How nucleonic instrumentation is driving petrochemical growth in Asia

The Asian petrochemical industry is experiencing rapid growth, driven by rising demand from sectors such as construction, automotive, packaging, and textiles. With massive investments in infrastructure and manufacturing across China, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia, the region is setting new benchmarks in petrochemical production. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), China alone has added as much ethylene and propylene production capacity in five years as Europe, Japan, and Korea combined.

However, this growth presents challenges. Refinery owners must maximise throughput, improve efficiency, and reduce unplanned shutdowns, all while meeting increasingly strict environmental standards. In such a high-demand environment, precise process control is critical.

The role of nucleonic instrumentation in Asia’s petrochemical operations

To tackle these challenges, petrochemical operators are increasingly turning to advanced technologies, particularly nucleonic instrumentation. Once reserved for the most demanding applications, recent advancements in hardware and software have made nucleonic solutions more versatile, reliable, and widely applicable.

Using low-energy gamma radiation, nucleonic systems provide real-time, non-intrusive measurements for fluid separation, level detection, and density monitoring. They deliver continuous, reliable data even in extreme conditions—ideal for retrofitting aging petrochemical assets or enhancing performance in high-pressure environments.

Tracerco:  Delivering petrochemical measurement solutions in Asia

As a global leader in nucleonic process instrumentation, Tracerco provides cutting-edge technologies for level, density, and interface measurement that support operational excellence and real-time process control across Asia’s growing petrochemical infrastructure. Their flagship products are:

• Tracerco Profiler™: Celebrating 25 years in 2024, this industry-standard tool is widely used in refinery CDUs, FPSOs, and both upstream and downstream operations. With over 750 units deployed, it delivers accurate, real-time insights into fluid separation processes.
• Tracerco™ Level+ Measurement Instrumentation: Ideal for separating fluid levels from solids and eliminating false readings caused by process fouling, its segmented detection technology ensures accuracy in complex applications such as polymer reactors and distillation towers.
• Tracerco™ Density Measurement Instrumentation: Provides non-contact density measurements, precise, reliable data even in extreme conditions. Its retrofit-friendly design offers a cost-effective solution for older petrochemical assets, supporting applications in PTA, PIA, and PDH plants.

Case Study: Enhancing separation efficiency in PTA production with Level+

A notable example of Tracerco’s impact is its deployment at an Asian petrochemical facility producing Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA). In this application, Tracerco’s Level+ Measurement instruments are used in solvent strippers to accurately monitor liquid and crystallised TA levels. This precision enables effective solvent recovery, reduces losses, and improves process efficiency.

With more than two decades of operation, these instruments have demonstrated sustained performance, overcoming challenges that conventional systems could not. The segmented Geiger-Muller detectors provide real-time, reliable measurements, ensuring optimal separation and solvent recovery while minimising operational expenses.

Tracerco’s Level+ Measurement Instruments fitted onto a solvent stripper in a PTA petrochemical plant in Asia Pacific. Left image shows the front view and right image shows the side view of the vessel.

A separator vessel with mixer facilities when fitted with Tracerco’s Level+ Measurement Instrumention. The application is also used for multi-stage crystalliser units.

Future Trends: Digitalisation and AI in Petrochemical Instrumentation

Looking ahead, integrating nucleonic instrumentation with advanced digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) holds immense potential. AI-driven predictive analytics can leverage data from nucleonic instruments to foresee anomalies, optimise operations, and support proactive maintenance strategies.

Enhanced remote monitoring capabilities and evolving sensor technologies will further increase measurement precision—empowering teams to respond swiftly to even minor process changes.

Conclusion: Building resilient, efficient, and sustainable petrochemical operations

As Asia’s petrochemical industry continues its rapid growth, the need for precision, efficiency, and environmental responsibility will only intensify. Nucleonic instrumentation offers a proven, reliable solution to these challenges, delivering unmatched clarity and control in process operations.

By embracing advanced measurement technologies alongside digital and AI innovations, petrochemical operators can build more resilient, efficient, and sustainable facilities—ensuring they stay competitive in a dynamic global market.

To learn more about how the Profiler^TM can help you make insight driven decisions to reduce operating costs, optimise effect chemicals, and improve your environmental compliance, download our latest whitepaper today.

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