Method and apparatus for monitoring temperatures during catalytic regeneration

Claim 1

Apparatus for monitoring the regeneration of a catalyst located within an insualtion-clad vessel involving elevating the temperature interior of said vessel after production of hydrocarbon products such as petrochemicals, gasoline, light fuel oils, and the like, has been terminated, comprising: 1. a plurality of metallic stud means affixed to the metallic sidewall of said vessel associated with a similarly oriented spatial position interior of said vessel, for defining a true temperature gradient for catalyst regeneration interior of said vessel as said vessel is utilized in a catalyst regeneration operating mode; 2. an infrared scanning and detection unit responsive to infrared energy in a frequency frange from about 300 × 10 9 to 10 15 Hz, for the purpose of detecting said infrared energy emitted from said plurality of stud means during operation of said vessel in said regeneration mode, and displaying said energy as a function of geometric and time variables indicative of the geographic positions of said stud means as viewed from a scanning station exterior of said vessel, said infrared scanning and detection unit including: A. infrared camera means for generating electrical signals as a function of detected infrared energy; B. means for allowing said infrared camera means (A) to be movably positioned at a series of vertically separated viewing stations along a pathway extending upwardly from ground level, each being horizontally adjacent to a selected group of said stud means of said vessel; C. control means fixably positioned relative to said vessel but electrically connected to said motion allowance means (B) and camera means (A) for controlling movement of said camera means (A) along said vertical pathway, said control means also including first cooperative switch means for controlling operation of said camera means (A) to allow detection of said infrared signals at least when said camera means (A) is stationary relative to said vessel at each of said viewing stations; D. recording circuit means also fixedly positioned relative to said vessel, but electrically connected to said camera means (A) for recording said electrical signals generated by said camera means (A) due to the detection of infrared energy emitted from said plurality of stud means of said vessel.