JP4935463B2 - Heavy oil reformer and method for adjusting tar level of heavy oil reformer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a heavy oil reformer and a tar level adjustment method for a heavy oil reformer.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a reforming apparatus that uses heavy oil and light water to produce reformed fuel using high-temperature and high-pressure water. In this reformer, the residual oil may overflow from the upper part of the reformer unless the level of the residual oil accumulated inside is measured. Therefore, in the reformer of Patent Document 1, an ultrasonic sensor is used for a discharge pipe for discharging tar from the reformer.

  Further, as a technical field similar to the present invention, there is a heavy oil pyrolysis apparatus used in a refinery. In this apparatus, a radiation type liquid level gauge installed outside the reactor is used.

JP 2006-28329 A

  Patent Document 1 does not disclose a method for directly measuring the liquid level of the reformer.

  Moreover, when a radiation-type liquid level meter is used for the heavy oil reforming device, the use conditions are stricter than that of the heavy oil pyrolysis device used in the refinery, so the material thickness of the reformer becomes thick. For this reason, a strong radiation source is required, and the vicinity of the heavy oil reformer needs to be designated as an access restricted area. In addition, the radiation source has a problem that a more powerful radiation source is required as compared with the heavy oil pyrolysis apparatus used in the refinery.

  The object of the present invention is to measure the tar liquid level with a simple facility and to achieve a good separation of tar and light oil.

  The present invention includes a sample system for extracting reformed oil or tar from a reformer, a measuring device that measures a physical property value of a fluid flowing through the sample system, a tar adjusting valve that adjusts a flow rate of tar flowing through the tar discharge system, A control device for controlling the opening of the tar adjustment valve based on the physical property value input from the measuring device is provided.

  According to the present invention, tar level can be measured with simple equipment, and good separation of tar and light oil can be realized.

  In the present invention, the liquid level inside the reformer is identified by the physical property value of the liquid obtained from the sample system.

  Hereinafter, the heavy oil reforming apparatus and the configuration thereof according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which viscosity is used as a physical property value of a fluid. In the figure, a mixed fluid 1 of water and heavy oil under high temperature and high pressure conditions is supplied to a reformer 6 to generate tar and reformed oil. The reformed oil 2 is extracted from the upper part of the reformer 6, and the tar 4 stays in the lower part of the reformer 6. A tar discharge system 10 is provided on the bottom surface of the reformer 6, and tar is discharged from the reformer 6. The tar discharge system 10 is provided with two tar adjusting valves 8 and 9, and the tar liquid level in the reformer 6 is adjusted by opening and closing the two tar adjusting valves.

  One end of a sample system 16 for extracting reformed oil or tar is provided on the side surface of the reformer 6, and the other end joins the tar discharge system 10. The sample system 16 merges with a flow path between the tar adjustment valves 8 and 9 provided in the tar discharge system 10. Further, the sample system 16 is provided with a measuring device for measuring the physical property value of the fluid. In this embodiment, a viscometer 11 is used as a measuring device.

  The tar adjusting valves 8 and 9 adjust the opening degree by the control device 12. Specifically, the viscosity value 13 of the fluid measured by the viscometer 11 is transmitted to the control device 12. Based on the viscosity of the fluid, the control device 12 transmits the opening signals 14 and 15 to the tar adjusting valves 8 and 9, respectively, to adjust the opening of the valve.

  Next, a method for adjusting the liquid level of the reformer will be described below. In FIG. 1, a mixed fluid 1 of water and heavy oil under high temperature and high pressure conditions flows into a reformer 6. When reforming heavy oil, it is performed under conditions of 350 to 550 ° C. and 5 to 30 MPa. At that time, since the tar content in the mixed fluid 1 has a high specific gravity, it is separated into a droplet 5 and a light oil component 3 by the action of gravity and the like, and the tar droplet 5 falls and stays in the lower part of the container. Form. On the other hand, the light component 3 flows out from the upper part of the container. And the inlet part of the sample system | strain 16 is installed in the inside of the reformer 6 in the position of the tar level set beforehand. The fluid 17 in the reformer is extracted from the sample system 16. Tar and light oil have a viscosity difference of up to 10 times or more. Therefore, by monitoring the viscosity of the fluid flowing through the sample system 16, it is determined whether or not the tar level has reached the inlet of the sample system 16.

