CONFIDENTIAL

CHT – RPIP
Vacuum Column Monitoring

October 2011

Copyright of Shell Global Solutions Malaysia 10/14/2011 1

CONTENTS
• LVGO yield low

• Poor separation LVGO / Distillates

• Vacuum set problems

• Black distillate

• Insufficient wetting rate at wash oil bed

bottom

• Short run length HVU furnaces

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VACUUM COLUMN MONITORING

• LVGO yield low

? Cut point of HGO in atmospheric

column too high

Check HGO / LR cut point in atmos.

column. Typical HGO in LR ~ 5%

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VACUUM COLUMN MONITORING

• Poor separation LVGO / Distillates

? Too low VGO reflux

Increase VGO reflux by reducing the

reflux duty in the sections below the
VGO bed

?Flooding in the VGO bed

Check ∆P

Check ∆T

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• Vacuum set problems

? Overloading of ejector sets

Check by taking out I stage ejector. If no

deterioration occurs, overloading is a likely
cause

Increase CR to reduce HC to O/H

LVGO yield should ~ 2% on RCO to help

absorb non-condensable HC

Check for excessive lighters / steam in feed

Ejector inversion

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VACUUM COLUMN MONITORING

• Black distillate
? Overloading vacuum column

Check vapour loading on the wash oil bed.

?Inadequate wetting - bottom of wash oil bed

Calculate wetting rate / increase wetting rate

?Severe entrainment from feed inlet

Check transfer line velocity ( < 90% sonic

velocity )

Check feed inlet entrainment performance

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• Black distillate
? Leaking heat exchanger

Check for possible leaks in CR exchanger

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VACUUM COLUMN MONITORING

• Insufficient wetting rate at wash oil bed

bottom
? Insufficient wash oil flow

Increase wash oil flow.

?Entrainment from spray nozzles

Check wash oil spray nozzle ∆P. Too high

pressure drop leads to higher entrainment

Too low pressure drop could be due to

damaged nozzles / grid

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• Short run length HVU furnaces

? Too high salt in LR feed

Check for Sodium in feed.

Reduce caustic injection, if possible
?Incomplete decoking of vacuum furnaces

Suggested decoking – spalling / 1st coke
burn/water wash / 2nd coke burn

Use pigging
?Wrong skin temperature measurement

Use recommended procedure / Use infra red
measurements

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Q&A

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