Robust and efficient algorithm for optimizing crude oil operations

Abstract

Fifteen crude oil properties that are critical to crude distillation and downstream processing were studied. These fifteen crude properties were specific gravity, sulfur content, nitrogen content, oxygen content, carbon residue content, pour point, flash point, Ni content, Rvp, asphaltene content, aromatics content, paraffins content, naphthene content, viscosity content, and wax content. A new robust algorithm based on a backtracking strategy using an intelligent integer cut to solve the complex mixed integer nonlinear program problem. The improved algorithm was much more efficient than the other three algorithms. A partial relaxation strategy was studied to further increase solution speed and improve solution quality. The partial relaxation strategy greatly reduced the computation time and improved the solution quality for most examples simultaneously, especially for scheduling problems with horizons as long as 20 days. In addition, two constraints were imposed to make sure practically realistic schedules with limited flow rate changes to the CDU. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the AIChE Annual Meeting and Fall Showcase (Cincinnati, OH 10/30/2005-11/4/2005).