Process Measurement & Control Solutions

NOTE 15: SOUR WATER STRIPPER APPLICATIONS

Problem

A common problem in the Sour Water (SW) Stripper Unit is caused when hydrocarbon is discharged with the sour water
from the Knockout Drum into the Surge Tank which feeds the SW Stripper Column (see simplified process flow diagram).
The hydrocarbons will vaporize with the sour gas being sent to the Sulfur Recovery Unit (SRU).The hydrocarbons are
then released to atmosphere potentially violating EPA regulations. This causes a potentially expensive environmental
issue for the refiner, due to non-compliance with EPA regulations for the effluent from the thermal oxidizer stack.

Agar Solution

The Agar ID-201 interface detector is installed in the Knockout Drum upstream of the Sour Water Stripper to prevent
hydrocarbon discharge with the sour water feed to the Stripper Column. This is achieved by controlling the location of the
water/hydrocarbon interface inside the Knockout Drum.

Simplified Process
Flow Diagram - Sour
Water Stripper

APPLICATION NOTE 15
All Agar Corporation Instruments are covered by one or more of the following U.S. Patents: 4,503,383; 4,774,680; 5,099,697; 5,101,163; 5,101,367; 5,263,363;
5,503,004; 5,551,305; 5,589,642; 5,741,977, RE 36,597. Other patents pending in the USA and other countries.
 APPLICATION NOTE 15 - Sour Water

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ER No. 5024; SL0025 Rev -