Control and Optimization of Refinery Process Units

Michael Simpson, Measurement & Analytics, ABB UK Ltd, Gloucester, UK

Control and optimization of refinery process units, from distillation, conversion and upgrading units through to final product blending and release, has always been a major concern and objective for refinery operations, critical as it is for effective and economic operation. Process optical spectroscopy analyzers are attractive tools for stream quality measurement. However analytical technologies of this type depend on calibration modelling, correct sample conditioning, suitable installation environment and a dedicated and effective team-work approach to project execution and on-going operational use. This paper will explore these aspects in more detail, and look also at recent technical innovations within process spectroscopy, including simpler more robust process FT-NIR analysers with minimum footprint, utility requirement and significantly extended maintenance intervals,  which mitigate some of these costs and allow for low-risk and robust project execution.

Hydrogen measurment is also critical to the control of a number of modern refining and chemical processes. Wide spread deployment of hydrogen measurement has been impeded by harsh process conditions that rapidly degrade common low cost hydrogen sensors. In this paper we present a novel sensing technology that overcomes these limitations and explore some of the applications that are thus enabled.

These themes will be explored using two specific examples of analyser-based process optimization, namely side-draw cut-points for Crude Distillation Unit and furnace severity for Catalytic Refomer Units.