Control foaming to avoid process upsets and contamination

Foaming can disrupt key refinery process units, reducing run times and degrading the operation of sensitive downstream equipment. GE Water & Process Technologies provides a range of antifoams and defoamers for use in delayed cokers, fractionation towers (atmospheric and vacuum types), alkanolamine systems, and other units

Choosing the proper antifoam is critical. For example, if the wrong silicone-based antifoam is used in a delayed coker, foamover could occur, causing carryover of silicone that can poison the downstream hydrotreating catalyst. GE offers antifoams with combinations of silicone fluid viscosities and molecular weights that can be customized for your specific delayed coker unit.

GE also supplies non-silicone-based antifoams that are typically used in alkanoalamine systems. These products are uniquely formulated to reduce foaming in amine systems using MEA, DEA, MDEA, DGA, and formulated amine solvents. Amine antifoams can be used in LPG absorbers without causing problems in downstream alkylation units and other sensitive systems. In contrast to silicone-based antifoams, these products do not increase equipment fouling, particulate filtration costs, and the emulsification tendency of the amine. GE antifoams do not degrade to organic acids or fatty acid soaps that increase foaming.

Other applications for non-silicone-based antifoams include:

	Natural gas processing
	Refinery amine systems
	Hydrogen production
	Ammonia manufacturing
	Coke oven gas processing
	Cryogenic gas processing
	Synthesis gas purification

Drawing on decades of GE experience in refinery process treatments and on the capabilities of our analytical laboratories in The Woodlands, TX, our technical and service professionals can develop specific recommendations based on hydrocarbon testing and product screening at your facility.