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| URL: | http://plaintext.hallikainen.org/org/hi/newsletter/620625.pd f |
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| Modified: | 2001-02-01 22:13:46 |
| Categories: | -None- |
| Title: | Halinco hi-Lights - Volume 2, Number 5 - June 25, 1962 |
| Description: | -None- |
| Keywords: | -None- |
| Meta data: | -None- |
| Body: | Let's Get Technical - by Bill Breyer
One of our newest instruments is the Kinetic
Vapor Pressure Analyzer which measurer
vauor nressure of refinery products. Vapor
p&s&e might be defined- a's the pressure ex-
erted by the liquid on the surrounding air.
The vapor pressure of all liquids increases
with temperature and when the pressure ex-
ceeds the surrounding air pressure, the liquid
will boil and vapo, rise readily into the air.
The vapor pressuz cf gasolines, jet fuels,
and other refinery products is an important
specification.
Automotive gasoline, for
example, is blended to a different vapor pres-
sure depending on the lQca1 climate. In win-
ter, gasoline must have a high vapor pressure
(which means that it will vaporize readily) to
insure easy engine starting, but in summer the
pressure must be reduced or the gasoline will
vaporize too easily and create vapor lock in
the fuel lines.
Butane is usually blended with gasoline in
varying amounts to raise the vapor pressure to
the requirements of local climates.
Since
Butane costs only about one-third as much as
gasoline, it is easy to understand that the
refinery tries to blend as much Butane as pos-
sible into the gasoline and thus sell it at the
price of gasoline.
Since there is a maximum
vapor pressure specification,
the refinery is
faced with the problem of blending within
close limits. If vapor pressure is too high it
does not meet specifications
(will cause vapor
lock or difficult
engine starting), and if it
is too low the gasoline is costing more than
necessary since more inexpensive Butane could
be added.
Standard laboratory tests do not have the speed
or accuracy required to maintain close speci-
fication limits on the refinery blend. Our
Kinetic Vapor Pressure Analyzer is being in-
stalled in these blending systems to measure
vapor pressure rapidly aid accurately,
The
instrument continuously draws a small sample
(1 quart per minute) from the main line.
The
sample is heated to 100°F and then passes
through the vapor pressure sensing chamber
which is equipped with a pressure gauge and
recorder. The resulting measurement is re-
corded continuously, and the sample passes out
of the analyzer and back into the main line.
This reading serves as a guide for refinery
operators controlling the Butane blend rate.
The analyzer responds to changes in vapor
pressure in less than 8 seconds and is more
consistently accurate than the laboratory test
method. One of these instruments is installed
at
the
Richmond refinery of Standard Oil. The
analyzer is used in conjunction with a blender
which can process two million gallons of gas-
oline during an 8 hour period. The closer
control made possible by our Vapor Pressure
Analyzer can
save Standard Oil at least $100
per day.
Personality Sketch. Alva Beach, the quiet
man full of sururises, has `I;= working in
our machine shop since February of 1986, He
doesn r t say much, but he spends much of his
time poliahing and finishing shaft and disc
assemblies for our vital Blood Oxygenators.
However, when we started quizzing him and
asking around, we discovered that he played
on the American League junior ball team that
won the championship in 1929. Because of his
outstanding performance, the N.Y. Yankees had
him under contract and he was headed for a
career in pro baseball, but in 1933 a serious
accident and a year in the hospital changed-
his plans. He went to work in the machine
shop of the Santa Fe Railroad where he
learned the machinery business, and he had
his own automotive shop for seven years be-
fore he came to work for us, Al came to the
anniversary dinner escorting a beautiful
brunette (one of his two daughters), and he
can boast of three grandchildren whom he
chooses to introduce as his nieces and ne-
phew. He is an enthusiastic fisherman and at
one time owned his own fishing boat. When
he isn't fishing, he spends his spare time
visiting his friends and watching the ball
games.
Speaking of ball games, most of our elec-
tronics department went to watch the Giants
lose to St'; Louis. Skip Brad ford, Julius
Rosin and his two boys, Tom Hale, Larry Mel?
lott, Ron Bult_zna azd two friends and as ever,
Ken Horn got together as a party of ten and
made it over to the ball park and back with-
out any mishaps.
The fishing trips have started again now that
summer is here. After work on June 13, Hans
Bockenkamp, John Chin, Eric Liske, Larry
Mellott and Henry Schuetz went out on the
good ship, Lucky Ace, and came back with
about 35 pounds of fish.
Eric won the pool
with the biggest fish, a nine pound bass,
and except for the loss of three gears and a
dozen or so sinkers, the trip was a complete
success.
By the way, ask George Black about his catch
of 30 catfish at Clear Lake -- a real fish
story!
Visitor!
The man in the brown suit whom
Bill Breyer was showing around the plant last
week was- not a new employee. Herman Hampton,
from Alphagineering
(our representative
in Houston) was here for three days. His
tour of inspection included demonstrations of
our Kinetic Vapor Pressure Analyzer, a trip
to Richmond to see one installed, and a trip
to Shell to see a Mercaptan Analyzer in op-
eration.
Not unmindful of the reputation of
Texans, Mr. Hampton was impressed with the
hospitality extended to him by our sales de-
partment .
Next month will be our vacation issue! Have fun, all of you!
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