Typical Hydrocarbon Facility Applications

The following locations are typical applications where combustible gas detection devices are provided or should be considered in the hydrocarbon industry  

For enclosed areas, they can be considered adequately ventilated if they meet one of the following. Where artificial mechanisms are employed for ventilation assistance high reliability must be assured. 

The catalytic gas detector was originally developed in 1958 for the mining industry. It has become the standard means of detection worldwide in virtually all oil and gas operations. It is also used extensively in coal extraction and the chemical process industry. 

Catalytic gas detection is based on the principal that oxidation of a combustible gas in air is promoted at the surface of a heated catalyst such as a precious metal. The oxidation reaction results in the generation of heat that provides a direct measure of the concentration of the gas that has been reacted. The sensing element embodying the catalyst is a small bead that is supported with the sensor. 

They are sensitive to all flammable gases, and they give approximately the same response to the presence of the lower explosive limit (LEL) concentrations of all the common hydrocarbon gases and vapors. However it should be remembered that gas detectors do not respond equally to different combustible gases. The milli-volt signal output of a typical catalytic detector for hexane or xylene is roughly one half the signal output for methane. 

---

In some parts of the world religious functions may occur several times a day and every day of the week. These functions are generally required to be performed at the immediate location of an individual. These activities must be respected and accommodated for the employees and any personnel who may be in attendance at the facility. Typically where hydrocarbon facilities are located in areas were such practices are performed, a specialized installation (i.e., mosque) is normally provided. The primary concern in their application is that the installation does not interfere with the operation of the facility, is not provided within the confines of a hazardous location (i.e., process location), and that it is shielded or removed from the effects of an explosion or fire. Typical applications provide these specialized facilities just outside the security fencing and access gate a facility. 

All hydrocarbon process areas containing materials with gaseous materials that are not adequately ventilated (i.e., would not achieve a minimum of six air changes per hour or would allow the build up of flammable gas due to noncirculating air space). Typically applications include compressor enclosures, process modules in offshore platforms and enclosed arctic facilities. 

Figure 6 illustrates another highly developed application of our FTIR facility. Trace (A) shows the complete absorbance spectrum, 600-3600 cm-1, of a CVS bag sample of a typical auto exhaust. While dominated by water vapor and CO2 absorption, several interesting features are visible. For instance, the carbon monoxide band is readily apparent, as is absorption due to heavy hydrocarbon (indicated by the broad unresolved C-H stretch band). In Trace (B) absorption due to CH4, NO2, formaldehyde and as well, water and heavy hydrocarbon can clearly be seen. In Trace (C),... 

Source reduction of NOx from combustion is based on the modification of combustion conditions (mostly temperature). This approach includes EGR. SAC and LNB etc. In SNCR process urea or NH3 is injected into high temperature region (> 900 C) to promote noncatalytic reaction between NH radicals and NOx. Early applications of SNCR mostly used anhydrous or aqueous NHj and suffered from a narrow temperature range. Later, the use of urea has been found to be efTiciem. and now marketed under the trade name of NOxOUT process. The urca-SNCR (NO.vOUT) process can reduce NOx up to 90%, while the reductions rate NOx using typical SNCR ranges 40-75% depending on residence lime, temperature, and mixing condition. SCR process has been widely applied for NOx control in many combustion facilities. SCR process use NH3 or hydrocarbons before a catalyst bed. 

---