Advanced system controls catalytic reformer unit at Texaco Canada
Implementation of a computer-based control system was completed in early 1986 on a 24,000-b/d semiregenerative reformer at Texaco Canada's Nanticoke refinery. The objectives of the system were to maintain product octane, maximize unit charge rate and C/sub 5/+ yields, improve energy efficiency, and enhance the operator's tasks. Nonlinear, feedforward, interacting, and advanced model-based predictive control techniques were utilized to manipulate charge rate, reactor heater temperatures, recycle hydrogen, and unit pressure in order to achieve the control objectives. Variations in product octane have been reduced by an estimated 50% while improvements in C/sub 5/+ yields on the order of 0.5 wt % have been realized. Operator acceptance has been excellent with the on-line factor for the controls being in the range of 95%+. Texaco Canada's 100,000-b/d Nanticoke refinery, located in southern Ontario, includes crude and vacuum distillation, fluid catalytic cracking, catalytic reforming, alkylation, and sulfur recovery as its primary processing units. A description of the reforming unit, along with a summary of the main control objectives and the advanced control functions used to achieve those objectives, is discussed.
- Research Organization:
- Texaco Canada Inc., Jarvis, Ont.
- OSTI ID:
- 6203920
- Journal Information:
- Oil Gas J.; (United States), Vol. 85:21
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CATALYTIC REFORMING
CHEMICAL REACTORS
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
NAPHTHA
CHEMICAL REACTION YIELD
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
HYDROGEN
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
OCTANE
ONTARIO
PRESSURE CONTROL
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
ALKANES
CANADA
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL TAR OILS
CONTROL
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DISTILLATES
EFFICIENCY
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROCARBONS
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DISTILLATES
PETROLEUM FRACTIONS
REFORMER PROCESSES
YIELDS
020400* - Petroleum- Processing