Analysers in biogas treatment.

Renewable energy is an area of enormous growth. Global production of biogas from landfills and from biomass is expected to nearly double from 2015-2026. Biogas production is growing at such a high rate as a result of concerns stemming from depleting fossil fuel reserves, incentives from government programs and compliance with environmental laws.

The biogas treatment process begins with the feed of landfill gas from landfills and/or the feed of biomass from organic waste. Biogas feed streams are variable; therefore, process efficiency relies on monitoring the feed stream into the biogas treatment process. In many parts of the world, our trash is sent to landfills and ultimately decomposed in airtight cells underground. The bacteria that digests the waste, releases what is known as  landfill gas, a varying mixture comprised largely of methane and carbon dioxide. Biomass from organic waste, is fed into an anaerobic digester, where biogas is released into the headspace of the digester. The biogas created from the landfill digestion and anaerobic digestion includes varying amounts of H₂S, which is a chemical that must be removed before the gas can be used for energy purposes.

In all biogas production facilities, there is an H₂S removal system, often known as the H₂S scavenger or H₂S scrubber. Monitoring the levels of H₂S at the inlet and outlet of the H₂S scrubber is paramount for evaluating scrubber efficiency and for adhering to environmental regulations. The Applied Analytics OMA series analyzer is ideal for monitoring percent level H₂S at the inlet and ppm level H₂S at the outlet of the H₂S scrubber in biogas production.

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Measuring N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP).

The OMA-300-InGaAs Process Analyzer provides a continuous measurement based on an infrared spectroscopy technique and has been field proven to be successful in measuring water content in the background NMP with a range of 0-10% by volume.

N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is commonly used in oil refineries as a solvent.  According to Bushnell et al. (1976) NMP solvent is for extracting aromatic hydrocarbons from mixtures that contain aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons.  This is specifically useful in the purification process of lube oil, as undesirable aromatic content affects the viscosity of the oil.  Other solvents, such as phenol and furfural, are also used for this purpose.  However, NMP is considered superior because water does not form an azeotrope with NMP, as it does with phenol or furfural. This means that after the extraction is complete, the water can be separated from the NMP by simple distillation (Bushnell et al.,1976).

Unfortunately, NMP is highly hygroscopic.  This is considered a disadvantage.  Bushnell et al. (1976) clarify that while it is desirable to have some water content present in the NMP for the extraction process, characteristics like solvent power and solvent/oil miscibility of NMP do change as water is added to it.  This is an important point to consider because the NMP used in the extraction process of hydrocarbons is recovered and re-used.  Although the optimal water content in the NMP differs depending on the type of lube oil and its wax content, the typical water content is 2-4%, but never more than 10% by volume (Bushnell et al.,1976).*

* Bushnell, James D, et al. SOLVENT RECOVERY PROCESS FOR N-METHYL-2-PYRROL DONEN HYDROCARBON EXTRACTION. 8 Nov. 1977. 

 @AAInc #PAuto #Oil

Safe sulphur recovery.

A dedicated sulfur recovery unit webpage has been launched by Applied Analytics™ [AAI], to provide clients with a clear picture of the solutions we can provide. The webpage includes a process flow diagram of the sulfur recovery unit and calls out the measurement points of interest with descriptions and pictures of our equipment.

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is a byproduct of processing natural gas and high-sulphur crude oil. At low concentrations, H₂S has an odor much like rotten eggs, is corrosive and fatal at concentrations greater than 500 ppmvl. This extremely dangerous byproduct must be closely monitored and the amount of H₂S released to the atmosphere must be minimised.

A Sulfur Recovery Plant serves to convert H₂S in an incoming gas stream into elemental sulphur where it can be stored or repurposed. Sulphur recovery plants are required to recover 95 to 99.99% of the total sulfur that is introduced into the plant. Emissions regulations are becoming more stringent with each year that passes, which is why high-quality industrial analysis equipment in Sulphur Recovery Plants is of major importance. Applied Analytics Inc. manufactures analytical solutions used to control and optimize the operation of the sulfur recovery unit including measurements in the sour/acid gas inlet, Claus tail gas, tail gas treatment unit (TGTU) and sulphur pit.

