Development of Soft Sensor for Crude Distillation Unit

• Main Author: Balakrishnan, Shobana
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS 2010
• Subjects: TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/10067/1/2010%20-%20Development%20of%20Soft%20Sensor%20for%20Crude%20Distillation%20Unit.pdf; http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/10067/

The stringent quality requirement of petroleum products in a highly competitive market makes on-line monitoring and control of product properties essential. Unfortunately, few online sensors are available and they are difficult to maintain. Besides, the use of original True Boiling Point (TBP) data as initially established in the laboratory for pure crudes cannot be expected to predict the fractionators' performance later when the crude composition may have changed or blended with other crude oils. It is, therefore, necessary to develop 'soft sensors' to predict the quality using other easily measurable secondary variables. This project focuses on understanding the soft sensor termed as "Generalized Cut-point Control (GCC)" which uses the crude true boiling point (TBP) curve and other operating parameters such as flow rates, temperatures and pressures in the crude distillation unit (CDU) to predict the product properties. Product composition and properties such as Flash Points, Freeze Points and product compositions have been predicted using the TBP temperatures. Soft sensor implementation in refineries has significant benefit. Therefore, there is a great need for better understanding of this technology to sustain the continuity of its application.