Abstract:
1. APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE LEVELS OF A LIQUID IN A PLURALITY OF VESSELS IN A SYSTEM RECEIVING AND DISCHARGING THE LIQUID, SAID VESSELS BEING CONNECTED IN SERIES BY MEANS FOR CONVEYING THE LIQUID FROM VESSEL TO VESSEL, COMPRISING A PAIR OF CONTROL DEVICES, ONE CONTROL DEVICE IS CONNECTED TO A FIRST VESSEL OF THE PLURALITY OF VESSELS AND IS RESPONSIVE TO A FIRST CONTROL SIGNAL TO CONTROL THE FLOW RATE OF THE LIQUID BEING RECEIVED BY SYSTEM AND ENTERING THE FIRST VESSEL, THE OTHER CONTROL DEVICE IS CONNECTED TO A LAST VESSEL OF THE PLURALITY OF VESSELS AND IS RESPONSIVE TO A SECOND CONTROL SIGNAL TO CONTROL THE LIQUID LEAVING THE LAST VESSEL AND BEING DISCHARGED FROM THE SYSTEM, MEANS CONNECTED TO EACH VESSEL FOR SENSING THE LIQUID LEVEL IN THE VESSEL AND PROVIDING A LIQUID SIGNAL CORRESPONDING THERETO, MEANS CONNECTED TO THE ONE CONTROL DEVICE TO AFFECT THE FLOW RATE OF THE LIQUID, BEING RECEIVED BY THE SYSTEM AND ENTERING THE FIRST VESSEL, MEANS CONNECTED TO EACH CONVEYING MEANS FOR SENSING THE FLOW RATES OF THE LIQUID MOVING BETWEEN VESSELS AND PROVIDING FLOW RATE SIGNALS CORRESPONDING THERETO, MEANS CONNECTED TO EACH CONVEYING MEANS AND TO THE FLOW RATE SENSING MEANS FOR AFFECTING THE FLOW RATES OF THE LIQUID BETWEEN VESSELS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COMMAND SIGNALS AND THE FLOW RATE SIGNALS, AND CIRCUIT MEANS CONNECTED TO THE FIRST CONTROL SIGNAL MEANS, TO THE LIQUID LEVEL SENSING MEANS, TO THE OTHER CONTROL DEVICE AND TO THE FLOW RATE AFFECTING MEANS FOR PROVIDING THE SECOND CONTROL SIGNAL TO THE OTHER CONTROL DEVICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FIRST CONTROL SIGNAL AND AT LAEST ONE LIQUID LEVEL SIGNAL AND FOR PROVIDING THE COMMAND SIGNALS TO THE FLOW RATE AFFECTING MEANS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FIRST CONTROL SIGNAL AND AT LEAST ONE LIQUID LEVEL SIGNAL SO AS TO CONTROL THE LIQUID LEVELS IN THE PLURALITY OF VESSELS.
Abstract:
A system controls the strength of acid used as the catalyst in an alkylation unit, which reacts olefins with isoparaffin, in accordance with the average strength of the acid and the anticipated required strength of the acid. A signal corresponding to the average acid strength is developed by analog computers solving equations, hereinafter disclosed, using an output from an acid analyzer corresponding to the density of the acid and a signal corresponding to the volume of caustic used in analyzing the acid. An anticipated required acid strength signal is developed by an analog computer from signals, corresponding to the flow rate and composition of the olefin, from a flow rate sensor and chromatograph means, respectively, in accordance with equations hereinafter disclosed. Another analog computer provides signals for setting the set point of a flow recorder controller in accordance with the average acid strength signal, the anticipated required acid strength signal and equations hereinafter disclosed. The flow recorder controller controls the flow rate acid being discharged from the alkylation unit so as to control the quantity of fresh acid entering the alkylation unit thereby controlling the strength of the acid.
Abstract:
A control system and method controls the hydrocarbon of recycle acid in an alkylation unit to maintain a predetermined hydrocarbon content. The hydrocarbon content is controlled by controlling the interface level between the acid phase and the hydrocarbon phase in an acid settler in accordance with sensed densities of fresh acid entering the alkylation unit, crude alkylate provided by the acid settler in the alkylation unit and the recycle acid. A network substantially determines the actual hydrocarbon content of hydrocarbon enriched acid leaving the acid settler a portion of which is provided as the recycle acid, along with the fresh acid, to a contactor. In the contactor, an isoparaffin and an olefin are contacted with the acid to provide an acid-hydrocarbon mix to the acid settler. The settler provides the crude alkylate for further processing.
