(526d) A Process for Co-Conversion of Bio-Oil in Delayed Coker Unit As Viable Option for Achieving Net Zero Goals

Petroleum refiners are in the process of identifying and planning for adoption of new technologies for transitioning to ‘Net Zero’. Increasing the use of alternate carbon-neutral feedstocks like biomass etc. in the existing petroleum refineries is being projected as one of the potential paths to achieve the same. International Energy Agency estimates that liquid biofuel consumption will increase from current levels of 1.6 million barrels of oil equivalent (mboe/d) in 2020 to 6 mboe/d in 2030 in the ‘Net Zero’ Scenario. Though several bio-refining technologies are under developed or are being developed, it has been observed that these processes require separate process plants, such as set up for biomass processing and purification of products. Owing to the higher energy density of bio-oil, biomass pyrolysis process is deemed as a preferable route for overcoming the issues associated with biomass processing. In this backdrop, it is desirable to have technologies that could enable the petroleum refiners to process biomass derived feedstocks within the existing petroleum refining infrastructure to enable faster adoption of sustainable energy technologies.

In view of the above, a process has been developed for co-conversion of biomass pyrolysis oil in refinery Delayed Coker unit (DCU) to produce sustainable low carbon fuels. Biomass pyrolysis oil is characterized by its unique features like high Conradson Carbon Residue content akin to heavy petroleum residues, processed in DCU. Bio-oil derived from fast pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass is a complex mixture of oxygenated compounds, which poses challenge for refinery processing. To evaluate the impact of bio-oil in varying proportion in conventional DCU feedstock, experimental study was undertaken using lignocellulosic biomass such as Jatropha, Karanjia, Rice straw & Wood based biomass pyrolysis oil in Batch Coker Unit and validated in 1 bbl/day DCU pilot plant unit. The experimental results indicate that inclusion of bio-oil in feed to DCU has several benefits including potential to reduce the coke yield & improve the yield of distillates. It was also observed that Bio-oil dosing in DCU feedstock depends on the quality of Bio-oil derived from biomass sources.

This paper describes development of a process for co-conversion of bio-oil in Delayed Coker unit for sustainable low carbon fuel production from waste biomass pyrolysis oil aiming towards ‘Path to Net Zero’.