In-furnace thermal imaging
AMETEK Land, a manufacturer of high-end instruments for industrial infrared temperature measurement, has supplied a 28-camera system for one of the world’s largest ethylene producers.
Ethylene is produced via gas and liquid crackers that react steam and hydrocarbons (usually either ethane or naphtha) in coils designed to withstand high temperatures. The temperatures are measured, often daily, by inspectors with a handheld pyrometer. Once the temperature reaches a design limit, the unit is taken out of production for a decoke – that burns away carbon formed on the inner surface of the tubes. AMETEK Land manufactures the majority of handheld pyrometers for this purpose, including the Cyclops, but has witnessed an uptick in the interest in using fixed thermography to automate and enhance the data coming from the furnace.
The NIR-B-2K, AMETEK Land’s high-definition thermal imaging system, addresses this challenge, which has led to the company being selected by one of the world’s largest ethylene producers for installation on multiple liquid-feed cracker furnaces.
Following extensive technical consultation to determine the optimum location for each camera, the end-user proceeded with LAND based on a simple, proven value proposition: high-definition imaging of the most critical areas of the furnace, combined with automated tube metal temperature measurement, allows for small increases in the furnaces run-length, reductions in decoking times, and improvements in firing efficiency.
LAND supplied 28 NIR-B-2K thermal imaging cameras to deliver highly accurate measurements to help optimise furnace uniformity, extend tube life and improve safety – all critical requirements for furnace operations.
With an outstanding resolution of up to 3 million pixels, the NIR-B 2K provides high spatial resolution of the entire measurement area, measuring temperatures in the range of 600 to 1800 °C.
The expected results are improved and optimised performance of the furnaces, enabling the operator to have better control over the decoking schedule. Also, by delivering accurate and real-time temperature measurements, the tube and catalyst life will be extended, with early warnings of rising temperatures.
