Crude Unit

Corrosion monitoring in crude distillation units, including both the atmospheric and vacuum sections, is one of the most widely applied and critical practices in global refineries. This emphasis on corrosion monitoring stems from the vital importance of maintaining the reliability of the crude distillation unit, often considered as the ’engine’ of refinery profitability. As the primary processing unit where, crude oil is separated into various fractions, any downtime or failure due to corrosion can result in significant operational disruptions and financial losses. Therefore, effective corrosion monitoring in distillation is a key strategy to safeguard refinery performance, ensure continuous operations, and protect overall profitability.

Atmospheric (Crude) Distillation Unit (CDU)

Corrosion monitoring in crude distillation units traditionally focuses on the atmospheric tower’s overhead section (OVHD). While there are no fixed guidelines specifying exact locations for corrosion monitoring, there is some consensus on key focus areas, such as the OVHD main line and cooler outlets. The proper assessment of monitoring locations and the number of monitoring points will depend primarily on the type of OVHD system, considering its operating regime (1-drum, 2-drums) and the cooler piping system (balanced, unbalanced). Below, you will find guidelines for monitoring locations based on generic OVHD system types: 1 drum – balanced coolers; 1 drum – unbalanced coolers and 2 drums – balanced coolers.

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