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IMI Remosa

An innovative solution

for FCC plants erosion monitoring

IMI REMOSA has developed a non-invasive solution for the
direct measurement of erosion in the most critical parts of
the refractory erosion will expose the capillary tubes to the
FCC internals like Cyclones, Slide Valves, air grid, orifice
erosive action of the catalyst, and the erosion will erode the
chamber….
fiber optics making them shorter. The erosion depth
measuring will be possible thanks to the changes in the
Because of high temperature and high velocity catalyst The erosion measurement is possible thanks to the fact that
circulation, erosion is a critical problem for FCC plants that spectrum of the reflected light associated to the fiber optic
might lead to severe damage of internals with major shortening.
consequence for safety, environment and process

performances. Focus Componentistica e servizi per l’impiantistica
EROSION MONITORING ADVANTAGES
Today there are no solutions available to monitor erosion in
the FCC internals. The effects of erosion are detectable
only when it is too late, when is not anymore matter of wall
thickness, it is matter of hole area.
Having the possibility to measure erosion in FCC internals
IMI Remosa
would provide the following advantages:
• Maintenance Schedule and Budget optimization;
• Operational Flexibility;
• Throughput maximization;
•
An innovative solution
THE FIBER OPTICS BASED EROSION MONITORING
SOLUTION (Patent Pending) Figure 2 This sketch represents multiple Erosion sensing
Probes installed in a boundary wall and in an internal wall.
IMI REMOSA has developed a solution capable to measure
for FCC plants
erosion in FCC internals with sub-millimetric depth accuracy IMI REMOSA has two pending patent application for the
(+-0.5mm). The solution is based on multiple beams of optical method used to measure erosion (details are not
304SS reinforced fused silica fiber optics (OD 0.8mm),
inserted inside non-invasive 304SS capillary tubes (OD described in this article) and for the sensing probes
1.2mm) embedded in the refractory structures. The fiber housing.
erosion monitoring
optics tips are orthogonal to the surface to be monitored
and proportionally based on shortening of the probe tip it A fiber optic sensing probe is needed for measuring erosion
can directly measure erosion of the refractory lining. The in a single point (i.e. one sensing probe for each hexagonal
solution was launched by IMI REMOSA during the 2019 IMI “biscuit”). Multiple sensing probes are needed for
Petrochemical Forum. measuring erosion distribution in wide areas. To limit the
FCC vessels intrusion entries, up to 60 sensing probes, can
be housed in a single housing (patent pending), that keeps

the pressure and allows to connect the sensing probes with
the interconnecting fiber optic cables needed to connect the
IMI REMOSA has develo- ded in the refractory structures. The fi ber optics tips
sensors to the spectrum analyzer located in safe area,
Refractory ped a non-invasive solu- are orthogonal to the surface to be monitored and
with no distance limitations.
1.2mm OD SS capillary tion for the direct measu- proportionally based on shortening of the probe tip it
anchor Fiber Optic tip anchor rement of erosion in the can directly measure erosion of the refractory lining.
Light can be easily switched, and erosion is a slow process:
these two facts, permit to monitor an entire FCC plant with
most critical parts of FCC
The solution was launched by IMI REMOSA during
2000 sensing probes using a single optical analyzer with 16
IMI Remosa 0.8mm OD sensing probe internals like Cyclones, the 2019 IMI Petrochemical Forum.
optical input channels.
Slide Valves, air grid, ori-
fi ce chamber, etc. The erosion measurement is possible thanks to
CONCLUSIONS
Because of high tempe- the fact that the refractory erosion will expose the
capillary tubes to the erosive action of the catalyst,
An innovative solution rature and high velocity ble to detect erosion in time to
Until now, it wasn’t possi
Steel Wall catalyst circulation, ero- and the erosion will erode the fi ber optics making
prevent serious consequences bringing to unscheduled
for FCC plants erosion monitoring sion is a critical problem them shorter. The erosion depth measuring will be
maintenance.

