Control loop performance assessment and improvement of an industrial hydrotreating unit and its economical benefits

Abstract

This paper describes the CLPA (Control Loop Performance Assessment) and its improvement applied to an industrial hydrotreating unit (HDT) located at Alberto Pasqualini Refinery (REFAP S.A.). It is presented a review on regulatory control performance evaluation methods and the developed tool is described. The basic steps of the work methodology are also presented, with focus on the planned and implanted actions to improve the unit dynamical performance. Finishing the paper, the main results for a long-term industrial application are presented, including the unusual economic gains evaluation.