News and Views from the Tracerco | gamma transmission

Three questions Tracerco is asked about coke drum monitoring

Posted by Nicola Porter

Nov 3, 2026, 11:46:37 AM

Monitoring coke levels during the delayed coking process is critical to helping operators maintain control of the coking cycle and avoid issues such as foam-over. But when it comes to choosing or replacing a coke drum monitoring system, there are several questions that come up time and again.

With the launch of DrumVision™, Tracerco’s neutron backscatter instrument for coke drum monitoring, we’ve been having more conversations with operators about the technology, its practical application and what is involved in replacing legacy systems.

Here are three of the questions we’re most frequently asked.

Read More

Topics: neutron backscatter, coke drum cycle, coke drum optimization, coke drum, coker units, delayed coke drum, delayed coking, coke drum monitoring, coke formation monitoring, foam and coke interface, how coke level is measured, how is coke level measured in a delayed coker, refinery process measurement, delayed coker level measurement, coke drum process monitoring, non-contact level measurement, gamma transmission, hydrogen density, neutron vs gamma, neutron backscatter vs gamma, foam-to-coke interface, delayed coker, coke level measurement, coke drum level measurement, level measurement, process measurement, DrumVision, gamma vs neutron backscatter, foam to coke interface monitoring

Why the foam-to-coke interface matters in delayed coking

Posted by Nicola Porter

Oct 8, 2026, 8:33:06 AM

Inside a delayed coker, the transition between foam and coke is more than simply a change in material. Knowing where that transition occurs can be important when managing the coking cycle and protecting the operation from unwanted events such as foam-over.

This is one of the reasons understanding the foam-to-coke interface is an important consideration when selecting coke drum monitoring technology.

Read More

Topics: neutron backscatter, coke drum cycle, coke drum optimization, coke drum, coker units, delayed coke drum, delayed coking, coke drum monitoring, coke formation monitoring, foam and coke interface, how coke level is measured, how is coke level measured in a delayed coker, refinery process measurement, delayed coker level measurement, coke drum process monitoring, non-contact level measurement, gamma transmission, hydrogen density, neutron vs gamma, neutron backscatter vs gamma, foam-to-coke interface, delayed coker, coke level measurement, coke drum level measurement, level measurement, process measurement, DrumVision, gamma vs neutron backscatter, foam to coke interface monitoring

Neutron vs gamma: Understanding coke drum measurement technologies

Posted by Nicola Porter

Sep 30, 2026, 6:00:00 AM

Monitoring the changing conditions inside a delayed coke drum is an important part of managing the coking cycle. As material moves through different phases, operators need reliable information at critical points within the drum to help monitor coke formation and identify conditions that could lead to foam-over.

There are several technologies available for coke drum monitoring, including gamma transmission and neutron backscatter. While both use radiation-based measurement, they work in fundamentally different ways and provide different types of information.

So, what is the difference and why does it matter?

Read More

Topics: neutron backscatter, coke drum cycle, coke drum optimization, coke drum, coker units, delayed coke drum, delayed coking, coke drum monitoring, coke formation monitoring, foam and coke interface, how coke level is measured, how is coke level measured in a delayed coker, refinery process measurement, delayed coker level measurement, coke drum process monitoring, non-contact level measurement, gamma transmission, hydrogen density, neutron vs gamma, neutron backscatter vs gamma, foam-to-coke interface, delayed coker, coke level measurement, coke drum level measurement, level measurement, process measurement, DrumVision, gamma vs neutron backscatter

All posts

Contact us today or email us at tracerco@tracerco.com

We measure the unmeasurable
access the inaccessible
and help solve the impossible