12.23.20 -- API: Ready To Work With Biden Administration On Energy, Climate Policy

Furnace tubes have the possibility of overheating and rupturing, resulting in equipment downtime, lost production, and other collateral damage. The ability to monitor tubes for signs of overheating due to over-firing rates of flame impingement from improper burner alignment is critical to the reliability of the furnace. In order to determine if overheating is taking place within fired furnace tubes, inspectors must be able to distinguish between internal tube “coking” and external tube “scaling.” Thermal imaging is able to evaluate the condition of the furnace directly for any signs of overheating or damage.

Shell Refinery had the need to measure hot air in two locations with a low-pressure drop. The problem was that the hot air was blown through square ducts with a dimension of 1400 x 502 mm and 1200 x 451 mm. There was a split off from a larger duct in two legs, and where the flow meter was to be placed there were literally no straight pipe runs. The total straight section available was 1800 mm; for all ducts, the same. Since Shell needed the flow information for environmental reasons, it was important to find a quick solution to the problem.

Misinformation about WirelessHART networks prevails among many instrument engineers in the process industries. This article attempts to set the record straight by debunking seven myths about these networks.