Problems in automatic control of atmospheric-vacuum units

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Chemistry and Technology of Fuels and Oils

OSTI ID:160403

Verevkin, A P; Munirov, Y M

Of all the sections in AVT [atmospheric-vacuum tubestill] units, the distillation towers are the most difficult to control; this is particularly true in units operating to produce lube stocks. In the atmospheric towers, three or four side streams are usually taken as end-products with specified properties; in the vacuum towers, two or three sides streams or usually taken. Each product is evaluated on the basis of at least two or three basic quality indexes. On the average, some 6-12 quality indexes are used as control parameters. Such parameters are: end-product yield, pressure in tower; feed inlet temperature, steam input, and circulating reflux loads. Very often, for technoeconomic reasons, almost all of these parameters will be stabilized in the course of the process or will be varied only within very narrow limits. Therefore, the basic difficulties in process control are occasioned in the first place by the multicriterial evaluation of the end-product quality, and in the second place by the limited resources of control. Technical problems in control are related to the poor performance characteristics of in-line analyzers of quality parameters or the complete absence of such analyzers. As a result, product quality in refineries in this country and in most foreign refineries is of a situational nature and is performed manually on the basis of data obtained in periodic laboratory analyses.

• OSTI ID: 160403
• Journal Information: Chemistry and Technology of Fuels and Oils, Journal Name: Chemistry and Technology of Fuels and Oils Journal Issue: 11-12 Vol. 30; ISSN CTFOAK; ISSN 0009-3092
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
PETROLEUM
REFINING
VACUUM DISTILLATION