CC-95-122 Rigorous Crude Unit Optimization

Description:

An on-line closed loop optimizer has been implemented at Conoco’s Lake Charles, Louisiana refinery. On-line optimization of refinery crude units can significantly increase profits and unit capacity, reduce the duration of unit upsets caused by frequent crude switches and improve the quality of data and tools available to unit operators, engineers and managers. Crude unit optimization is not a new subject. There have been many applications reported using both rigorous and short-cut process models in both on-line and off-line systems. However, a new class of tools has arrived which allow combining off-the-shelf products to develop model-based solutions to on-line and off-line optimization problems. This technology promises greater overall economic return through faster implementation, lower technical expertise for development and maintenance, greater availability due to improved maintenance tools, and a well-defined upgrade path for continually increasing the value of applications. This paper describes the technology and describes recent application experience at Conoco.