Fouling Control
Contact Information
Global Nalco LocationsLocal Sales Offices
Energy Services Contacts
Nalco Company
Corporate Headquarters
1601 W. Diehl Road
Naperville, Il 60563-1198
630-305-1000 Phone
630-305-2900 Fax
Nalco Energy Services Headquarters
7705 Highway 90-A
Sugar Land, TX 77478
281-263-7000 Phone
MONITOR™ ProgramFouling Control
Fouling can occur across the refinery and can affect almost every unit. Over time this leads to higher energy consumption, higher maintenance costs, reduced feed rates, and shorter intervals between turn-arounds. Nalco’s treatment philosophies, experiences, and programs help refiners realize the gains from processing higher levels of opportunity crudes by managing the problems that arise.
The relationship between fouling and energy becomes more significant when you consider the link between additional fuel gas consumption (BTUs or GJs), higher CO2 emissions and the detrimental impact to a refinery energy intensity index (EII). The environment is impacted and the total cost of operation (TCO) is also negatively impacted.
Fouling and energy debits will impact mostly on the crude unit. These units experience the highest feed rates and temperature increases. The battle to maintain heat through the preheat network of exchangers and furnace inlet temperatures (FIT) is a constant one. Traditionally the fouling is caused by the instability of asphaltenes. This can manifest itself as early as the tank farm through incompatible crude storage. Further, as they are exposed to heat, their resin ratio changes leading to agglomeration and deposition. Broadly, this can result in flow restrictions (not all cases) and harder furnace firing rates (more refinery fuel gas is consumed) in order to maintain temperatures at the distillation column. Worst still can result in the refiner having to reduce crude charge.
Talk to Nalco is you’d like to learn more about the fouling potential across your refinery.
