(22b) Evaluating Sensor Accuracy for Common Tubeskin and in-Process Designs in Coil Outlet Temperature Measurement

In the olefin production industry, optimizing steam cracker operations is crucial to achieving increased run times, consistent conversion rates, and efficient burner fuel usage.

A key parameter is the coil outlet temperature, which directly impacts coke formation, the frequency of de-coking cycles, and the production of unreacted feedstock and undesirable by-products.

Accurate measurement of this temperature is essential, and various sensor designs are utilized to achieve this. Designs include skin thermocouples, either as replaceable sensors or permanently welded to the tubes, and in process thermowell measurements.

This paper explores the performance and accuracy of the common sensor designs used in the industry today, presenting the findings from tests conducted in the process unit found at WIKA’s R&D center in Pasadena Texas.

The WIKA R&D Center comprises a Fired Heater and Fixed bed reactor capable of simulating environment similar to industrial heaters and reactors to test temperature sensor performance.

Our study highlights how different sensor designs impact measurement accuracy.