skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Advanced control improves MHC-VGO unit operation. [Mild HydroCracking-Vacuum Gas Oil]

Journal Article · · Hydrocarbon Processing; (United States)
OSTI ID:6505884
;  [1]; ; ; ;  [2]
  1. Setpoint Inc., Houston, TX (United States)
  2. OMV AG, Schwechat (Germany)

Constraint and multivariable predictive (MPC) controllers were implemented on an FCC preheater (MHC-VGO unit), which runs in mild hydrocracking (MHC) mode. In only a few weeks following commissioning, better control provided an average reduction in steam use of 38%, an average reduction of 22% in DEA use and a 5 to 10% reduction in fuel consumption. OMV's refinery in Schwechat was commissioned in 1960 and is now one of the largest and most complex inland-refineries in Europe with an annual crude oil processing capacity of 10 million metric tons. Every product stream is desulfurized by hydrodesulfurization (HDS) units. As part of a refinery-wide advanced control (ADVC) project which includes 27 units implemented on four process computers and two DCSs, advanced controls were installed on the MHC-VGO unit. The entire project was executed over a period of two and a half years. The paper describes the process, advanced control, the weighted average bed temperature controller, feed maximization control, stripper feed temperature control, stripping steam/feed ratio controller, stripper pressure minimization, H[sub 2]/oil controller, recycle/DEA ratio controller, stripper bottoms level controller, and advanced control benefits.

OSTI ID:
6505884
Journal Information:
Hydrocarbon Processing; (United States), Vol. 74:3; ISSN 0018-8190
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English