The Crude Blending Application is an attractive solution that gives refineries the ability to blend different crude types to provide a consistent and optimal feedstock to refinery operations.
Crude Blending Application is an intelligent blending operations control solution based upon Invensys' extensive process knowledge and experience. This application solution includes the unique technology of our process MRA. The combination of a unique analyzer, advanced software and experienced engineering services enables Invensys refinery customers to achieve business success
Operating the refinery at optimal and constant crude composition can generate savings for major refineries on the order of 2% to 3% of the operating margin of the whole refinery. The Crude Oil Blending solution achieves this by:
- Improved distillation unit throughput. Constant attention to the distillation quality of the crude loads the crude distillation unit and all the other downstream units consistently. This allows refiners to operate their crude distillation unit closer to its limits, which increases throughput.
- Improved higher value product yields. More stable and consistent operation allows operation closer to constraints. This enables the maximization of yields of higher value products.
- Improved performance of downstream units. Specific characteristics of the crude will also influence performance of some of the downstream units. Changes in the ratio of paraffins to aromatics in crude, for example, will impact/affect the benzene, toluene, and xylene output of catalytic reformers.
- Improved product quality and reduced energy costs. Stability of the crude composition also eliminates one of the major disturbance factors in a refinery, resulting in more stable operation. This contributes positively to overall quality, fosters efficient energy consumption, and improves equipment reliability.
