(7d) Optimize Overhead Refinery operations with Ionic Modeling

Corrosion of assets poses a significant challenge to the reliability of crude tower overhead operations. The composition of chemicals used in the processing operations, water and the wide variation of crude oil composition make for a highly corrosive environment. This can significantly reduce operational efficiency and eventually shutdown operations leading to substantial losses that have been estimated to run into billions of dollars annually. Modeling and simulation of the chemical processes and transport phenomena is crucial in understanding the formation of corrosive liquids. The insight into this method will give refineries an advantage in difficult to model systems. Ionic modeling can help analyze reasons for overhead corrosion.

OLI System's Mixed Solvent Electrolyte Model (MSE) has been used to develop a framework to obtain a comprehensive understanding of physical properties, thermochemical behavior and phase equilibria of amines and their hydrochloride salts. Salt point is long-standing term in refinery overhead industry. But with the rise of newer ionic modeling approaches, there is a significant new theory which talks about ionic dew point* as opposed to salt point. The MSE model will be utilized to successfully identify water dew point, salt point and an ionic dew point for systems involving neutralizing amines. These calculations can help in implementing safer operating temperatures to prevent corrosion in overhead units. This simulation technology offers the possibility of understanding and eliminating the phenomena that lead to corrosion in refinery overheads.