Chemicals & Allied Products

Liquid concentration measurement for process control and optimization

Measuring liquid concentration or density in-line is important in the chemical industry as density variations have impact on both raw materials and finished products. Process safety is also mandatory, since hazardous chemicals represent a potential risk to people and the environment. While managing these challenges, chemical manufacturers strive to produce high-quality products that meet customers’ specifications. To achieve these goals, accurate process measurements, high process efficiency, low energy consumption, and state-of-the-art process control management are crucial. 

In-line measurement of liquid concentration and density directly in chemical process

Vaisala Polaris process refractometer is designed to measure and indicate inline liquid concentration of almost any chemical or compound.

The refractometer can be installed cost-efficiently in the main processing line, bypass line or vessel to control the raw and in-process materials in order to extract their maximum value and achieve high quality end products. The performance of all types of chemical refining, manufacturing, and quality-control operations can be dramatically improved with Vaisala’s refractive index measurement technology – whether they are in continuous or batch processes. 

Unlike intermittent sampling, continuous monitoring provides instant feedback on changes in the process, and this data can enable real-time and precise process control of the common chemical industry operations, e.g.

  • Reactor, reaction degree, and endpoint determination
  • Evaporation
  • Dissolving tank or vessel
  • Dilution, mixing or blending
  • Solid-liquid extraction
  • Absorbers and wet scrubbers
  • Ion exchangers
  • Distillation
  • Interface detection and product identification of product-to-product interfaces in loading/ unloading
  • Quality control

Using the Vaisala concentration measurement technique and its easy integration into plant engineering systems enables significant improvements in the plant capacity, the process safety or product yields.

All you need to know about liquid concentration and density measurements

In this eBook we review two most widely used methods of liquid concentration measurement, i.e. refractive index technology (refractometer) and density (Coriolis, ultrasonic, nuclear, and microwave). 

Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of each technology. 

Download the eBook

Refractive index technique designed for harsh chemical environments and applications

Vaisala Polaris process refractometer offers accuracy, repeatability and reliability even in the most extreme environments that can be corrosive or abrasive, subject to chemically aggressive solutions, extreme temperatures, pressures, vibration or contamination, humidity and dust, or any combinations of these factors.

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Polaris PR53AC process refractometer
  • Designed to Pressure Equipment Directive PED 97/23/EC and ASME Section VIII Division 1 - Pressure Vessels
  • Selection of different IP codes (IEC 60529) and NEMA ratings that withstand various harsh conditions and outside use.
  • Special wetted parts materials ranging from stainless steel and higher alloys to PFCF or PTFE (Teflon®) for harsh environments and chemically aggressive process fluids.
  • Intrinsically safe and hazardous area certification for hazardous areas

Vaisala capabilities and services for the chemical industry applications

Vaisala is specialized in in-line process refractometers and optical process analyzers for refractive index-based concentration measurements. Vaisala instruments range from compact probe models for small pipeline and bypass lines to rugged heavy-duty long probe versions for large pipeline, vessel and reactor installations. When standard models are not sufficient to fulfil requirements, please consult the factory for engineered solutions, e.g. special wetted materials or custom mounting accessories and process connections.

Vaisala also provides full range of start-up, commissioning and technical support services to our customers. Our industry expertise includes supply of extensive vendor documentation that is tailored and applied to each contract and client specific data. Local authorized distributors have extensive applications knowledge and they can help to specify the correct instrument for each application requirements.

All you need to know about in-line liquid concentration and density measurement

Processing industries use liquid concentration or density as a key parameter for controlling and adjusting the process to ensure the desired output. This can be done using the refractometer technology or density meters. What are the operational and economic benefits of both techniques? This and other aspects on how to choose the right measurement technology for the most demanding processing applications will be discussed in the webinar.

Watch webinar

Applications in the chemical industry

The performance of all types of refining, manufacturing and quality control operations can be dramatically improved with our liquid concentration and density measurement technology.
Download our application notes for more information.

Bulk and Fine Chemicals

Catalytic Oxidation Process: Formaldehyde Ethanol Blending Ethylene Glycol at Cooling Systems Autoxidation Process: Hydrogen Peroxide Sodium Acetate Process Sodium Dichromate Process

More Bulk and Fine Chemicals

Contact Process: Sulfuric Acid and Oleum Wet Process Phosphoric Acid Production

Chlor-Alkali Products

Chlor-Alkali Process: Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH), Brine (NaCl), Hydrochloric Acid (HCl), Sodium Hypochlorite (NaClO) * Salt Production (Sulfate in Brine)

Polymers and Plastics

Control of Polymerization Phenol Process Phenolic Resin Process Styrene Production Process Polycarbonate Synthesis Process Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Production Process Caprolactam Production Process

More Polymers and Plastics

Caprolactam Production Process Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR), Synthetic Latex Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS) Resin Process Removal of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) in Green Automotive Tires Production Production of Isocyanates for Polyurethane...

