AM-11-60 Hydrogen Management in a GHG Constrained Refinery

Description:

Recently the US Environmental Protection Agency announced that it would regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and oil refineries starting in 2011. This announcement increases the attention on the largest CO2 producers in the refinery and how to control their CO2 production. Refiners have a number of options for reducing CO2 emissions, as needed, once a full accounting of existing emissions has taken place. This paper will discuss the various options for reducing CO2 emissions, including concepts such as improved heater efficiency, energy conservation, and utility system optimization. The primary focus of this paper will be on how a refinery can optimize hydrogen production to reduce its carbon footprint. One of the largest producers of CO2 is the Steam Methane Reformer (SMR). Alternative configurations such as partial oxidation flow schemes with CO2 capture will also be considered.