Mar

Computer modelling improves refinery performance

Western Australia’s Curtin University of Technology researchers say they have used advanced computer modelling to improve the performance without interrupting production at BP’s oil refinery in Kwinana. {loadposition peterThe university team, led by Centre of Process Systems Computations (CPSC) Co-Director, Associate Professor Vishnu Pareek, with BP Global FCC Advisor Michael Glenny and the University of Newcastle’s Professor Geoffrey Evans, said its “primary goal was to develop a CFD model based on the complex interactions between gases and solids within the refinery’s FCC catalyst strippers.” The strippers use steam to separate hydrocarbons from the catalyst which was used to begin the reaction that breaks up heavy crude oil into smaller molecules parts, such as petrol, within the refinery. When completed, the model was used to evaluate various internal structures in order to achieve the optimal mix of steam, catalyst and hydrocarbons inside the stripper. Associate professor Pareek said the project was funded by an Australian Research Council (ARC) linkage grant, and the team had developed a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model showing how different designs and operating conditions could affect the refinery’s operations. “Working with BP, the CPSC showcased how Curtin could work with industry and other universities to provide a significant outcome.