Temperature values sensed by CTLS (WIKA) just two months after installation
Time stamp
∆ P - kPa 7.1 kPa
TC/PYRO
IR Survey ºC
CTLSºC
Observation
1
Feb-11, 5:30pm
1. 203 2. 206 3. 208 4. 203 5. 201 6. 208 1. 213 2. 213 3. 218 4. 211 5. 213 6. 217 1. 194 2. 196 3. 204 4. 196 5. 204 6. 211 1. 178 2. 183 3. 188 4. 183 5. 195 6. 201 1. 200 2. 204 3. 212 4. 202 5. 205 6. 211
1. Faulty*
CTLS is working
2. 213 3. 235 4. 233 5. 248 6. 242
2
Feb 15, 6:30pm
7.6
1074
1. Faulty*
CTLS is working
2. 232 3. 244 4. 233 5. 239 6. 221
3
Feb 16, 6:30pm
7.5
1090
1. Faulty*
CTLS is working
2. 213 3. 228 4. 221 5. 235 6. 213
4 Feb 17, 7:30pm
7.5
1084
1. Faulty*
CTLS is working
2. 210 3. 222 4. 217 5. 234 6. 211
5 Feb 18, 9:30pm
7.5
1083
1. Faulty*
CTLS is working
2. 228 3. 240 4. 232 5. 240 6. 221
Table 1 Temperature values sensed by CTLS (WIKA) just two months after installation closely represent the true values as cross-verified by an IR camera survey
surface temperature of SRU thermal reactors (reaction furnace). Since 90% of SA SRU units are shrouded (weather- shielded), measuring the surface temperature online becomes challenging. Without the correct monitoring device in place, catastrophic failures could occur, affecting plant throughput. Deployment of this technology aims to detect repetitive refractory failures early by sensing hot spots on the reactor surface, even with the presence of a shroud. Maintenance and shutdown will be planned and timed accordingly. Collaboration between the technology provider, WIKA, and SA began in March 2022 with the installation of the thermocouple on one of Saudi Aramco’s gas plant SRUs. In October 2022, the CTLS installation was completed and successfully tested. The plant continued monitoring the unit, keeping a close eye on the measured skin temperature to confirm continuous and reliable outputs (see Table 1 ). Upon testing performance, the new linear thermocouple tech- nology proved to be working well. The CTLS coils’ peak
Throughput vs burner ∆ P vs reaction temperature vs outer shell temperature
% Acid gas throughput
Burner ∆ p, Hot face (firebrick) Shell outer skin
kPa
temperature, ºC temperature, ºC
25 35 45 55 65 75 85 95
0.8
~ 1000 ~ 1033 ~ 1067 ~ 1100 ~ 1133 ~ 1167 ~ 1200 ~ 1233 ~ 1250
210 ± 15 212 ± 15 216 ± 15 218 ± 15 221 ± 15 225 ± 15 229 ± 15 234 ± 15 238 ± 15
1.07 2.13
3.2 4.3 5.3 6.4 7.5 8.8
100
Table 2
Aramco findings In an effort to resolve technical challenges, Saudi Aramco (SA) piloted a newly developed RDS to monitor the skin
46
PTQ Q1 2024
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