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Analyser passes gas research specifications.

Applied Analytics has announced that their OMA-300 has passed and exceeded performance testing requirements by Natural Gas Research Institute, a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation.

These standards included JJG 695-2003, GB/T 28766-2018 and GB/T 13966-2013 for performance verification of H2S analyzers in natural gas analytical systems. The testing included validation of the OMA-300’s accuracy, repeatability, sensitivity, measurement range, response time, zero drift and span checks.

As a result, Applied Analytics has signed an agreement to supply an H2S analyzer package to gas plants in Sichuan province. The approvals have expanded the market for the OMA-300 and gives our clients in China another option for H2S measurements in natural gas.

The OMA-300 has a proven track record in H2S applications in natural gas, biogas, refineries, sulfur recovery units and more with ranges from low ppm to high percent levels.

 @AAInc #PAuto  #China

Chlor-alkali process analysis.

The OMA-300-CL2 analyser, from Applied Analytics™ [AAI], showcases a seamless dynamic range of the OMA Series from low ppm up to high % concentrations of chlorine and chlorine-based compounds.

Chlor-alkali refers to the chemicals simultaneously being produced as a result of electrolysis of a saltwater or brine solution. Typically, the chlor-alkali process produces two chemicals, chlorine and sodium hydroxide (caustic soda, NaOH). Over 95% of the world’s chlorine is produced in the chlor-alkali process.

In the chlor-alkali process, using an electrolytic cell, chlorine is gathered by running an electric current across a brine solution. The wet chlorine from the electrolytic cell is then purified further by removing moisture via a cooling tower, filtration and sulfuric acid drying towers. The gaseous chlorine is put through a liquefaction process where liquid chlorine is produced along with the byproduct tail gas/sniff gas stream, made up of the gas not liquified during liquefaction process. The tail gas/sniff gas stream is sent to a caustic scrubber for further gas processing.

The final chlorine product from the chlor-alkali process often feeds directly into EDC/VCM plants which is a precursor to PVC. Monitoring the Cl2 and NCl3 impurity throughout the chlor-alkali process is vital for safety concerns, environmental regulations, and process efficiency purposes.

 #PAuto @AAInc

Measurement in all colour scales.

The OMA-300 process analyzer from Applied Analytics is proven in providing continuous, real time measurements in all color scales, including Saybolt, APHA, ASTM D1500, etc. giving an accurate and reliable measurement using spectroscopy based technology.

The production of liquid fuels is a complex process with many variables that will affect the quality of the product. The color of a liquid stream is considered an indicator of product quality. Slight changes in color can be evidence of equipment failure, dips in process efficiency, overheating, distillation column malfunction and more. The Saybolt scale allows us to measure color with a numerical value, and we can correlate the color to the overall quality of the product.

The Saybolt color scale is used for grading light colored petroleum products including kerosene, naphthas, condensates, NGL in midstream, etc. The range of the Saybolt scale is -16 (dark yellow) to +30 (nearly transparent clear). There are several widely accepted color scales, Saybolt being one of them, with the purpose of observing the product quality.

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Dedicated analyser for H2S in crude oil

Applied Analytics (AAI) has released a second revision of the OMA-300 H2S Analyzer Crude Oil Edition. This product is a specialised configuration of the OMA-300 H2S system equipped with a headspace sample conditioning system. This sampling technique is used to monitor an opaque liquid process; when a sample is too dark or dirty to transmit a light signal, the headspace system produces a representative vapor-phase sample that can be easily monitored via ultraviolet-visible absorbance spectroscopy and correlated to the chemical composition of the liquid process.

