AGAR CORPORATION

Process Measurement & Control Solutions

NOTE 15: Foam Detection

THE PROBLEM
Foam carry-over can cause upsets in operations and severe damage to gas compressors. In production, refining, and
petrochemical processes, foaming can occur in:

Production Applications Refining and Petrochemical

▪ Liquid/gas production separators ▪ Amine contactors (H2S removal)

▪ Production gas sweetening (Amine) ▪ Knock-out drums
▪ Production gas dehydration (Glycol) ▪ Reflux drums
▪ Three-Phase production separators ▪ Three-phase separators
▪ Liquid/Gas contactors

Common techniques for foam detection include: DP gauges, capacitance probes, guided wave radar, electromagnetic
radiation, neutron-backscatter, sonic echo devices, flow meters, and sight glasses.

Most of these do not offer early foam detection. These devices only detect foam after severe foaming has occurred and
often not until the foam has upset downstream operations.

THE SOLUTION
The Agar Foam Detector operates on the principle of energy
absorption. The Foam Detector is a device that is installed into
the process vessel providing early detection as foam begins to
form and before the occurrence of process upsets or equipment
damage. This information can be used to control/optimize the
defoamer injection rate. Benefits from early foam detection are
listed below:

▪ A reduction in chemical costs and foam carry-over

▪ Minimal liquid entrainment
▪ Sustained operating rates
▪ Protection of downstream equipment (i.e. compressors)
▪ Reduced process upsets

Foam Detection Demonstration

APPLICATION NOTE 15
All Agar Corporation Instruments are covered by one or more of the following U.S. Patents: 4,503,383; 4,774,680; 5,099,697; 5,101,163; 5,101,367; 5,263,363;
5,503,004; 5,551,305; 5,589,642; 5,741,977, RE 36,597. Other patents pending in the USA and other countries.
 APPLICATION NOTE 15: Foam Detection

UPSTREAM APPLICATIONS
FOAM GAS SWEETENING / DEHYDRATION
CONTROL
Dry Gas
Foam Sweet Gas
Detector
Foam Detector
Foam Detector

Lean Lean
Amine Glycol

Glycol
Amine
Contactor
HC FEED Contactor Wet Gas

2-Phase
Separator
Rich
Rich
Glycol
Amine

DOWNSTREAM APPLICATIONS AMINE SYSTEM

Amine
Foam Detector Regenerator Foam Detector
HYDROTREATER
Acid Gas
Lean
HIGH PRESSURE Amine
HC
SEPARATOR
Sour Amine
Gas HC FEED Contactor
HC/H20 Stm
Gas Flash Cond
Stripper Tank

Rich
Amine Lean Amine to
Sour Water
Contactor

PRODUCT STRIPPER
Foam
STRIPPER REFLUX
Detector Gas
From Foam Detector
Separator
Fuel Gas

Stm
HC
Sour Water
HC

ID 201s OIL GAS WATER EMULSION

HEADQUARTERS - CAYMAN ISLAND: Agar Corporation, LTD - P.O. Box 10206 - Grand Cayman, BWI - KY1-1002 - Tel: (345) 945-5242 - ACL@agarcorp.com

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ER No. 5485: ACI-A-7.2-DOC-025 Rev 01