Specifically, the fluid viscosity signal measured by the viscometer 11 is sent to the control device 12 through the signal line 13. The control device 12 compares the tar viscosity defined in advance with the fluid viscosity obtained from the viscometer 11, and determines whether the fluid flowing through the sample system 16 is tar. If the viscosity of the fluid flowing through the sample system 16 matches the tar viscosity, it means that the tar level has reached the inlet of the sample system 16. Accordingly, an opening command is issued to the tar adjusting valve 8 via the control signal line 14. In addition, a closing command is issued to the tar adjusting valve 9 to maintain the internal pressure of the reformer 6. Then, a close command is issued to the tar adjusting valve 8 and an open command is issued to the tar adjusting valve 9 to discharge the tar.

  On the other hand, when the viscosity of the fluid 17 is lower than that of tar, a close command is issued to the tar adjustment valve 8 to indicate that the liquid level of the tar 4 has not reached the inlet of the sample system. The tar adjustment valve 9 operates in reverse to the opening and closing of the tar adjustment valve 8.

  The fluid 17 of the sample system 16 is sent to the tar discharge system 10 due to a pressure difference after the viscosity measurement by the viscometer 11 is completed. Thereby, the tar level in the reformer can be made constant through the viscosity of the fluid 17. Further, the tar level can be measured with a simple facility called a sample system without using radiation. And since the tar liquid level can be kept constant at all times, good separation of tar and light oil is possible.

  FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which temperature is used as the physical property value of the fluid. Only the parts different from the first embodiment will be described below. In FIG. 2, the thermometer 19 of the fluid by a thermocouple is used.

  In this embodiment, the tar and light oil are utilized in that the temperature of the tar is higher than that of the light oil and a temperature difference of about 50 to 70 ° C. at maximum occurs. The fluid temperature signal measured by the thermometer 19 is sent to the control device 12 through the signal line 13. The preset tar temperature and the temperature signal from the signal line 13 are compared, and if the fluid temperature matches the tar temperature, it indicates that the level of the tar 4 has reached the inlet of the sample system. Therefore, an opening command is issued to the tar adjustment valve 8 via the control signal line 14.

  On the contrary, when the temperature of the fluid 17 is lower than the tar temperature, it indicates that the liquid level of the tar 4 has not reached the inlet of the sample system 16, and therefore a close command is issued to the tar adjustment valve 8.

  The tar adjusting valve 9 operates in the reverse manner to the opening and closing of the tar adjusting valve 8 as in the first embodiment. The extracted fluid 17 is sent to the tar discharge system 10 by the pressure difference after the temperature measurement is completed by the thermometer 19. Thereby, the tar liquid level in the container can be made constant through the temperature of the fluid 17.

  FIG. 3 shows a case where the viscosity is used as the physical property value of the fluid as in the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the shape of the reformer 6 and the position where the inlet of the sample system is arranged are different from those in the first embodiment.

  The reformer 6 has a shape in which two cylinders having different diameters are connected in the vertical direction, and is divided into an upper part 6a and a lower part 6b. The diameter of the upper part 6a is larger than the diameter of the lower part 6b, and the central axes of the two coincide. Further, tar is stored in a part of the lower portion 6b and the upper portion 6a.

  By making the container lower part into a shape having a smaller diameter than the upper part 6a, the thickness of the member forming the lower part 6b can be reduced. Moreover, the reliability on the strength of the container can be increased by inserting the sample system 16 from the thin lower portion 6b. In this embodiment, the sample system 16 is inserted from the same surface as the surface on which the tar discharge system 10 is provided. The inlet of the sample system 16 provided inside the reformer is provided at a preset tar level. Then, the fluid in the reformer flows into the sample system 16.

  In FIG. 3, a viscometer 11 is used as a fluid measuring device. Tar and light oil have a viscosity difference of up to 10 times or more. A fluid viscosity signal measured by the viscometer 11 is sent to the control device 12 through a signal line 13. The preset tar viscosity and the viscosity signal from the signal line 13 are compared, and if the fluid viscosity matches the tar viscosity, it indicates that the level of the tar 4 is at the sample line installation location. Therefore, an opening command is issued to the tar adjustment valve 8 via the control signal line 14. On the other hand, when the viscosity of the fluid 17 is lower than the tar viscosity, it indicates that the level of the tar 4 has not reached the sample line installation location, so a close command is issued to the tar adjustment valve 8. The tar adjustment valve 9 operates in reverse to the opening and closing of the tar adjustment valve 8.

