Plant wide modelling and thermodynamic optimization of a petroleum refinery for improvement potentials

Abstract

In this work, plant wide modelling of a petroleum refinery was conducted for the optimization. An Aspen HYSYS® model of a petroleum refinery was used for collection of the information to perform the thermodynamic (exergy) analysis. The plant wide model consisted of alkylation unit, reformer, naphtha hydrotreater, catalytic cracker, diesel hydrotreater, isomerization unit, hydrocracker, and kerosene hydrotreater. Seventeen (17) independent input streams and twenty-eight (28) output streams of the plant were considered for the analysis. The physical and chemical exergies of the streams were summed for assessing the overall exergy efficiency, exergy destruction, and improvement potentials of the plant. Exergy efficiency of the plant was 91.38 % with exergy destruction of 704054.64 kW and exergetic improvement potential of 60707.50 kW. The current study gives an insight into the plant-wide analysis ranging from physical exergies of the process streams and utilities to the chemical exergies of the fuels (product) produced in the refineries.