Air Liquide selects AMETEK thermal imaging technology to gain furnace know-how

SHEFFIELD UK — AMETEK Land, an industrial, infrared non-contact temperature measurement specialist, has supplied its near infrared borescope (NIR-B) 3XR, an enhanced thermal imager, to Air Liquide, which is now gaining know-how by continuously measuring temperature of tube walls within its steam methane reformers (SMR).

Photo courtesy of Air Liquide.

Air Liquide’s SMRs, which produce industrial hydrogen and carbon dioxide gases, are critical assets, and their safe and reliable operation is of paramount importance. However, they are challenging assets to maintain and operate. Some of the most-common problems in reformer operation are burner, flue gas distribution and catalyst issues. All those problems can directly affect tube wall temperatures (TWT) and tube life and can lead to premature tube failure. Those issues also can lead a producer to be overly cautious on TWT and lose valuable production every year.

Using AMETEK Land’s Cyclops, a portable non-contact pyrometer, TWT readings are taken manually through peep doors. These measurements are spot readings. When opening peep doors, the tubes cool, affecting the accuracy of the temperature measurement, plus enormous stress is added to the tubes, that may result in damage to the tube wall.

Developed specifically to operate in the hazardous areas of a steam methane reformer, the NIR-B 3XR is ATEX and IECEx approved and CSA certified. It is a short-wavelength radiometric, infrared borescope imaging camera, which measures temperatures in the single range of 600°C to 1800°C (1112°F to 3272°F) and utilizes the latest wide dynamic range imaging technology.

This solution was ideal for Air Liquide’s industrial gas application in which there were high differential temperatures in the field of view, such as the tube and furnace walls.

Air Liquide initially undertook a live trial of AMETEK Land’s NIR-B at a pilot plant in Spain with the full support of the AMETEK Land team. That allowed the operators to fully test the instrument within their specific and harsh environment. The borescope was installed through the furnace wall in front of the tubes within the chamber. The thermal imager is connected via a field connection box to the control room.

With the confirmation that its plants are increasing know-how by continuously measuring temperature of tube walls, Air Liquide’s Research and Development team approved the NIR-B 3XR thermal imager for potential installation in additional steam methane reformers.

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