  The sampled fluid 17 is sent to the tar discharge system 10 due to a pressure difference after the viscosity measurement by the viscometer 11 is completed. Thereby, the tar liquid level in the container can be made constant through the viscosity of the fluid 17.

  FIG. 4 shows a case where the viscosity is used as the physical property value of the fluid as in the first embodiment. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a fluid cooler 20 is provided in the sample system.

  Tar and light oil have a viscosity difference of up to 10 times or more. In particular, when the fluid temperature is low, the difference becomes significant. Therefore, in this embodiment, before the viscosity of the fluid flowing through the sample system 16 is measured by the viscometer 11, a cooler 20 for cooling the fluid is provided. The temperature at which the difference becomes significant is preferably about 150 ° C.

  A fluid viscosity signal measured by the viscometer 11 is sent to the control device 12 through a signal line 13. Then, the preset tar viscosity and the viscosity signal from the signal line 13 are compared, and if the fluid viscosity matches the tar viscosity, it indicates that the level of the tar 4 has reached the installation location of the sample system. Therefore, an opening command is issued to the tar adjustment valve 8 via the control signal line 14. On the other hand, when the viscosity of the fluid 17 is lower than that of tar, it indicates that the level of the tar 4 has not reached the installation location of the sample system, so a close command is issued to the tar adjustment valve 8. The tar adjustment valve 9 operates in reverse to the opening and closing of the tar adjustment valve 8.

  The fluid 17 is sent to the tar discharge system 10 due to a pressure difference after finishing the viscosity measurement with the viscometer 11. Thereby, the tar liquid level in the container can be made constant through the viscosity of the fluid 17. In addition, the liquid level can be measured more effectively by increasing the difference in viscosity between tar and light oil by the cooler 20 before measuring the viscosity.

  FIG. 5 is similar to the fourth embodiment in that a cooler is provided in the sample system. The present embodiment is different from the fourth embodiment in that the operation of the pump that supplies the cooling medium to the cooler is controlled.

  The liquid flowing into the sample system 16 passes through the cooler 20 and reaches the viscometer 11a. Tar and light oil have a viscosity difference of up to 10 times or more. In particular, when the fluid temperature is low, the difference becomes significant. However, when tar is cooled below a certain temperature, the viscosity becomes too high and the sample system 16 may be blocked. Therefore, in this embodiment, the supply amount of the refrigerant supplied to the cooler 20 is controlled so that the viscosity of the fluid 17 cooled by the cooler 20 does not exceed a certain value.

  A fluid viscosity signal measured by the viscometer 11a is sent to the control device 12 through a signal line 13a. In the control device 12, an upper limit value of the viscosity of the fluid flowing through the sample system 16 is set. Then, the preset upper limit value of the fluid viscosity is compared with the viscosity signal from the signal line 13a. When the fluid viscosity is higher than the set value, the pressure of the pump 23 for supplying the refrigerant is decreased. When the fluid viscosity is lower than the set value, the pressure of the pump 23 that supplies the refrigerant is increased. Thus, since the supply amount of the refrigerant supplied to the cooler 20 is changed according to the fluid viscosity, the fluid 17 can be prevented from being blocked in the sample system 16.

  Further, the viscosity of tar is set in the control device 12 separately from the upper limit value of the fluid viscosity described above. The tar viscosity set in advance and the viscosity signal from the signal line 13a are compared. If the tar viscosity matches the tar viscosity, it indicates that the level of the tar 4 is at the installation location of the sample system 16. Therefore, an opening command is issued to the tar adjustment valve 8 via the control signal line 14. On the other hand, when the viscosity of the fluid 17 is lower than that of tar, it indicates that the level of the tar 4 has not reached the installation location of the sample system, so a close command is issued to the tar adjustment valve 8. The tar adjustment valve 9 operates in reverse to the opening and closing of the tar adjustment valve 8.

