Emerson Exchange 365

Hi. I’m Ruth Lindley and I’m happy to get the chance to tell you how to solve a significant problem in refining in a relatively simple and straightforward manner. The problem is ammonia slip.

Nitrogen oxides result from the combustion process in turbines, crackers, combustion engines, boilers, and other locations within a plant. NO_X is a powerful pollutant, so it is important to control and contain NO_X emissions. Both selective catalytic and selective non-catalytic reduction (SCR and SNCR) are techniques used worldwide to remove NO_X. However, this process can result in a byproduct of unreacted ammonia, or ammonia slip. Continuous measurement and monitoring of ammonia slip can be a challenge to ensure sample integrity is maintained, especially in high-dust, high-temperature applications. But regardless of the complexity, to adhere to environmental guidelines, operators must balance using the precise amount of ammonia – not enough ammonia results in waste, too much can lead to emissions.

So how to solve the ammonia slip problem? The answer is QCL/TDL laser technology. (You may not have been expecting that!) In fact, capable, fast Rosemount QCL/TDL technology delivers the needed measurement precision (0–100 ppm) to ensure production is at its optimum and avoid overdosing issues that result in both economic and environmental problems and cost.

Quantum Cascade Lasers monitor ammonia slip to avoid the formation of damaging ammonia salts downstream or emission of ammonium chloride or gaseous ammonia, and the regulator fines and penalties that result. Here are some of the benefits of Quantum Cascade Lasers in this challenging application –

• Interference-free monitoring of the presence of ammonia slip in the toughest environments
• Thousands of measurements per second are recorded using patented laser chirp techniques to ensure identification of even trace levels of ammonia
• Ammonia slip detection and insight into the efficiency of the plant’s NO_X reduction system resulting from real-time measurement and analysis
• Rugged, modular design delivers outstanding reliability and measurement stability in extreme operations
• Monitoring of up to twelve critical component gases for all industrial applications, toxic gas detection, and plant-wide emissions monitoring
• No consumables, no calibration, and no in-field enclosure or shelters reduce cost and simplify maintenance and upgrades

For additional information on the specific QCL/TDL laser products that might work for you, click HERE.

The QCL/TDL laser solution to ammonia slip may seem almost too good to be true – but it’s real and operating in plants worldwide. It’s time for all of us to adjust our thinking on the ammonia slip issue, accepting that there is a better way to overcome it efficiently, reliably, and cost-effectively.

Have thoughts or questions about QCL/TDL laser technology? Post them HERE!