Corrosion can never be totally stopped, but significantly slowing its progress can be achieved if analyzers rapidly detect out-of-spec conditions. For a prominent European chemical company, switching from slow electrolytic sensors to almost real-time moisture analysis has made a significant improvement.
Wet chlorine is highly corrosive
More than 95% of world chlorine production is achieved using the chlor-alkali process, in which an aqueous salt solution (brine) is converted into chlorine and caustic soda by applying direct electric current.
The obtained raw chlorine gas is dried immediately after electrolysis as wet chlorine is highly corrosive to plant equipment. The water content directly influences the reactivity of the gas and the corrosivity increases steadily above a concentration of around 30 ppm H2O. “Dry” chlorine contains water in the low ppm range. To prevent downstream corrosion and to control chlorinator efficiency, the water content of the chlorine is constantly monitored.
Slow sensor response is a problem
One of the a leading producer of general purpose and specialty vinyls had been using electrolytic P2O5 (phosphor pentoxide) sensors for moisture monitoring, but were concerned with the sensors’ long reaction time (up to 5 minutes t90 time) which increased the risk of damage to downstream equipment should moisture levels rise. Additionally, the sensors required frequent maintenance (due to the need for regular catalyst regeneration), and as oxygen and hydrogen could form water molecules in the sensor, measurements were not always reliable.
Simpler technology means lower maintenance
Eager to find a more dependable, low maintenance solution, the company installed two METTLER TOLEDO GPro 500 tunable diode laser (TDL) spectrometer sensors. TDLs output a laser beam that is tuned to scan the wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum where absorption lines of the target species, in this case H2O, are present. The water molecules absorb the laser light and the sensor analyzes the depletion in the light to determine the water concentration in the dry chlorine.
If process conditions allow, TDLs can be installed in situ. However, to protect measurement integrity at the plant, a GPro 500 with an Extractive Cell adaption was connected to a new extractive system.
TDLs are non-contact instruments, which means they are low on maintenance compared with other analyzers, such as the electrolytic type, where the sensor is in direct contact with the gas stream and requires frequent maintenance/cleaning to preserve measurement. Maintenance for the GPro 500 amounts to occasional cleaning of the sensor’s optical windows and annual verification.
Rapid, reliable moisture measurements
TDLs offer another significant benefit for the company: they have a very fast response time. The t90 time for the GPro 500 is less than 2 seconds, a reaction speed they had never observed with their P2O5 sensors.
Since its commissioning, plant managers at the company have been delighted with the GPro 500′s accuracy, tolerance of process conditions, low maintenance and speed of response. They now have far greater confidence in their chlorinator process than ever before.
Wet chlorine gas produced during the chlor-alkali process is very corrosive and must be dried immediately. For one of the largest Europe’s largest producer of chlorine, monitoring the efficiency of their chlorine drying process is vital. But the long reaction time and high maintenance of the electrolytic P2O5 sensors they were using was causing concern and a better solution was required.
Find out in our success story how the GPro 500 is now providing them with:
• Greater process confidence
• High measurement accuracy
• Low maintenance costs
Discover the five reasons why chemical companies are adopting the GPro 500 as their gas analyzer of choice and why you should make the switch
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Corrosion can never be totally stopped, but significantly slowing its progress can be achieved if analyzers rapidly detect out-of-spec conditions. For a prominent European chemical company, switching from slow electrolytic sensors to almost real-time moisture analysis has made a significant improvement. READ MORE
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