Continuous Measurement of Coke Drum Level

BERTHOLD Technologies GmbH & Co. KG: Monitoring the level of coke drum bottoms in a delayed coker is among the most important processes in a refinery. High temperatures and foam, extensive caking as well as a high-pressure water jet demonstrate the unfavorable measuring conditions dominating this application. The radiometric level measurement employing the LB 490 Tower-Sens detector has proven to be a reliable and cost-effective solution that will withstand this tough environment. It provides a continuous measurement, monitoring the foam as well as the coke level in the drum online and very accurately. All components of the measuring system are mounted on the outer wall of the coke drum and are therefore not affected by the aggressive processes inside.

The Tower-Sens utilizes a detector length up to 8m and can even be mounted in a cascaded fashion to deal with the long measuring ranges. Due to Berthold Technologies’ patented aging and temperature compensation, the system provides stable and reliable measuring results during the entire operation. The precise monitoring of the coke drum processes enables an optimum utilization of the coke drum capacity, reduced cycle times, efficient use of anti-foam agent and of course overflow protection.