VACUUM TOWERS

BY
CH.USHA SUSMITHA
14021A2535
CONTENTS
Suction Screen
Air Leak
High Flash-Zone Pressure
Thermal Cracking
Suction screen
During thermal cracking coke is formed and it washed
into the pump suction.
So it will block the suction screen.
Pressure survey will identify this problem
Pressure at the pump suction & above the liquid level
in the boot is calc &expressed in feet.
It should be equal to the ht of the liq level in the boot
If the pressure diff is a bit less than the ht then the
pump suction screen is plugged
So it should be cleaned.
Air Leak
If any leak in a flange on the pump suction piping then
there will be loss of NPSH
Any air sucked in it will reduce the density and it will
reduce the head of the liquid
If head is decreasing we can say that there is a leak
Air can also enter through the bad seal
Seal oil pressure will reduce the cavitation
Pour the seal oil onto the seal to check any leaks
Precautions have to be taken because this could cause a
seal oil fire
High Flash-Zone Pressure
Reduce the resid will depend upon T &P
Increase in pressure increase the resid
Vacuum tower pressure survey will troubleshoot this
problem
Before starting trays, demister, ejectors should be
clean & in good condition
Pressure calculated by portable mercury filled
manometer /vacuum pressure guage
2 pressure surveys were done
1.before start up
2.during the running of the tower
wash oil is added but will the production of
undesirable trim gas oil
 in pressure around top/bottom pump around trays
will indicate flooding
High P result in air leaks, excessive production of
hydrocarbon gases etc can be observed.
Thermal Cracking
If we increase the flash zone temp then
there will decrease the
amt of resid
Thermal Cracking will rates double
for every increase in 200F-250F
Production of non
condensable gases increases
with temp
Overload the ejector system
Increases the coke on demister pad
Overcoming the high flash zone pressure by increasing the temp
is not a good idea.