Patent ID: 6425998
Filing Date: 2002-07-30
Classification: B01J,C07C,C10G,F28D,F28F,G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A process for using a hydrogen sensor in a hydrocarbon reaction zone that operates under hydrogen partial pressure while indirectly exchanging heat with a liquid metal stream that circulates in a heat exchange loop wherein a portion of the hydrogen from the reaction zone migrates across a heat exchange surface into a recirculating liquid metal stream, at least a portion of the recirculating liquid metal stream is passed to a hydrogen removal zone and returned to the recirculating liquid metal stream; providing intimate contact with at least a portion of the recirculating metal stream and a hollow nickel membrane probe of a hydrogen sensor comprising a hollow cylinder containing the hollow nickel membrane probe, a vacuum chamber in fluid communication with the hollow nickel membrane probe, and a pressure transducer, establishing equilibrium between the hydrogen that passes through the nickel membrane probe to the vacuum chamber and the hydrogen in the recirculating liquid metal stream; and operating the hydrogen sensor at effective sensor conditions to measure hydrogen partial pressure in said vacuum chamber over a hydrogen partial pressure range of about 2 to about 10 mm Hg.