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Monomer monitoring in tank farms and during transport

LiquiSonic® - The solution for early detection of product changes in polymerization-critical monomers

Why LiquiSonic®?

During the storage, unloading, and transport of monomers, any early information about the current product condition is crucial. Substances such as MMA, styrene, acrylates, methacrylates, or acrylic acid are stored and transported in a stabilized state. Nevertheless, heat, long storage times, contamination, inhibitor degradation, or residues in lines can cause the monomer to change or uncontrolled polymerization to begin.

With LiquiSonic® you get a highly precise inline measurement system based on sound velocity measurement that detects changes in the monomer flow in real time:

  • Incipient Detect polymerization at an early stage: Detect deviations in the monomer before they lead to subsequent problems.
  • Protect tank inventories: Prevent altered or partially polymerized material from entering the storage tank unnoticed.
  • Secure goods receipt and unloading: Check delivered monomers directly in the unloading line, before they enter the tank.
  • Monitor production feed: Ensure that only specification-compliant monomer enters downstream processes.
  • Save time and costs: Reduce manual sampling, thereby reducing laboratory effort and the risk of costly consequential damage.
  • Seamless integration: Integrate LiquiSonic® into your existing control system and use measured values for monitoring, alarming, and release logic.
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How LiquiSonic works®

  • Measurement of sound velocity: A sensor continuously records the sound velocity of the flowing medium during operation.
  • Integrated temperature measurement: The process temperature is recorded directly in the sensor and included in the evaluation.
  • Comparison with reference data: The measured values are compared with stored reference values for the respective medium. This creates an acoustic fingerprint of the product condition.
  • Detection of deviations: If the medium changes due to aging or contamination (or polymerization), the sound velocity deviates from the expected range.
  • Real-time warning: In the event of critical deviations, LiquiSonic® can issue a warning message and transmit a signal to the process control system.

Store and transport monomers safely

Polymerization-critical monomers place special demands on storage and logistics. In addition to temperature, fill level, pressure, inhibitor content, and vapor space monitoring, the actual condition of the liquid medium is crucial. LiquiSonic® provides this information directly in the process. The inline measurement enables continuous monitoring without time-delayed laboratory analysis and without manual sampling during handling.

Typical monomers and substance groups:

  • Methyl methacrylate (MMA)
  • Methacrylates
  • Styrene
  • Acrylates
  • Acrylic acid
  • Methacrylic acid
  • Vinyl acetate

Measurement in the unloading line

The unloading line is one of the most important measurement points for monomer applications. Here it is checked whether the delivered product corresponds to the expected condition before it enters the storage tank. With LiquiSonic® tank farms, chemical terminals, and production facilities can continuously monitor the monomer flow during unloading.

Advantages:

  • Inspection before entering the storage tank
  • Protection against contaminated or aged deliveries
  • Quick release or blocking decision
  • Better documentation of the unloading process

Monitoring of storage tanks

During storage, the condition of a monomer can change. Causes can include temperature stress, long storage duration, contamination, water content, inhibitor degradation, or residues in the system. LiquiSonic® can be installed in a recirculation line or a suitable bypass and continuously monitor the tank contents.

Advantages:

  • Permanent condition monitoring of the tank contents
  • Early detection of gradual product changes
  • Additional safety alongside temperature and level measurement
  • Better basis for decisions on release, transfer, or quarantine

Control at the tank outlet

Even if the delivery was flawless, the monomer can change during storage. Therefore, the tank outlet is another important measurement point. LiquiSonic® monitors the product flow before the monomer enters downstream systems. This helps prevent altered or partially polymerized material from being introduced into reactors, dosing systems, filters, mixers, or production lines.

Advantages:

  • Additional release before production
  • Protection of reactors and dosing systems
  • Avoidance of filter blockages
  • Lower risk of batch losses
  • Stable product quality in the downstream process

Transfer and handling lines

In chemical terminals, tank farms, and production facilities, monomers are frequently transferred, loaded, or moved between different tanks. With every transfer, there is a risk that incorrect, aged, or altered product will be transported further. LiquiSonic® enables continuous inline monitoring at critical transfer points, for example during:

  • Truck unloading
  • Tank container unloading
  • Tank-to-tank transfer
  • Transfer to quarantine tanks
  • Loading for delivery

Your advantages at a glance

  • Early detection of polymerization: LiquiSonic® detects changes in the monomer flow at an early stage based on sound velocity.
  • Protection against tank contamination: Delivered goods can be checked before they enter the storage tank.
  • More safety in tank farms and terminals: Continuous inline measurement complements existing protection concepts and increases operational transparency.
  • Quality assurance during storage and transport: Monomers are monitored not just selectively, but continuously.
  • Low-maintenance measurement: The sensor technology operates without moving parts and is designed for robust use in process lines.
  • Temperature-compensated evaluation: The integrated temperature measurement supports reliable assessment of the product condition.
  • Integration into existing systems: Measured values can be displayed locally or transmitted to the process control system.
  • Reduce costs: Early warning helps avoid unplanned cleaning, plant downtime, or hazardous situations.

