Process for controlling corrosion in petroleum refining units

Abstract

A process for controlling corrosion and fouling in petroleum refining units. The corrosion controlling agent comprises an amine and an alcohol. The process comprises the step of adding the amine and the alcohol to the overhead system of the petroleum refining unit, either separately or in combination.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for controlling corrosion in an overhead system of a refining unit comprising water condensate and petroleum products comprising the step of adding to the system an amine and an alcohol. 
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the amine is an alkylamine, an alkanolamine, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the amine is dimethylethanolamine (DMEA), dimethylisopropanolamine (DMIPA), ethylenediamine (EDA), methoxypropylamine (MOPA), monoethanolamine (MEA), dimethylaminopropylamine (DMAPA), morpholine, trimethylamine (TMA), picoline, pyridine, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the alcohol is a polyol, polyether diol, polyether triol, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the alcohol is a polyol based on ethylene glycol reacted with ethylene oxide, a polyol based on ethylene glycol reacted with propylene oxide, or a polyol based on ethylene glycol reacted with ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the alcohol is a polyol based on glycerol reacted with ethylene oxide, a polyol based on glycerol reacted propylene oxide, a polyol based on glycerol reacted butylene oxide, a polyol based on glycerol reacted ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the alcohol is ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, glycerol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polytetramethylene glycol, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the alcohol is diethylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the amine and the alcohol are added to the system separately. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the amine and the alcohol are added to the system together. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the amount of the amine and the alcohol independently range from 1 to 10,000 ppm based on the petroleum products. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising the step of adding the amine and the alcohol to the system at a rate sufficient to maintain the pH of water condensate in the system at a pH of equal to or greater than 4.0.