for FCC plants that might possible thanks to the changes in the spectrum of the
An erosion Sensing Probe lead to severe damage of internals with major con- refl ected light associated to the fi ber optic shortening.
The solution described in this article permits to measure
Figure 1 An erosion Sensing Probe inside the capillary tube
erosion in continuous and with high accuracy allowing to
(patent pending).
inside the capillary tube sequence for safety, environment and process per- IMI REMOSA has two pending patent application for
(patent pending).
the optical method used to measure erosion (details
formances.
IMI REMOSA has developed a non-invasive solution for the The erosion measurement is possible thanks to the fact that are not described in this article) and for the sensing
EROSION MONITORING ADVANTAGES. Today
direct measurement of erosion in the most critical parts of the refractory erosion will expose the capillary tubes to the probes housing.
FCC internals like Cyclones, Slide Valves, air grid, orifice erosive action of the catalyst, and the erosion will erode the A fi ber optic sensing probe is needed for measuring
there are no solutions available to monitor erosion in
chamber…. fiber optics making them shorter. The erosion depth erosion in a single point (i.e. one sensing probe for
the FCC internals. The effects of erosion are detec-
Because of high temperature and high velocity catalyst measuring will be possible thanks to the changes in the each hexagonal “biscuit”). Multiple sensing probes
table only when it is too late, when is not anymore
matter of wall thickness, it is matter of hole area.
circulation, erosion is a critical problem for FCC plants that spectrum of the reflected light associated to the fiber optic are needed for measuring erosion distribution in wide
might lead to severe damage of internals with major shortening. Having the possibility to measure areas. To limit the FCC vessels intrusion entries, up
consequence for safety, environment and process erosion in FCC internals would to 60 sensing probes, can be housed in a single
performances.
provide the following advanta- housing (patent pending), that keeps the pressure
EROSION MONITORING ADVANTAGES ges: and allows to connect the sensing probes with the
Today there are no solutions available to monitor erosion in • Maintenance Schedule interconnecting fi ber optic cables needed to connect
the FCC internals. The effects of erosion are detectable and Budget optimization; the sensors to the spectrum analyzer located in safe
only when it is too late, when is not anymore matter of wall • Operational Flexibility; area, with no distance limitations.
thickness, it is matter of hole area. • Throughput maximiza- Light can be easily switched, and erosion is a slow
Having the possibility to measure erosion in FCC internals tion process: these two facts, permit to monitor an entire
would provide the following advantages: FCC plant with 2000 sensing probes using a single

• Maintenance Schedule and Budget optimization; THE FIBER OPTICS BASED optical analyzer with 16 optical input channels.
• Operational Flexibility; EROSION MONITORING SO-
• Throughput maximization; LUTION (Patent Pending) CONCLUSIONS. Until now, it wasn’t possible
• IMI REMOSA has developed a to detect erosion in time to prevent serious
solution capable to measure ero- consequences bringing to unscheduled maintenance.
THE FIBER OPTICS BASED EROSION MONITORING
SOLUTION (Patent Pending) Figure 2 This sketch represents multiple Erosion sensing sion in FCC internals with sub- The solution described in this article permits to
millimetric depth accuracy (+-0.5mm). The solution is
sketch
This Probes installed in a boundary wall and in an internal wall. measure erosion in continuous and with high accuracy
represents

IMI REMOSA has developed a solution capable to measure multiple Erosion sensing. based on multiple beams of 304SS reinforced fused allowing to operate the FCC with an unprecedent
erosion in FCC internals with sub-millimetric depth accuracy IMI REMOSA has two pending patent application for the
Probes installed in a boundary
(+-0.5mm). The solution is based on multiple beams of optical method used to measur silica fi ber optics (OD 0.8mm), inserted inside non- level of consciousness.
wall and in an internal wall.e erosion (details are not
304SS reinforced fused silica fiber optics (OD 0.8mm), invasive 304SS capillary tubes (OD 1.2mm) embed- www.imi-critical.com
inserted inside non-invasive 304SS capillary tubes (OD described in this article) and for the sensing probes
1.2mm) embedded in the refractory structures. The fiber housing.
optics tips are orthogonal to the surface to be monitored 82 82 Impiantistica Italiana - Luglio-Agosto 2019
and proportionally based on shortening of the probe tip it A fiber optic sensing probe is needed for measuring erosion
can directly measure erosion of the refractory lining. The in a single point (i.e. one sensing probe for each hexagonal
solution was launched by IMI REMOSA during the 2019 IMI “biscuit”). Multiple sensing probes are needed for
Petrochemical Forum. measuring erosion distribution in wide areas. To limit the
FCC vessels intrusion entries, up to 60 sensing probes, can
be housed in a single housing (patent pending), that keeps

the pressure and allows to connect the sensing probes with
the interconnecting fiber optic cables needed to connect the
Refractory sensors to the spectrum analyzer located in safe area,
1.2mm OD SS capillary with no distance limitations.
Light can be easily switched, and erosion is a slow process:
anchor Fiber Optic tip these two facts, permit to monitor an entire FCC plant with
anchor
0.8mm OD sensing probe 2000 sensing probes using a single optical analyzer with 16
optical input channels.

CONCLUSIONS

Until now, it wasn’t possible to detect erosion in time to
Steel Wall prevent serious consequences bringing to unscheduled
maintenance.

Figure 1 An erosion Sensing Probe inside the capillary tube The solution described in this article permits to measure
(patent pending). erosion in continuous and with high accuracy allowing to