Typical application areas

  • Goods receipt inspection: Check whether the delivered monomer is in the expected condition.
  • Tank farm monitoring: Continuously monitor tank inventories during storage.
  • Transport and handling: Monitor product flows during unloading, transfer, and loading.
  • Production release: Ensure that only suitable monomer enters production.
  • Quarantine and returns: Evaluate conspicuous or returned monomer batches more quickly and safely.

We will find the right solution for you!

Every monomer application has its own requirements. The decisive factors are the specific medium, the temperature range, the installation situation, the desired alarm limit, and the available reference data. SensoTech supports you in evaluating the appropriate measuring point and in the application-specific design of the LiquiSonic® system. Whether unloading line, recirculation line, transfer line, or tank outlet: together, we develop a measurement concept that fits your plant and your safety requirements.

Would you like to continuously monitor monomers during storage, transport, or unloading?

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Frequently asked questions about the monitoring of monomers

Why is continuous monitoring of monomers important?

Monomers can change due to heat, long storage times, contamination, lack of oxygen, inhibitor degradation, or residues in pipelines. In the worst case, unwanted polymerization can begin. Continuous monitoring helps detect noticeable deviations at an early stage and better protect inventories, equipment, and processes.

How can partially polymerized monomers be detected?

Partially polymerized monomers may differ in their physical properties from the expected product condition. LiquiSonic® captures the speed of sound and the temperature of a medium directly in the process. If the measured values are compared with the monomer's reference data, deviations can become visible that indicate aging, contamination, or incipient polymerization.

Can the polymerization of monomers be monitored inline?

Yes, under suitable process conditions, LiquiSonic® can detect changes in the monomer inline. The measuring system does not monitor the chemical reaction at the molecular level, but rather detects measurable changes in the acoustic fingerprint of the medium.

How does LiquiSonic® work in monomer monitoring?

LiquiSonic® continuously measures the speed of sound in the liquid medium and simultaneously records the process temperature. These measured values create a characteristic acoustic fingerprint of the respective medium, or monomer. If this deviates from the expected range, the system can issue a warning or transmit a signal to the process control system.

Where are typical measuring points located in monomer applications?

Typical measuring points are unloading lines, transfer lines, recirculation lines on the storage tank, tank outlets, and quarantine tanks. Measurement in the unloading line is particularly useful because delivered monomer can be checked before it even enters the storage tank. At the tank outlet, it can also be verified whether the medium is suitable for further production.

Which monomers can be monitored?

Typical applications include polymerization-critical monomers such as methyl methacrylate (MMA), styrene, acrylates, methacrylates, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and vinyl acetate. Additional monomers or monomer mixtures can be evaluated for specific applications. Decisive factors include the medium, temperature range, process conditions, installation situation, and available reference data.

Is the inhibitor content measured directly?

LiquiSonic® does not directly measure the concentration of an inhibitor. The system monitors the physical condition of the liquid medium based on speed of sound and temperature. Changes influenced by aging, contamination, inhibitor degradation, or incipient polymerization appear as deviations from the expected measuring range. The evaluation is then carried out based on the respective application and reference data.

What benefits does continuous measurement offer for operators of tank farms or production plants?

Operators gain greater transparency about the condition of their monomers, for example during goods receipt, storage, transfer, or production release. This supports the early detection of critical deviations, protects tanks and downstream processes from unsuitable material, and can help reduce manual sampling, cleaning effort, unplanned downtime, filter blockages, and batch losses.

Why is temperature monitoring alone not sufficient for monomers?

Temperature monitoring is important, but it usually only indicates a critical development once the reaction has already become thermally noticeable. Additional inline monitoring of the product condition can help make deviations from the expected medium visible earlier, for example in the case of changes caused by aging, contamination, or incipient polymer formation.

What causes monomers to change uncontrollably in the tank?

Common causes are longer storage times, elevated temperatures, insufficient effectiveness of the inhibitors, lack of oxygen, contamination, residues in pipelines, or changes during transport and unloading. Continuous inline measurement helps detect such deviations at an early stage instead of only during a laboratory sample.

Can problematic batches already be identified during incoming goods inspection?

Yes, LiquiSonic® can be used directly in the unloading line and compare the acoustic fingerprint of the delivered monomer with stored reference values. Noticeable deviations can be detected immediately before the medium enters the storage tank.

How can blockages caused by polymer formation be avoided?

LiquiSonic® does not prevent polymerization, but it can detect changes in the medium at an early stage that indicate incipient product change or polymer formation. This allows operators to respond more quickly before unsuitable material reaches pumps, filters, pipelines, or downstream processes and causes deposits, blockages, or downtime there.

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