Refinery Gas Analysis by Gas Chromatography

Importance of Refinery Gas Analysis

Refinery gas analysis by gas chromatography is essential for monitoring process streams, optimizing unit performance and ensuring product quality and regulatory compliance in refinery and petrochemical operations. Highly detailed speciation of permanent gases, hydrocarbons, sulfurs and other trace components supports decision making across quality control and process optimization.

Study Objectives and Overview

This document presents Wasson-ECE’s engineered solutions for refinery gas analysis based on an Agilent 7890 GC platform. Multiple application configurations (383, 583, 783, 783D, 383D) address different analysis speeds, hydrocarbon ranges and selective detection needs. The goal is to deliver reliable, multi-dimensional chromatographic methods compliant with UOP and ASTM standards.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Key features of the Wasson-ECE approach include multi-dimensional chromatography with programmable ovens, backflush capability and flexible valve configurations. An auxiliary oven accommodates up to five rotary valves and seven columns for separate thermal zones, improving method development and troubleshooting.

• Base GC: Agilent 7890 with two inlets, up to four detectors and programmable rotary valves
• Detectors: dual thermal conductivity detectors (TCD), flame ionization detector (FID), plus optional SCD, NCD, FPD, PFPD, MSD, PID, ECD and methanizer-FID
• Compliance: UOP 539, UOP 960, ASTM D7833, D1946 (TCD), D2163 (FID), D5504, D5623, D6228, D7423, D6729, D6730, D7754
• Applications: 383 standard analysis (<20 min), 583 fast analysis (<7 min), extended C5–C12 hydrocarbon analysis, four-detector super refinery gas methods for sulfur, oxygenates, amines and greenhouse gases

Main Results and Discussion

The 383 configuration provides complete C1–C7 hydrocarbon and permanent gas analysis in under 20 minutes, with detection limits of 100–300 ppm for permanent gases and 10 ppm for hydrocarbons. The 583 variant achieves similar separations in under 7 minutes. Extended methods (783/783D) quantify C5–C12 and BTEX. The 383D super analyzer with a fourth detector enables trace sulfur (down to 0.01 ppm with SCD), oxygenates, amines and CO/CO2 (0.1 ppm with methanizer-FID) in complex matrices.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• High throughput and rapid turnaround for routine refinery gas monitoring
• Integrated multi-method flexibility in a single instrument
• Comprehensive component coverage from permanent gases to heavy hydrocarbons and trace contaminants
• Customizable detection limits and concentration ranges for QA/QC, process control and environmental compliance

Future Trends and Opportunities

Emerging developments include enhanced online process GC integration, miniaturized and low-power detectors, coupling with real-time mass spectrometry, AI-driven method optimization and expansion to bio-derived and alternative feedstocks. Advanced chemometric tools may further improve quantitative accuracy and predictive maintenance.

Conclusion

Wasson-ECE’s refinery gas analyzers deliver robust, compliant and customizable GC solutions, combining multi-dimensional chromatography with versatile detector configurations. These systems support critical refinery and petrochemical analytics through reliable, high-speed analysis of permanent gases, hydrocarbons, sulfurs and trace species.

Reference

1. UOP 539
2. UOP 960
3. ASTM D7833
4. ASTM D1946
5. ASTM D2163
6. ASTM D5504
7. ASTM D5623
8. ASTM D6228
9. ASTM D7423
10. ASTM D6729
11. ASTM D6730
12. ASTM D7754