TITLE:
Simulation of Nigerian Crude Oil Types for Modular Refinery (Topping Plant) Operations
AUTHORS:
Adeloye Olalekan Michael, Afolayan Joel Tobi, Cyrus Aseibichin
KEYWORDS:
Topping Plant, Column Tray Number, Products Recovery Volume, Equipment Cost, Simulation, Aspen Hysys
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Chemical Engineering and Science,
Vol.12 No.4,
October
20,
2022
ABSTRACT: This
research study focused on the need to curb scarcity and importation of
petroleum finished products in oil-producing nation Nigeria through the operation of conventional modular
refineries in conjunction with major refineries operating efficiently. Hence,
the study focused on the suitability and operations of conventional modular
refinery processes by considering twenty different
types of Nigerian crude oil for crude oil assay analysis and classification using Aspen Hysys. The crude oil assay
results categorized the twenty Nigerian crude oil types as light and medium
sweet crude, while based on recovery volume percent at a true boiling point of 370℃, the twenty crude oil types were categorized
into Group A (crude oil with recovery volume above 80%), Group B (crude oil
with recovery volume between 70% and 79%) and Group C (crude oil with recovery
volume below 70%) respectively. Besides, light and medium sweet oil types were simulated in a conventional modular refinery (topping plant) at different numbers of
column trays (25, 29, 35, 40 and 48) to determine their product
yield. Based on product yield and equipment costs at different numbers of tray
columns, a modular refinery with twenty-nine column trays was
applied in this study. Thus, twenty Nigerian crude oil types were simulated in a conventional modular refinery of 30,000 barrel per day capacity
and twenty-nine column trays respectively to evaluate their product yield and
tray compositions.