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Plugging of instruments on Styrene service 1

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jeanot

Chemical
Apr 17, 2002
3
How to avoid regular plugging of instruments connections (level indicator and pressure gauge) to vessels/systems on liquid Styrene service.
Thanks.
 
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Hello,
Seems that your problem is due to polymer content in styrene? Or maybe some other impurities?
We run our plant since 20 years and the only problem of plugging had to do with polymerisations. Check the inhibitor level
Regards
 
US Patent 4161554 addresses polymer formation in the vapor space above bulk styrene storage. It might be useful to you in stagnant appendages to styrene liquid.

The essense of the patent is to paint the surfaces with epoxy paint containing the appropriate polymerization inhibitor. Leaching of the inhibitor provides inhibition of polymer in the contacted monomer.

Look it up. I was issued this patent in 1979 and sold it to Dow for a dollar.
 
Instrument Leads in any type of service that could possibly poymerize or plug due to solids, need to be so designed that they can rodded out while in operation. This is a higly specialized design field requiring experience and expertise with instrumentation and the process medium. A good place to start is with the ISA.

One trick learned from experince is to utilise a teflon spray lube on components. At least when the styrene gels or polymerizes, it's easy to disassemble the instruments and components and clean off.
 
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