ABSTRACT

Treating steam condensate systems with neutralizing and filming amines has been commonplace in industry for several decades. Refinery steam and condensate systems are often considered “tough to treat” due to their complex configuration and uses of the steam - direct injection in furnaces and distillation towers, flash-steam reboilers, high alkalinity make-up water sources, multiple opportunities to introduce hydrocarbon contaminants, and several other factors - requiring extra attention to maintain good system protection while minimizing impact on the process. Specifically, improper selection and application of steam neutralizing amines can contribute to salt-induced fouling and corrosion in crude overhead systems. In response, technology development in the areas of amine performance modeling, neutralizing amine selection and the use of volatile filming corrosion inhibitors facilitates steam system protection and avoids process system salting. This paper will discuss the design, application, and benefits of utilizing an integrated approach to develop programs to both protect the steam system and avoid negative impact to the refinery process. Several short case studies are included.

INTRODUCTION

Balancing reliability and efficiency in the steam plant and refinery operation has been a long-standing goal in the chemical treatment services provider and refinery partnership. However, that relationship has received greater attention in recent years as refiners look to further optimize operations to capture profitability. A prime example and focus of this discussion is when the refiner strives to maximize distillate production. This operational adjustment involves lowering the atmospheric distillation tower top temperature thereby moving dew point and amine-chloride salt points further upstream and potentially into the tower or pump arounds. If amine-chloride salts form, severe corrosion can occur and cause major reliability and economic implications in the form of unplanned shutdown and maintenance costs. The condensate treatment can directly impact this corrosion potential by introducing unwanted or “tramp” amines by way of the stripping steam used in the tower to help improve fractionation.

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