensure safety during storage or transport by land or sea Trace & % O2
0-10 ppmv, 0-5%,
0-25% O2
N2 GPR-18 ATEX
GPR-1800
Minox-I
XTP601
GPR-1200 for spot checks

Feedstock Pipelines

Application/Service Purpose of Measurement Parameter/Measurement Range Measured Gas/Background gas Recommended Product
Measurement of oxygen levels in pipelines containing natural gas and olefin feedstocks Detects oxygen leaks and avoids a potentially explosive atmosphere Trace O2
<5 ppm O2
Ethylene, propylene, butadiene, natural gas GPR-18 ATEX
Minox-I

GPR-1200 for spot checks

Selected Applications for the Petrochemical Industry