Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 10. Crude Atmospheric Distillation Unit Utilities Targeting
This approach is demonstrated here in the schematic pre-heat train design shown below
in Figure 12 for the same industrial application in hand. The schematic network shown is only
used for topology comparision.
The design exhibits less number of units, no split at all, but much less crude temperature
,265 ºC before the crude heater. This design means that the approach advocating the easiness
of operation and minimum number of units results in more energy consumption in the crude
heater and consequently more GHG emissions.
It is important to note here that maintenance and easiness of operation of heat exchanger
networks in crude oil refining facilities are very legitimate issues. However, it needs to be
handled with care and at the end a balanced picture and right trade-off based upon economic
should prevail over the argument of we did not do designs like this before, or our operators
are not trained to operate such sophisticated network or even we do prefer this one since it has
no splits and less potential for fouling and cleaning.
