Modeling the Production Process of Fuel Gas, LPG, Propylene, and Polypropylene in a Petroleum Refinery Using Generalized Nets

Abstract

The parallel processes involved in the production of refinery fuel gas, liquid petroleum gas (LPG), propylene, and polypropylene, occurring in thirteen refinery units, are modeled by the use of a Generalized Net (GN) apparatus. The modeling of the production of these products is important because they affect the energy balance of petroleum refinery and the associated emissions of greenhouse gases. For the first time, such a model is proposed and it is a continuation of the investigations of refinery process modelling by GNs. The model contains 17 transitions, 55 places, and 47 types of tokens, and considers the orders of fuel gas for the refinery power station, refinery process furnaces, LPG, liquid propylene, and 6 grades of polypropylene. This model is intended to be used as a more detailed lower-level GN model in a higher-level GN model that facilitates and optimizes the process of decision making in the petroleum refining industry.