TY - JOUR
T1 - Sludge interface measurement in the storage tank utilizing neutron backscattering technique
T2 - A field experiment
AU - Wahyu Musa, Wibisono
AU - Muslih, M. Refai
AU - Widyastuti, Henni
AU - Ningsih, Firliyani Rahmatia
AU - Wijaya, Sastra Kusuma
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023
PY - 2023/7
Y1 - 2023/7
N2 - Modern industrial plant operations commonly necessitate a measurement system of the liquids level interface in the oil storage tank. Various advanced-level indicators almost meet the demand, but these may not be in online condition and are less accurate due to sedimentation in the bottom tank. Sedimentation or sludge known as a petroleum hydrocarbons complex emulsion, contained water and solid particles generated during distribution, storage, or even production. The neutron backscatter technique can help the maintenance system of the tank or vessel by measuring sludge levels from outside the wall. This paper presents a non-intrusive method for identifying the interface between two materials in the crude oil storage system. A fast neutron source (241Am–Be) with activity 1 Ci (Ci) and a portable backscattering neutron detector are used for storage tank measurement. The storage tank has an outer diameter (OD) of 34 m and a height of 11 m. Time measurement is 2 s for each position, starting from 0 m to 11 m. The slow neutron intensity can be correlated to the hydrogen concentration inside chemical compounds. The interface between sludge and oil is identified at 27 cm from the bottom plate. The method has the potential for non-destructive measurement of sludge in a refinery facility.
AB - Modern industrial plant operations commonly necessitate a measurement system of the liquids level interface in the oil storage tank. Various advanced-level indicators almost meet the demand, but these may not be in online condition and are less accurate due to sedimentation in the bottom tank. Sedimentation or sludge known as a petroleum hydrocarbons complex emulsion, contained water and solid particles generated during distribution, storage, or even production. The neutron backscatter technique can help the maintenance system of the tank or vessel by measuring sludge levels from outside the wall. This paper presents a non-intrusive method for identifying the interface between two materials in the crude oil storage system. A fast neutron source (241Am–Be) with activity 1 Ci (Ci) and a portable backscattering neutron detector are used for storage tank measurement. The storage tank has an outer diameter (OD) of 34 m and a height of 11 m. Time measurement is 2 s for each position, starting from 0 m to 11 m. The slow neutron intensity can be correlated to the hydrogen concentration inside chemical compounds. The interface between sludge and oil is identified at 27 cm from the bottom plate. The method has the potential for non-destructive measurement of sludge in a refinery facility.
KW - Neutron backscattering
KW - Refinery
KW - Sludge
KW - Storage tank
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85164433280&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17948
DO - 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17948
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85164433280
SN - 2405-8440
VL - 9
JO - Heliyon
JF - Heliyon
IS - 7
M1 - e17948
ER -