“Measuring hydrogen sulfide in crude has become one of our hottest applications,” says Dan Murphy, senior mechanical engineer. “AAI has always offered a highly effective solution for measuring hydrogen sulfide in opaque liquids, but the current demand for crude analysis has given us cause to rethink our offering. The process resulted in modifications to the Crude Oil Edition of the OMA-300 H2S. The refined design puts everything in one enclosure and adds the capability to monitor multiple crude streams at once using multiple headspace columns running in parallel.”

Air purging

AAI (Applied Analytics Inc) has unveiled the ePurge X, a next-generation solution for air-purging electronic enclosures. Unlike conventional purge controllers, this new offering is entirely solid state and much more in line with the design of AAI's highly automated process analyzers. The ePurge X is slated to be available both to distributors and the general public in March 2011.

"When you glance through the brochure, you'll immediately notice the form factor," says Andy Burgess, senior mechanical engineer, AAI. "The ePurge X has an ultra-slim profile that barely protrudes from the surface of the enclosure. It also has half as many components to install as the purges that are currently available."

AAI is also introducing an entirely new concept with the utility-saving feedback feature. The ePurge X uses a digital mass flow sensor to monitor the flow rate of purge gas through the enclosure. Along with the differential pressure, this flow value allows the ePurge X to provide data on instrument air consumption by specifying the exact demand that will keep the enclosure safely pressurized without wasting any extra utilities. "In an industry of safety devices that have no inherent return on investment, we are offering a product that can pay for itself within five years in utility savings alone," says Yoav Barshad, President, AAI. "Writ large across all the air-purged enclosures in a typical industrial site, this is nothing less than a killer feature."

Solid state purge controller

Applied Analytics (AAI) has unveiled the ePurge X, a next-generation solution for air-purging electronic enclosures. Unlike conventional purge controllers, this new offering is entirely solid state and much more in line with the design of AAI’s highly automated process analyzers. The ePurge X is slated to be available both to distributors and the general public in March.

“When you glance through the brochure, you’ll immediately notice the form factor,” says Andy Burgess, senior mechanical engineer, AAI. “The ePurge X has an ultra-slim profile that barely protrudes from the surface of the enclosure. It also has half as many components to install as the purges that are currently available.”

AAI is also introducing an entirely new concept with the utility-saving feedback feature. The ePurge X uses a digital mass flow sensor to monitor the flow rate of purge gas through the enclosure. Along with the differential pressure, this flow value allows the ePurge X to provide data on instrument air consumption by specifying the exact demand that will keep the enclosure safely pressurized without wasting any extra utilities. “In an industry of safety devices that have no inherent return on investment, we are offering a product that can pay for itself within five years in utility savings alone,” says Yoav Barshad, President, AAI. “Writ large across all the air-purged enclosures in a typical industrial site, this is nothing less than a killer feature.”

The ePurge product family will be used with all future purged systems from AAI. Adds Burgess: “We were compelled to develop the ePurge X when we could not find a purge solution for our own analyzer enclosures that didn’t compromise the original system’s form factor or complicate installation. There must be many manufacturers that, like AAI, carry high expectations for safety components. We are our own customer, and we witness the ePurge X exceed those expectations each day of production.”

Into the Middle East

Applied Analytics and Aber Ahmed Equipment Est. have announced the establishment of Applied Analytics Middle East FZE. This new subsidiary expands and restructures AAI operations in the Gulf region, serving both as an administrative hub and as a high-capacity service facility for local customers. The new entity will anchor AAI's presence in the region, reinforcing the powerful distribution networks of its partners with dedicated service, sales, after-sale support, training, and spare parts.

"The important thing about this venture is that it puts our guys--certified AAI engineers--within driving distance of many of our most important customers," says Dan Murphy, Senior Mechanical Engineer, AAI. "Over the past decade, we have obtained strong distributors like Attest in Saudi Arabia, Sohar Industrial Supplies & Trading in Oman, Instrol LLC in Qatar, and others. The purpose of Applied Analytics Middle East FZE is to complement this distribution and provide a highly localized and accessible service network for the Middle East, our most dynamic regional market."

