Instrumentation and gas analysis for chemical industry

In chemical plants,gas analysis, temperature measurement, flow measurement and pressure measurement manage energy efficiently, make processes more reliable and reduce gas emissions. 

It's essential to chooseinstrumentation for the chemical industry that's accurate and reliable. This is because the reliability of this equipment ensures the longevity of installations. What's more, this equipment makes a significant contribution to optimizing various technological processes. These processes are commonly used in refineries and chemical plants. Basic chemistry, including sub-sectors such as fine and specialty chemicals, is essential to these processes.

In particular, these processes are used to produce ethylene, vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), styrene-butadiene rubber and ammonia. Fine chemicals, specialized in the manufacture of complex molecules, are also involved in these productions.

Thechemical industry is a major player in the French economy, particularly in terms of exports and sales. Upstream chemistry supplies the basic chemical products needed. Plastics enable the production of a wide range of industrial articles. Beauty products are also an important part of thechemical industry, requiring chemical specialties for their formulation.

Chemical and petrochemical processes

Oil refining (naphtha crude oil) → Manufacture of petrochemicals → Manufacture of chemicals (derivatives)

Organic chemistry transforms carbon compounds derived from petroleum into products such as plastics and petrochemicals.

Chemical substances are essential to France'schemical industry, providing key materials for other industrial sectors.

Refineries

Oil refining is the industrial process by which crude oil is refined into fuel oil and various petrochemical products. In France, this sector plays a major role in the economy. An oil refinery consists of facilities that manufacture products from raw materials and utilities. It is also a mainstay of many other economic sectors.

The process begins by heating crude oil to a temperature of 350°C in a heating furnace. This heated oil is then channeled into a distillation tower up to 50 meters high. Within this distillation tower, a critical operation takes place: the separation of the oil into different fractions. These fractions are defined by specific substances: naphtha, kerosene, diesel and heavy fuel oil. The key to this separation lies in the differential boiling point of each fraction.

Ethylene plant

An ethylene plant is the facility where hydrocarbons are cracked and separated from naphtha or other raw materials to produce primary petrochemicals. Know-how in the chemical industry is essential for the production, formulation and maintenance of chemical products. Repeated distillation of refined oil or gas yields ethylene, propylene and a variety of other petrochemical products. The production capacity of the entire chemical plant (or industrial complex) depends on ethylene, as it serves as the raw material for producing the derivatives listed below.

Production of monomeric vinyl chloride CVM

Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) is mainly used in the polymerization of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). VCM is an organic gas, colorless at room temperature. It is highly volatile and sparingly soluble in water.

There are two methods for producing monomeric vinyl chloride CVM:

• Direct chlorination
• Oxychlorination.

Both of these methods are used in most CVM plants. Both processes use dichloroethane (DCE) to produce CVM. In direct chlorination, DCE is generated by the reaction of chlorine with the catalyst, while in the oxychlorination method, it is generated by the reaction of hydrogen chloride and ethylene in the presence of the catalyst and air (O2).

Production of styrene-butadiene rubber in organic chemistry

Butadiene is a synthetic rubber widely produced and used for its high resistance to abrasion. Jobs in the chemical industry are highly diversified and grouped into several sectors, from manufacturing operators to industrial maintenance technicians. It is mixed with other rubbers, processed with roller mills or extruders, and vulcanized into elastic rubber. It is then used in the production of tires, belts, shoes and tubes. In North America, Europe and Japan, butadiene is obtained as a by-product from the catalytic cracking of ethylene or other olefins.

Applications :

• Car tire production
• Shoes
• Belts
• Fire hoses
• Plastic toys
• Moulded rubber articles
• Sponge and foam products
• Waterproof materials
• Belt
• Adhesives

Ammonia production: Haber-Bosch process

Ammonia is the most widely produced chemical compound in the world. Around 80% of ammonia is used in the production of agricultural fertilizers. The remaining 20% is used in the production of synthetic fibers (nylon, rayon). Ammonia is produced by the Haber-Bosch process: atmospheric nitrogen reacts with hydrogen to form ammonia. Hydrogen can be produced in a number of ways, but is usually obtained by cracking natural gas (methane) or petroleum naphtha.Hydrogen is also recovered from recycled plastic (chemical recycling).