Friday, January 30, 2015

Application for JPX/JPX-E Refinery Vapor Phase Cleaning

The vast majority of decontamination work is performed by Vapor Phase. The JPX is injected

directly into the purge stream that is used in the normal steam out process during shutdowns. The

JPX is carried throughout the column contacting all surfaces, breaking down the hydrocarbons

into lighter ends that are carried overhead to the flare system and emulsifying the heavier

hydrocarbons to be drained from the column with the condensate.

This Vapor Phase process greatly reduces decontamination time, wastewater generation, and

chemical cost, but provides H²S, Benzene LEL removal, so that the equipment is ready to enter

after a cool down water flushing rinse.

JPX/JPX-E can be applied by circulation to target packed beds that may be more heavily

contaminated or be at risk from Iron Sulfide, pyrophoric materials. Typical circulation solution

concentrations are from 1% to 3%.

A third application type would apply to horizontal vessels that have known sludge

accumulations, such as desalters or gas recycle KO drums.

The vessel is typically filled to 1/3 level and JPX/JPX-E is added to the steam heated water. The

mix is boiled and agitated to provide maximum sludge liquid content. The sludge hot water

slurry is then pumped out of the vessel and the vessel is re-steamed to relief to purge all vapors

in preparation for entry.

An auxiliary step when pyrophoric material is suspect of being present is to add JPX-EE (a mild

oxidizer and solubilizer) to the rinse water; this neutralizes the pyrophoric iron sulfides and

allows them to be rinsed from the internals of the columns.