On line analyser ensures MARPOL sulphur compliance for bunker fuel blending

Under MARPOL sulphur regulations, marine fuel oil used outside of ECAs must meet a 0.5% wt threshold to comply with new IMO 2020 requirements. 

Heavy fuel oils are a result of the crude oil distillation process—they contain high levels of sulphur and are the most widely used marine fuel at this time. For reliable on-line determination of sulfur, Rigaku offers the advanced NEX XT total sulphur gauge for marine fuel blending. With a sulphur detection range of 200 parts-per-million (ppm) to 6 wt%, the NEX XT process analyser helps ensure MARPOL compliance. 

The NEX XT process gauge delivers on-line, real-time X-ray transmission (XRT) measurement of sulphur in heavy oils, meeting the needs of blending operations supplying marine bunker fuels. Featuring uniquely engineered hardware and novel proprietary software technologies, the NEX XT system is faster, more sensitive, and much more compact than previous generation systems. Rigaku NEX XT provides continuous monitoring of sulphur at pressures up to 1480 psig and up to 200°C in custom configurations. NEX XT operates as a standalone analyser or provides real-time closed-loop control when tied into a blending or plant-wide automation system.  

Among its other key features are a simplified user interface, reduced standards requirement, automatic density compensation, password protection, and a standard platform for communicating sulfur and density to a DCS. Due to its unique design and robust construction, sample conditioning and recovery systems are typically not required. 

For complete sulphur analysis needs of refineries, pipelines, blending operations, bunkering terminals, and other storage facilities, the NEX XT process analyser offers total sulphur measurement for crude, bunker fuel, fuel oils, and other highly viscous hydrocarbons, including residuums.