Fertilizers and Explosives

Ammonium Nitrate Production Process Nitroglycerine Production Process Urea-Ammoniumnitrate (UAN) Production Process Urea Production Process Nitric Acid Process Liquid Ammonia / Ammonium Hydroxide Production Process

Other Chemical and Allied Products

Glycerol Evaporation Wood Timber Treatment: Acetylation Process Gelatine Evaporation Detergents Blending (Floor Wax) Lead Acid Battery Manufacture: Sulfuric Acid

Effluents Treatment

Pure Water Treatment by Chemical Precipitation Ammonia Removal in Water Treatment Acid Wet Scrubbing of Ammonia

Loading and Unloading Operations

Chemical Interface Identification in loading and unloading operations Brochure : Chemical interface identification and product detection Customer case: How to perform custody transfer accurately and reliably?

Applications in the fiber and textile industries

Read our application notes to streamline your fiber processes, optimize use of materials  and resources and reduce impact of harmful chemicals to the environment and humans. 
Download our application notes for more information.

Regenerated Cellulose Fibers

The Lyocell Process (If you would like to receive the complete application note, please contact Vaisala). Cellulose Acetate Fiber Production

Synthetic Fibers

Polyamide (Nylon) Fiber Production Polyurethane Elastic (Spandex) Fiber Production Process Fiberglass Production Process Production of Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) Precursor Fibers for Carbon Fibers

Textile Wet Processing

Textile Sizing Process Textile Sizing Agents Recovery by Ultrafiltration Polyethylene Fiber Antistatic Agent Textiles Softening Bath

Free e-Book

Download the free eBook on Optimizing chemical and textile fibers processing

Liquid concentration measurement in chemical and textile fibers

This eBook can be interesting for chemical and textile fiber fabricators and processors. It provides insights on the most common fiber and textile processes, and explains the role of in-line instrumentation for automatic and precise control of raw materials and solvents in these processes. The process optimization benefits include but are not limited to energy and material savings. Discover more by downloading the eBook.

Download the eBook

Applications in biofuels

Read our application notes to streamline your biofuel processes and optimize use of materials and resources. 
Download our application notes for more information.

Bioethanol Process

Bioethanol production dry-mill mash preparation Bioethanol cooking and fermentation Bioethanol purification Bioethanol stillage processing

Biodiesel Process

Biodiesel Glycerol Refining

Applications in other industries & operations

Read our application notes to streamline your other manufacturing processes or operations. 
Download our application notes for more information.

Automotive

Automotive Grade Urea Solution Process: AdBlue and DEF Automotive Antifreeze and Coolant Fluids Blending

Aviation

Aviation De-icing Fluid Spraying and Recovery

Metalworking and Machining

Metalworking and Machining Metal Induction Hardening Can Coating Acid Passivation of Stainless-Steel Parts

Metal Mining and Refining

Longwall Mining: Emulsion Station

Elastomer and Polymer Products

Rubber Gloves Manufacturing Process

Learning resources

Webinar

Unlocking Efficiency: Refractive Index Insights for Chemical Industry

In this webinar Vaisala's Kevin Green is joined by Dave Lobach of Rocky Mountain Instrumentation, Inc. (RMI).

Learning agenda:

  • How refractive index can optimize multiple chemical processes with accurate and low maintenance measurement
  • Real-world applications in diverse industries, from oil refining to wastewater treatment
  • Smart quality control, lower energy consumption, reduced waste, and enhanced efficiency
 Learn more

Webinar

Mastering Sulfuric Acid Measurement: Successes in Oil & Gas Refinery Operations

In this webinar Vaisala's Regional Sales Manager Kevin Green welcomes two key players from the refining industry. Grant Ruediger and Cody Jensen of Elessent Clean Technologies describe how liquid measurement technology for sulfuric acid is helping to produce cleaner burning fuels, while saving costs and safeguarding refining operations.

Learning Agenda:

  • Discover Alkylation Technology that utilizes sulfuric acid to convert low-value olefins to produce clean gasoline with superior blending properties.
  • Explore various methods for measuring sulfuric acid, including inline refractometers, Coriolis meters, and titration sampling. 
  • Hear about successful industry use cases from the experts who implement and maintain these systems. 
     
 Learn more

Customer Case

How a world-leading sulfuric acid producer ensures product quality with liquid concentration measurement

Boliden is one of the world’s leading producers of sulfuric acid (H2SO4), manufacturing around 1.7 million tons of high-quality product every year across four sites: Rönnskär in Sweden, Harjavalta and Kokkola in Finland, and Odda in Norway. The highly corrosive, colorless acid is a byproduct of zinc manufacturing and is used in the production of fertilizers and chemicals as well as by the pulp and paper and mining industries.

 Learn more

Customer case

Real-time chemical identification and interface detection in loading and unloading operations

How chemical plants and petroleum refineries can optimize loading and discharge operations and deliver the highest quality chemicals using Refractive Index technology?

 Learn more

Chemicals & Allied Products related products

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Vaisala Polaris™ PR53GP Process Refractometer

Measure concentrations of sugars/Brix, acids, alkaline solutions, alcohols, hydrocarbons, solvents, and various other solutions directly in pipeline and tanks, in production transport and quality control in sugar, chemical, petrochemical, and other industries.
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Liquid concentration measurement

Vaisala offers a wide range of products tailored to liquid measuring needs of different industries. 
Learn more about the refractometer technology and its applications, and visit the library of product related assets.

Learn more

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