An automated control and monitoring program has been deployed at an open recirculating cooling water system within a west coast refinery plant. The comprehensive monitoring program applied several fluorescence-based molecules as a means to determine appropriate dosage and consumption of cooling water chemicals. In the meantime, the fluorescence sensor molecules also provided information regarding microbial activity in the cooling water to trigger biocide feed control. All the fluorescence signals and system operating parameters were analyzed by a multi-channel fluorometer and its built-in control algorithm for an interactive system control on corrosion, scale and microbial fouling.

This comprehensive cooling water control scheme has revolutionized the conventional industrial water treatment strategy. The new 24/7 control package has resulted in improving the aspects of “cooling water triangle” and provided immediate mitigation of system upsets to ensure an uninterrupted plant product.

Subject
Water, Corrosion rate, Microbial control, Refineries, Water chemistry, Polymers, Phosphates, Steel, Pitting, Chlorine, Cooling water, Cooling towers, Fouling
Keywords:
automation, corrosion, on-line monitoring, real-time control, microbial control
© 2004 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
2004
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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