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In-service Investigation on the Flow Dynamics of a Trayed Column from the Measurement of an Internal Density by using a Gamma Absorption Technique  

Kim, Jae-Ho (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Radioisotope Research Division)
Kim, Jong-Bum (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Radioisotope Research Division)
Kim, Jin-Seop (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Radioisotope Research Division)
Lee, Na-Young (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Radioisotope Research Division)
Lee, Sung-Sik (Safetech Co Ltd)
Jang, Seok-Joon (Safetech Co Ltd)
Jung, Sung-Hee (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Radioisotope Research Division)
Publication Information
Journal of Radiation Protection and Research / v.33, no.1, 2008 , pp. 35-40 More about this Journal
Abstract
A distillation tower is one of the important facilities which separates and refines a crude oil stream according to certain boiling points. Its operation efficiency can affect the productivity of a refinery substantially. The objective of this study is to elucidate some operational information on the internal conditions of a distillation tower from a measurement of density profile by using a sealed gamma-ray source and a radiation detector. Gamma radiation counts were measured by a BGO detector positioned diametrically outside the tower-wall, opposite to the gamma source(Co-60) as the detector and the source were lowered concurrently. From the results, structural abnormality of the trays was not found inside the tower. Considering the flow distribution patterns, however, a vapor phase was dominantly formed at the upper part of the tower and a liquid phase at the lower part. From the gamma scanning of the distillation tower, it is anticipated that the gamma absorption technique can be used as an important tool for confirming the structural soundness of trays and investigating flow distribution in refinery facilities.
Keywords
Distillation tower; Sealed gamma-ray source; Automatic column scanner; Gamma scan; Tray; Industrial process diagnosis;
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