Ashland Petroleum Co. expects its InfraTane octane measuring technology to save $1.3 million/year at its 213,000 b/d Catlettsburg, Ky., refinery.
It was installed there this fall.
Ashland calls the system "superior technology" for measuring octane and other constituents during gasoline blending.
It first was installed and tested at Ashland's 67,100 b/d St. Paul Park, Minn., refinery.
Charles B. Miller, group vice president of manufacturing, said the system proved itself by saving money and avoiding delays when samples are measured by traditional knock engines.
"Our savings are a result of the system's ability to more accurately measure octane levels, which reduces octane giveaway during blending," Miller said. "Commercial use showed InfraTane is two to three times more accurate than knock engines."
On line knock engines at the St. Paul Park refinery have been sold.
Installation of the system at Catlettsburg began in late summer. Phase I of the installation is complete and allows continuous octane monitoring and feedback control to the blending system. Phase II, to be completed in about 1 year, will automate the calibration and operation of the system.
WHAT IT DOES
InfraTane passes a sample of blended gasoline through a compartment containing a fiber optic probe.
The system measures octane and other constituents by absorption of light in the near infrared region. It mathematically processes the results to report octane and other measurements continuously during blending.
The Catlettsburg unit is an updated version of the St. Paul Park system with more advanced sample handling capability. The St. Paul system also will be updated. Both are being adapted to measure concentrations of oxygenates as well as octane determinations of those blends.
The system monitors ethanol blends, measuring octane and weight percent oxygen as mandated by the Clean Air Act amendments. Aromatic and olefin concentrations also are determined.
Ashland is researching measurement of other parameters and specifications in gasoline blends.
The system can be used as the primary control to reduce aromatics and sulfur while maintaining minimum cetane levels.
Ashland has licensed Fluid Data Inc., Merrick, N.Y., to design, engineer, build, and service the system for customers.
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