Optimum net wash oil flow rate in crude vacuum distillation units
AssigneeFluor Technologies Corporation
InventorCarlos Trompiz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods are described for optimizing a net wash oil flow rate of a distillation unit to maximize a yield of distillate products. Based at least in part upon an incoming wash oil and total feed flow rates to the distillation unit, a wash oil entrainment amount can be calculated using an entrainment engine and an entrainment signal produced. The incoming wash oil flow rate to the distillation unit can be automatically adjusted based on the wash oil entrainment estimation while the distillation unit is operating.
Claims9
A method for continuous optimization of a net wash oil flow rate of a distillation unit to maximize a yield of distillate products, comprising:
- monitoring an incoming wash oil flow rate to the distillation unit;
- monitoring a total feed flow rate to the distillation unit;
- receiving, by an entrainment engine, the incoming wash oil flow rate and the total feed flow rate, and generating a wash oil entrainment estimate as a function of at least the incoming wash oil and the total feed flow rates to the distillation unit;
- and
- producing, by the entrainment engine, an entrainment signal when the wash oil entrainment estimate varies by at least 1%, and automatically adjusting the incoming wash oil flow rate based on the entrainment signal.
A control device that is configured to optimize a net wash oil flow rate of a distillation unit to maximize a yield of distillate products, comprising:
- an inlet valve configured to regulate an incoming flow rate of wash oil through at least one spray nozzle;
- an entrainment engine configured to (a) estimate an entrainment of the wash oil within the distillation unit based at least in part upon an incoming wash oil flow rate through the at least one spray nozzle and a total feed flow rate to the distillation unit, and (b) produce an entrainment signal when the estimated entrainment varies by at least 1%;
- and
- a valve actuator functionally coupled to the inlet valve, the valve actuator configured to receive the entrainment signal and cause a change in the incoming flow rate based upon the entrainment signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.