A Life Cycle Analysis of Refinery Fuel Products Air Emissions Using Refinery Emissions Inventory Data
With the transportation sector being a major source of air pollutant emissions, this study seeks to evaluate criteria pollutant emissions associated with the use of petroleum fuels in vehicles using the GREET® (Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation) well-to-wheel model. The life cycle of petroleum fuels includes the major stages of crude recovery, crude transportation, crude refining, fuel distribution and fuel combustion (vehicle operation). This study focuses on quantifying refinery emissions, in terms of both refinery throughput and various refinery fuel products, by matching a refinery emissions inventory dataset with refinery operation information, at various levels (national, regional, facility, and process unit). The refinery emissions in terms refinery throughput (per refinery crude input, in g/mmbtu crude) are developed at a regional level for various Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts (PADD), and also aggregated at the national level. To allocate refinery emissions to refinery products, a methodology is developed using a refinery operation optimization Linear Programming (LP) model for individual refineries. The results from individual refinery facilities are then aggregated to obtain statistical national average (capacity weighted) emissions for each product. Because refineries vary by complexity of operation, configuration, crude quality, and product slate, the derived emissions demonstrate large variation for each product and per unit of crude input. Relative to previous estimates used in the GREET model, the present research shows reductions in refinery (and life cycle) emissions for most criteria pollutants. The reduction is especially significant for sulfur dioxide (SOx) emissions.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) - Office of Fuel Cell Technologies (FCTO)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-06CH11357
- OSTI ID:
- 1460677
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2017 International Emissions Inventory Conference, 08/14/17 - 08/18/17, Baltimore, MD, US
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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