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Environmental considerations of selected energy-conserving manufacturing-process options. Volume IV. Petroleum-refining industry report

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6554396· OSTI ID:6554396

A large, modern refinery will produce a wide range of fuel products and contain a host of integrated processes that separate and convert crude petroleum into final products. As a result there are many potential opportunities for instituting energy-conserving process changes within the overall crude oil refining process. A roster of potential energy-conserving changes is provided in Appendix E. Refining-industry experts identified 5 alternatives likely to be implemented within the time frame of interest for detailed evaluation: direct combustion of asphalt in process heaters and boilers; hydrocracking of vacuum bottoms (H-Oil); flexicoking of vacuum bottoms; internal electrical power generation; and hydrogen generation by partial oxidation. These process changes were evaluated within the context of ''typical'' existing refineries selected to take into account geographical differences in crude runs and product demands. The detailed assessment of the 5 alternatives resulted in the following energy-related conclusions: (1) the alternatives are generally net consumers of energy in a strictly thermodynamic sense, especially when pollution control is included; (2) except for the 3rd option, the reduction in refinery efficiency is slight; for this option, refinery efficiency is reduced by 2%; and (3) the principal conservation benefit of these options is in terms of form-value upgrading. The cost impact of pollution control associated with these process changes is summarized.

Research Organization:
Little (Arthur D.), Inc., Cambridge, MA (USA)
OSTI ID:
6554396
Report Number(s):
EPA-600/7-76-034d
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English