Patent ID: 7501285
Filing Date: 2009-03-10
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus suitable for carrying out a method for determining the presence of heavy hydrocarbons in distillate streams and/or reformer feed comprising: means for taking at least one sample from a distillate stream or reformer feed; at least one spectrofluorometer for spectrally analyzing the at least one sample for at least one heavy hydrocarbon component, wherein the spectrofluorometer further comprises a means for receiving at least one signal from the at least one sample; a computer for determining the concentration of the analyzed hydrocarbon component using the spectrally determined concentration in an appropriate mathematical model, wherein the computer further comprises a means for determining the total heavy hydrocarbon concentration from the determined values for each sample; a first link connecting the spectrofluorometer and the computer in such manner that the detection of any heavy hydrocarbon components is determined continuously and in real time; a second link connecting the computer to at least one suitable control means to provide a suitable signal as to the presence and/or the identity of the heavy hydrocarbon components; and a third link connecting the computer to a suitable means to control, adjust and/or stop the process when certain predetermined standards are not met.