Abstract:
The apparatus includes a chromatograph which samples material and provides a first signal, having peaks corresponding to different constituents of the material, and a pulse signal. Each pulse in the pulse signal coincides with a different peak amplitude occuring in the first signal. In accordance with the signals from the chromatograph, one circuit determines the area under the curve, the curve being the first signal, for each peak in the first signal. Another circuit determines a different baseline for each peak and the area under each baseline. A third circuit receiving signals from the first two circuits effectively subtracts each baseline area fro a peak from the area under the curve associated with the peak to determine a peak area for each peak. The peak area signals are multiplied by thermal conductivity factors to provide signals corresponding to the concentration of the components of the material. A programmer responsive to the pulse signal from the chromatograph controls sample and hold circuits receiving the first signal from the chromatograph to provide peak height voltages. The peak height voltage for each peak is divided into a corresponding percent concentration signal to provide a correction signal. The correction signals are multiplied with the peak height voltages to provide corrected signals corresponding to the concentrations of the components of the material. The corrected signals are normalized by summing the corrected signals and dividing each corrected signal by the resulting sum signal.
Abstract:
A control system controls the acid strength of reaction acid in an alkylation unit reacting an olefin with an isoparaffin in the presence of the reaction acid to eventually produce an alkylate. The system senses the actual reaction acid strength, the discharge acid flow rate, the flow rate of discharge acid leaving the alkylation unit, the bottom products flow rate and the alkylate content of the bottoms product from a debutanizer tower and the propylene and butylene content of the olefin stream entering the alkylation unit. Using equations hereinafter disclosed, along with economic values associated with the acid and the alkylate, the control system periodically determines the optimum reaction acid strength. When the change in the reaction acid strength necessary to achieve the optimum reaction acid strength is less than a predetermined change, the necessary change is implemented. When the necessary change is greater than the predetermined change, the reaction acid strength is changed by an increment equal to the predetermined change. Where the reaction aicd strength is decreased to achieve an optimum reaction acid strength, a minimum limit is imposed on the reaction acid strength to prevent undesirable side reactions, such as olefin polymerization, from occurring.
Abstract:
APPARATUS CONTROLS THE LEVEL OF OIL IN A SURGE TANK IN A PROCESSING UNIT OF A REFINING SYSTEM, RECEIVING A CHARGE LIQUID AND WHICH IN TURN PROVIDES A CHARGE LIQUID TO A SECOND PROCESSING UNIT OF THE REFINING SYSTEM. A SIGNAL IS PROVIDED CORRESPONDING TO A DESIRED CHANGE >FR TO BE MADE IN THE FLOW RATE OF THE SECOND PROCESSING UNIT CHARGE LIQUID. A FIRST CHANGE NETWORK RECEIVING THE CHANGE SIGNAL DETERMINES THE MAGNITUDE OF THE DESIRED CHANGE TO THE SECOND PROCESSING UNIT CHARGE LIQUID FLOW RATE AND PROVIDES A FLOW RATE SIGNAL FOR CONTROLLING THE FIRST PROCESSING UNIT CHARGE LIQUID FLOW RATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DESIRED CHANGE SIGNAL. THE CHANGE >FH IN THE FIRST PROCSESSING UNIT CHARGE LIQUID FLOW RATE MAY BE EQUAL TO OR SOME PORTION OF THE CHANGE >FR TO BE MADE IN THE SECOND PROCESSING UNIT LIQUID FLOW RATE DEPENDING ON THE MAAGNNITUDE OF THE CHANGE SIGNAL. THE CHANGE >FH DIFFERES IN DIFFERENT PROPORTIONS DEPENDING ON THE MAGNITUDE OF THE CHANGE >FR. THE NETWORK INCLUDES AN ABSOLUTE VALUE CIRCUIT WHICH PROVIDES A SIGNAL CORRESPONDING TO THE MAGNITUDE OF THE CHANGE SIGNAL. THE CHANGE IN THE SECOND PROCESSING UNIT CHARGE LIQUID FLOW RATE IS DELAYED FOR A PREDETERMINED TIME INTERVAL AND THEN IMPLEMENTED. THE DURATION OF THE TIME INTERVAL IS ALSO DETERMINED AS A FUNCTION OF THE MAGNITUDE OF THE CHANGE >FR.
Abstract:
A control system for maintaining the operating pressure of a product separator in a catalytic reforming unit at a minimum value so as to provide economical operation. The gas output from the product separator follows two distinct paths: one path includes a charge oil pretreating unit which provides hydrogen from the gas, the other path includes a high pressure absorber which also provides hydrogen from the gas. The pressure necessary at the product separator to provide steady flow in a path is determined for each each path in accordance with equations hereinafter described in detail. The pressures in the paths are sensed and corresponding signals provided. A network determines constraint pressures for the product separator and selects the greater constraint pressure. The control system maintains the product separator at that pressure.
Abstract:
A cascade system of series-connected elements senses and controls liquid levels in these elements and senses and controls flow rates of liquid flowing through the series of elements and also of liquid being received and discharged by the system. A signal corresponding to a change in the flow rate of liquid being received by the system (or discharged by the system) along with at least one acid level change provides control signals (1) to regulate each flow rate of liquid between the elements and (2) to regulate the flow rate of liquid that is to be correspondingly discharged (or received) in accordance with said change.