A quantitative approach to investigate downpour condition of distillation column using gamma beam radiation

The area underneath the downcomer, part of distillation column is called the downpour area. If a tray deck troubleshoot like corrodes, it often first holes through in the downpour area. This will cause flooding due to the downcomer back up. An investigation of the crude distillation column was performed using an integrated system of photomultiplier detector and collimated gamma beam radiation. Gamma beam penetrated the object material as a transmitter of the radiation signal and will be accepted by the detector as its receiver. The main construction of this distillation column consists of 33 trays where each tray has two downpours and an accumulator. Distillation can be used to separate multi-component mixtures of crude oil. Many variables such as column pressure, temperature, size, and diameter are determined by the properties of the feed and the desired products. The measurement utilizes 75 mCi gamma activity and panoramic collimation design of the photomultiplier detector. This two equipment are aligned oppositely, and set on different four orientations scans, in order to obtain the condition of downpour system at each tray. Resolution scan of 5 cm each step from the bottom level to 34 m height. The duration time to measure radiation intensity is 3 seconds for each step. The quantitative result indicates abnormal flooding on the bottom segment tray #1 to #4. Abnormal condition is also identified as collapse tray, at tray #6. The quantitative approach has successfully determined the downpour condition in the distillation column.