
Explore crude oil as the feed for atmospheric and vacuum distillation, mapping hydrocarbons from methane to asphalt, and distinguish paraffins, iso-paraffins, naphthenes, and aromatics.
The distillation objective is to fractionate the complex crude oil into simple cuts, from light ends (C1–C4) to naphtha, gasoline, distillate, and residue. Atmospheric and vacuum distillation enable this separation.
Raise the pressure above one atmosphere to increase boiling points and enable condenser-based separation of light ends. A reflux drum condenses mostly C3 and C4, aiding feed movement.
This lecture demonstrates simulating a three-column natural gas fractionation train (demethanizer, depropanizer, debutanizer) in Aspen HYSYS, detailing feeds, trays, reboilers, condensers, reflux, and bottom natural gasoline.
Use Aspen Hysis to model a natural gas demethanizer in steady state, using two material streams and an energy stream, then convert the setup to a dynamic model.
Fix the methane composition to 0.96 in the top stream, defining the column component fraction, so the overhead operates with zero degrees of freedom and ensures proper separation.
Simulate the deethanizer column to separate ethane from the feed, using a pump, condenser, and reboiler, with defined pressures, temperatures, and reflux controls for bottom and overhead products.
Configure a refinery reflux absorber by replacing the reboiler with bottom steam to strip heavy components. The top liquid is naphtha, while the bottom outlet carries heavy products.
Explore side operations in refinery distillation: side stripper and pump around, using steam or reboiler to strip light components from kerosene and diesel, with bump around reflux to control temperature.
Explore atmospheric gas oil side operations in a distillation column, including side stripper and pump around, with steam, reboiler configurations, and active specifications in Aspen HYSYS.
Add a diesel side stripper and pump around to the atmospheric gas oil column, using steam stripping and trays 17 and 16, with defined diesel flow and duty.
Configure a kerosene side stripper with a reboiler and pump around in an atmospheric distillation column, define kerosene flow specs and the reboiler ratio to optimize separation.
Tune stage efficiency by converting a theoretical equilibrium stage to a realistic tray column performance, adjusting tray efficiencies (for example 70%) and comparing recoveries in Aspen Hysis to plant data.
Size column internals and hydraulics in Aspen HYSYS, sizing a section from train 1 to 22 and setting trays, spacing, and downcomer dimensions for the distillation column.
Explore refinery column internals and geometry, comparing sieve trays and bubble cap trays, and explain liquid and vapor flow paths, downcomers, where, and tray spacing, plus active and inlet areas.
Convert a steady-state distillation column to a dynamic model by linking pressure and flow in boundary streams, with the tower feed flow-specified and overhead and bottom pressure-specified.
Size the distillation column equipment by defining boundaries as pressure or flow and calculating condenser, reboiler, and valve dimensions, using valve opening, delta P, and sizing methods.
Learn how the dynamic assistant in Aspen Hysis converts a steady-state distillation model to dynamic mode by adjusting pressure or flow specifications and sizing equipment.
Switch to dynamic mode and deploy a pid controller to regulate overhead molar flow toward a set point using a valve actuator, with tunable kc, ti, and td parameters.
Learn to configure a pid controller to regulate a process variable with setpoints, monitor with strip charts and data logs, and tune parameters to stabilize responses.
This comprehensive course on refinery distillation (theory, Simulation and Control) provides an in-depth exploration of the distillation process essential for crude oil separation. Participants will learn about distillation feeds, product specifications, and the critical operating conditions that influence efficiency and yield.
The course covers the fundamentals of process flow diagrams (PFDs), allowing students to visualize and understand the intricate relationships between unit operations. Emphasis will be placed on various unit equipment, including distillation columns and heat exchangers, highlighting their design and operational parameters.
Using Aspen HYSYS software, students will engage in steady-state simulations to analyze and optimize distillation processes. The course will also delve into dynamic modeling, providing insights into transient behaviors and control strategies necessary for maintaining optimal operation by adding different PID controllers to control process flow, temperature and pressure also to make sure we are maintaining defined specification of the atmospheric distillation products.
Additionally, participants will explore advanced process control techniques, ensuring they can effectively manage variations in feed composition and operating conditions. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with practical skills and theoretical knowledge to design, simulate, and optimize distillation systems in a refinery setting, preparing them for real-world challenges in the petrochemical industry.