3 replies to this topic

Appreciate if anyone can help me on this one?

Recently, we faced with situation where new batch of attapulgus clay was run for 6 days and the dP shoots up on 6th day of operation (within 3 hrs) from 0.3 to > 2.1 kgf/cm2. This clay is used to remove trace of water, surfactant, gum, particulate matter in kerosene in order to meet Jet A1 spec. What happened was we found the top portion was agglomerated (abt 1 meter height) n have a mud-like appearance. The color is greyish which is not unusual. Earlier suspect was, we have a free water breakthru, but cannot find any evidence. In addition, we have salt drier upstream of this clay filter with salt level > 4 meter at the time of incidence. Some facts: -

1. First time encounter this problem
2. Change of supplier (engelhard to local). The new clay source is from India and Australia and based on chemical analysis and particle distribution, it meets the spec.
3. This new clay was put inside the vessel under N2 condition for abt 6 months (isolated on standby vessel) before commissioning.

Is there any possibility of the new clay is having a substandard attapulgus clay structure and as a result is very sensitive to small amount of water (structure disintegrates and then agglomerates) despite having similar chemical analysis (SiO, Al2O3 content etc.)?

[Profe]

Hi mtm..

About your problem:

If the clay (attapulgus) had its properties OK before loading it to the vessel, probably it is not problem of the clay.
I think that the operation of dehydrator will have to be reviewed. Electrostatic Coalescer and salt filter to obtain water free hydrocarbon [content very low (ppm). hydrokit test].
The clay filter is not designed to deal with high water contents because it forms muds and it plugs the filter. This it is for elimination of gums and naftenic acids.
In addition once loaded the filter, it was had long time in stand by (6 months). The process of put in operation the clay filter therefore maybe was very careful operation.

[gr8_leesa]

now now... where can i set the avatar on this darn forum board. must be something wrong with this hotel's PC!

[Deepakaims]

Appreciate if anyone can help me on this one?
h
Recently, we faced with situation where new batch of attapulgus clay was run for 6 days and the dP shoots up on 6th day of operation (within 3 hrs) from 0.3 to > 2.1 kgf/cm2. This clay is used to remove trace of water, surfactant, gum, particulate matter in kerosene in order to meet Jet A1 spec. What happened was we found the top portion was agglomerated (abt 1 meter height) n have a mud-like appearance. The color is greyish which is not unusual. Earlier suspect was, we have a free water breakthru, but cannot find any evidence. In addition, we have salt drier upstream of this clay filter with salt level > 4 meter at the time of incidence. Some facts: -

1. First time encounter this problem
2. Change of supplier (engelhard to local). The new clay source is from India and Australia and based on chemical analysis and particle distribution, it meets the spec.
3. This new clay was put inside the vessel under N2 condition for abt 6 months (isolated on standby vessel) before commissioning.

Is there any possibility of the new clay is having a substandard attapulgus clay structure and as a result is very sensitive to small amount of water (structure disintegrates and then agglomerates) despite having similar chemical analysis (SiO, Al2O3 content etc.)?