  FIG. 6 shows the internal configuration of the control device 12. The control device 12 includes a physical property value measurement unit 32, a viscosity upper limit determination unit 33, a liquid level determination unit 34, a valve opening / closing command unit 35, and a pump drive unit 36. The physical property value measurement unit 32 acquires the viscosity of the fluid flowing through the sample system 16 from the viscometer 11a. The viscosity upper limit determiner 33 determines whether or not the viscosity of the fluid flowing through the sample system 16 is appropriate as compared with the viscosity upper limit 30 set in advance. When the fluid viscosity exceeds the viscosity upper limit 30, a signal is output to the pump drive unit 36. The pump drive unit 36 reduces the supply amount of the refrigerant 21 supplied to the cooler 20. On the other hand, when the fluid viscosity does not exceed the viscosity upper limit 30, a signal is transmitted to the pump drive unit 36 so as to increase the amount of refrigerant to the cooler 20. At the same time, the liquid level determination unit 34 determines whether the viscosity of the fluid flowing through the sample system 16 is equal to the tar viscosity. Specifically, based on the fluid temperature obtained from the thermometer 11b provided in the sample system 16 and the tar viscosity read from the tar viscosity database 31 set in advance, whether the fluid viscosity is equal to the tar viscosity. ,judge. As a result, when it is determined that the fluid viscosity is lower than the tar viscosity, a signal for closing the tar adjustment valve 8 is transmitted to the valve opening / closing command unit 35. When it is determined that the fluid viscosity is equal to the tar viscosity, a signal is transmitted to the valve opening / closing command unit 35 so that the tar adjustment valve 8 is opened and the tar is extracted.

  The fluid 17 is sent to the tar discharge system 10 due to a pressure difference after finishing the viscosity measurement with the viscometer 11a. Thereby, the tar liquid level in the container can be made constant through the viscosity of the fluid 17. By increasing the difference in viscosity between tar and light oil by the cooler 20, the liquid level can be measured more effectively.

It is the Example which provided the viscometer in the sample system | strain. It is the Example which provided the thermometer in the sample system | strain. This is an embodiment in which a viscometer is provided in the sample system and the shape of the reformer is changed. It is the Example which provided the cooler and the viscometer in the sample system | strain. In this embodiment, a cooler and a viscometer are provided in the sample system, and the refrigerant supply amount of the cooler is controlled. It is the figure which showed the internal structure of the control apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 Mixed fluid 2 Reformed oil 3 Light oil 4 Tar liquid layer 5 Tar droplet 6 Reformer 8, 9 Tar adjustment valve 10 Tar discharge system 11 Viscometer 12 Controller 16 Sample system 19 Thermometer 20 Cooler

Claims (7)

A reformer that mixes heavy oil and water under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions to produce reformed oil and tar, and a tar discharge system that extracts the tar produced by the reformer to the outside of the reformer. Heavy oil reforming equipment,
A sample system for extracting the reformed oil or the tar from the reformer;
A measuring device for measuring the physical property value of the fluid flowing through the sample system;
A tar adjustment valve for adjusting the flow rate of tar flowing through the tar discharge system;
A heavy oil reformer comprising a control device for controlling an opening degree of the tar adjusting valve based on a physical property value input from the measuring device. The heavy oil reforming apparatus according to claim 1,
The heavy oil reforming apparatus, wherein the measuring device is a fluid viscometer. The heavy oil reforming apparatus according to claim 1,
The heavy oil reforming apparatus, wherein the measuring device is a fluid thermometer. The heavy oil reforming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
A heavy oil reformer characterized in that the lower diameter of the reformer is smaller than the upper diameter, and the sample system is inserted from the bottom surface of the reformer. The heavy oil reformer according to claim 2, wherein
A heavy oil reformer characterized in that a cooler is provided in the sample system upstream of the viscometer. The heavy oil reformer according to claim 5, wherein
The heavy oil reforming apparatus, wherein the amount of refrigerant supplied to the cooler is controlled by the viscosity of the fluid. A reformer for reforming heavy oil and water under high temperature and high pressure conditions to produce reformed oil and tar; and a tar discharge system for extracting the tar produced by the reformer to the outside of the reformer. A method for adjusting the tar level of a heavy oil reformer provided,
Measure physical properties of the reformed oil or tar extracted from the reformer,
A tar liquid level adjusting method for a heavy oil reforming apparatus, wherein a tar flow rate flowing through the tar discharge system is controlled based on the physical property value.

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