"Applied Analytics Middle East FZE offers a team of engineers with decades of experience in process analysis for the petroleum and chemical industries," says Muthu Govindan, General Manager, ABEST Abu Dhabi. "This new presence means better service, faster support and maintenance, and more convenient locations for equipment training. We are delighted to work alongside AAI in supporting process analysis for RasGas (the world's largest LNG supplier), Saudi Aramco (the world's largest oil producer), and other major players in the region." "We know that the best way to satisfy local customer needs for startup visits, spare parts, certified training, and all other services is to open up our own shop in the neighborhood, so to speak," adds Murphy. "The new office will collaborate nicely with Applied Analytics (India) Private Limited in Surat to canvas two critical markets with sales and service. On behalf of Applied Analytics Middle East FZE--based in Sharjah, UAE--we look forward to better serving our neighbors in the region."

Water-in-solvents analyser!

Applied Analytics, Inc. redesigns and enhances their already very successful Microspec product.

Just like their counterparts in the computer and cell phone industries, Applied Analytics continue to take advantage of the latest technologically superior - and very often less costly - components, to enhance the performance of products. "In today's competitive market, one cannot afford to sit back and rest on one’s laurels; one must stay alert to the advent of change. Superior components provide three great benefits: improved performance, longevity, and a cost savings which will translate into a lower-priced, elegant solution for end users."

"Stellar performance begins with a concept, followed by a superior design and precision construction; embracing quality and craftsmanship are the hallmarks of the Applied Analytics team. Like our well-proven family of analyzers including the OMA300 and the TLG-837, the Microspec MCP-200 is endowed with technology and design innovation that are unknown elsewhere."

The Applied Analytics Microspec is an excellent online, real-time, water-in-solvents analyser. In these economic times, it ought to be seriously considered and promoted, because it offers considerable savings over current methodologies in use.

The Microspec is an ideal replacement for the lab where lab personnel are performing routine applications for liquid samples that require Karl Fischer titration to determine the amount of water in the sample. The MCP-200 will perform this measurement online continuously, and will save its users a great deal of money with an ROI that is in most cases measured in months. We will be more than happy to work with you to demonstrate the savings in manpower.

Some of the applications are: Water in Acrylonitrile, Acrylic acid, Chlorine, Methylcyclohexane, Hexane, Acetone, Panthenol, Aniline, Silicon Oil, Liquid Ammonia, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, 2-methyl-5-mercaptothiadiazole, vinyl chloride, Caprolactam, Piperidine, Piperazine, acetopenone, Benzophenone, Oils, EDC, Pesticide formulations, Urea, Cyclopropyl methyl ketone, lemongrass oil, diesel, gasoline, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide. The analyser can also be used for gas applications such as CO2, CO, and CH.

With the Microspec you may expect a high-performance instrument, innovation, expert design, quality manufacturing, reliability, proven benefits, proven technology, and customization based on your specific needs.

US-Indian co-operation to serve petro and chemical sectors

Applied Analytics and Vortex proudly announce the formation of Applied Analytics (India) Private Limited. With Vortex's prominent engineering and distribution capabilities and Applied Analytics, Inc. advanced technologies and manufacturing know-how, Applied Analytics (India) Private Limited will provide top notch sales, service and support for its ever-growing international clientele base.

"We are delighted to expand our team into India and the surrounding regions", states Dr. Yoav Barshad, President of Applied Analytics, Inc. "Such an expansion will allow us to provide exceptional products and services for those petro and chemical industries requiring technologically advanced process instrumentation in a more quick and efficient manner".

"Applied Analytics (India) Private Limited offers a team of individuals that have been serving the Indian Industry for over two decades in such fields as Gas and Water Analysis, Moisture and Flow Measurements, and Vacuum Instrumentation for field testing", says Kashyap Mehta, Managing Director of Vortex- India. "Using our unique capabilities to build tailor made quality sampling systems to suit most demanding needs for advance automation and analysis, while maintaining our core values of high ethical standards and ultimate customer satisfaction, will certainly create a recipe for success".