Topping Process Using Different Methodologies

Abstract

The first process which crude oil undergoes in a refinery is the atmospheric distillation o topping, whose aim is to fraction the crude oil in their products: naphtha, kerosene, gas oil, etc. The stages involved are: process analysis, carrying out laboratory analysis, identification of parameters, determination of operating conditions and analysis of operating procedures, data processing, stationary simulation and development of results. The column to simulate consists of a rectification column with three side separators and a condenser. For modeling this process a conventional procedure was performed using the Excel spreadsheet. And for simulating stationary was used HYSYS software. First the crude was characterized by laboratory analysis. Starting from these analyses, the TBP curve was built and global properties of crude were defined. Resolved the crude oil physicochemical, a model of the column was built. The stationary states found from simulation were compared with the results of the conventional procedure; the comparison had an acceptable degree of consistency. Finally, a series of alternatives were studied for the design and operating conditions. By resolving the designing process of the topping column, the advantages and disadvantages of a simulator can be compared with a conventional resolution method.