Topnir looks inside the refinery
15 Jan 2000
BP Chemicals is about to launch a licensor network for its Topnir system - a near-infrared sensor that can characterise hydrocarbon streams in refineries. The process provides data to control or plant optimisor systems, and can improve performance in many refinery and petrochemical systems, claims the company.
Topnir uses an infra-red laser and interferometer to obtain its spectra. Combining this with topographical modelling provides an on-line readout of the composition of a hydrocarbon stream. Whereas other on-line systems need several analysers, such as gas chromatography and on-line analysis, and take about an hour to provide results, near-infrared spectroscopy can provide the chemical structure, composition, physical and chemical properties of the stream in about a minute, claims BP.
Advanced control feedback systems can use the information from Topnir to optimise the process. Naphtha quality varies, and the conditions inside plants have to be adjusted to compensate with this. The time savings provided by Topnir allow these adjustments to be made much faster. The system provides annual savings `usually in excess of $1million per installation,' claims BP.
The system was originally developed at the Lavera refinery in France, and has been running on the refinery's crude feed since 1992. Two years later, it was extended to characterise the plant's distillates. It is now used at the company's complexes in Grangemouth and Castellon, Spain.
Having proved Topnir's potential over several years, BP is now creating a licensor network for the technology. Applied Automation/Hartmann & Braun, Kellogg, Linde, Stone & Webster and Technip will all have access to the technology under the agreement.
Near-infrared is a potent tool for petrochemical players, and has therefore been researched and patented by several key players in the industry. BP has agreed to pool its patented know-how with Ashland Oil and cross-license the technology, with both partners having the right to sub-license.
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