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July
2020
22
HYDROCARBON
ENGINEERING
F
ouling in centrifugal compressors can cause
significant headaches in petrochemical processing.
The fouling process is often complicated and
depends on numerous variables. The causes may
even be a moving target in some cases, as feedstocks
change over time. Options to control fouling are limited.
Typical options are either chemical injection to control
temperatures and/or to aid in cleaning the flow surfaces,
or coatings with anti-stick properties that prevent the
foulant from building up in the first place. Some operators
use both. Neither of these options are ideal, and there are
trade-offs associated with each.
As a compressor manufacturer, Elliott Group has an
interest in providing the best solution possible to operators.
Like most original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), Elliott
offers chemical injection systems, but most advances in this
area correlate to the chemical injected. Given the
implications of adding chemicals to the process gas, this
Scot J. Laney, Elliott Group, USA,
presents a
targeted approach to anti-fouling coatings.