Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a mixture of hydrocarbon gases that is manufactured during the refining of crude oil or extracted from oil or gas streams as they emerge from the ground. During this manufacturing process, carryover of non-desirable hydrocarbons can affect the color of the liquid petroleum gas. Measuring the Saybolt or ASTM color inline is a key parameter for quality control.
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Knowing when the liquid petroleum gas is out of specification allows refiners and fractionators to divert the LPG stream for refractionation rather than sending it to the terminalling pipeline.
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Liquefied petroleum gas pipeline color monitoring Benefits |
- Ensure LPG quality
- Reduce pipeline transportation time by ensuring only “in-spec” product
- Protect downstream equipment from damage
- No need for dilution samples
- Eliminate the need to condition a sample
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Monitoring the color quality of liquid petroleum gas benefits the refiner by ensuring their fractionation column is running efficiently and that they are selling “in spec” LPG. Other fractionation and terminalling facilities benefit by knowing their received product is within their requested specification. This also saves the facility extra costs needed for further fractionation of the contaminated LPG.
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Transportation pipeline pressures range from 1100 psi to 1400 psi. These high pressures require other LPG quality monitors to condition a sample before a measurement can be made. Optek offers a full range of explosion proof and high temperature / pressure sensors to monitor LPG quality inline. Installed using a slip stream off the main pipeline, optek sensors connect into the pipeline using one of our 600 class ASTM raised flange stainless steel flow cells providing real-time color measurements in either Saybolt or ASTM scales.
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| Liquefied petroleum gas pipeline color monitoring summary |
Monitoring liquid petroleum gas color inline is a key indicator for measuring the quality of the LPG. This measurement benefits refineries, fractionation facilities and terminal facilities by ensuring the amount of non-desirable carryovers is limited. When non-desirable carryover levels reach high levels, the LPG stream can be diverted allowing for refractionation of the product.
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Optek sensors meet all hazardous class and division requirement and can handle high pressures required to work with liquid petroleum gas in the pipeline.
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