Petroleum Company Increased Their Catalyst Protection Filter Capacity by 214%
Ask Filter Man
conditions, which mandated some creative thinking on their equipment
supplier's response to the problem at hand.
SITUATION
A company was using an older Ronningen-Petter (RPA Process
Technologies) REACTOGARD Catalyst Protection Filter. Due to a recent
increase in demand, they needed to escalate the volume while at the
same time change the composition of the feedstock.
Unfortunately, the existing filter was in need of repair (valves and
controls), and as a result it was backwashing too frequently and
generating too much waste during the new process conditions.
They knew they needed a new filter solution to handle the new
parameters. To make matters more interesting, they did not have the
time available to decommission the filter and set up piping for an
updated system.
Another unknown factor was how much bigger the new filter would have to
be to effectively handle the changed feed and increased flow. This led
the company to contact Ronningen-Petter for a creative solution.
RONNINGEN-PETTER SOLUTION
The Applications Specialist at Ronningen-Petter determined that a
staged solution was necessary to keep the customers feedstock line
working while an effective upgrade was occurring. Therefore, they
brought in a Petroleum Test Skid to accurately assess the existing
filters performance on the new feedstock. Based on this data, a new
filter was proposed.
The new filter was designed to fit onto the existing pads and anchor
bolts. In keeping with the customers request to keep the line running
while the new filter was put into operation, the process connections
were designed to bolt up to the existing connections, and the filter
control package was designed to allow the new system to be put in place
one bank at a time.
This enabled the customer to change out the 5-bank catalyst protection
filter system without stopping their process.
RESULTS
The customer increased filtration capacity by 214% without changing
anything in the plant besides the filter.
Ronningen-Petter is committed to meeting the customer's specific needs.
In this case the design of the new filter was adjusted to match exact
on-site conditions; allowing the customer to minimize the installation
costs and eliminate the down time associated with equipment change
outs.
--by Ask Filter Man
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