Modeling and Optimization of Gas Networks in Refinery

Abstract

The increased cost of crude oil, stringent environmental regulations and ever increasing demand for energy have made the refineries to adopt a more holistic approach that seeks to integrate energy, economics and the environment in its design and operation. One of the attractive options is to systematically utilize all the existing resources or utilities. Such an option of resource conservation, apart from promoting sustainable development, also plays a greater role in achieving greater cost savings. This thesis focuses on the two main utilities in a refinery namely fuel gas and hydrogen. These (fuel gas and hydrogen) are directly related to the refinery capacity and revenue and any step taken towards their conservation are certainly desirable and are of pivotal significance. To understand this, a network approach is adopted which studies the overall consumption of these utilities/gases in the entire refinery. This thesis mainly addresses the modeling and optimization of such gas networks in a refinery. The refinery gas networks considered here are the fuel gas and hydrogen networks.