Robust simulation and technical evaluation of large-scale gas oil hydrocracking process via extended water-energy-product (E-WEP) analysis

Abstract

Currently, the implementation of techniques to improve the quality of refining products such as hydrocracking of gas oil requires a rigorous analysis of the operating conditions of the system, mainly because at the plant operation level it is difficult to make relevant modifications in the processes without considering the possible economic, environmental, and social impacts that may be generated. For this reason, the need has arisen to use specialized computational tools that allow predicting the behavior of various processes to optimize their stages. This work presents the modeling, simulation, and extended Water-Energy-Product (E-WEP) technical evaluation of the gas oil hydrocracking process on an industrial scale considering the general conditions of the system and the extended development of the material and energy balance, using the Aspen HYSYS® simulator. The results showed that for a load capacity of 487,545 lb/h of gas oil with 145,708 lb/h of hydrogen a Production Yield of 95.77 % was obtained. Finally, 12 technical indicators related to raw materials, products, water, and energy were calculated, where the efficiency of these parameters was determined, reaching the maximum efficiency in the Total Cost of Energy (TCE) indicator with a value of 98.96 %, and the minimum in Wastewater Production Ratio (WPR) with a value of 22.39 %, the latter shows that the process supports mass integration of water effluents.