SHORT-CUT Refining Process Modeling

General and powerful plant modelling

algorithms purposely developed for planning
and scheduling applications.

DISTILLATION
 2
Introduction
• By the nature of the distillation process and by definition, the pure and
pseudo components characterising the feed, after process, are
redistributed into different output streams

• The problem consists in calculating the qualities and the new distillation
curves for all outputs

• The Input data are:

• the characterisation of the feed by the TBP Distillation curve and its
pure and pseudo-components
• the desired output yields, defined by the cut temperatures on the TBP
curve of the feed
• the efficiency of fractionation for each output

SHORT-CUT Models: Distillation

 3
Definition of the Output Yields

Initial TBP Cut: 150°C

Final TBP Cut: 240°C
Yield: 13.7 % Wt
Product quality: ?

In the model, the Cut temperature of the outputs refers to the

distillation curve of the feed, not of the products (typically the two
curves differ because of the inefficient fractionation).

The cut temperatures define product yields but not quality, which
must be calculated by the model, accounting the fractionation
efficiency

SHORT-CUT Models: Distillation

 4
Fractionation Efficiency
• The GAP/OVERLAP INDEX accounts the fractionation efficiency between two
consecutive fractions. Values range between 0 and 100, low values meaning
good fractionation (0 = TBP).
• As a result of bad fractionation some of the pseudo components of one
fraction will end into the next fraction and viceversa..

Feed:
IRANIAN HEAVY (API 30.1)
Fraction Range Yield
Gas + LPG C4- 1.4 %
Naphtha C5-155 15.2 %
Kerosene 155-240 15.2 %
L. Gasoil 240-355 18.7 %
H. Gasoil 355-385 5.4 %
Residue 360+ 47.1 %

• The model accurately calculates their distribution in each of the

output, accounting the gap/overlap...

SHORT-CUT Models: Distillation

 5
Pseudo Components distribution between fractions
The distribution of pseudo-components to fractions is calculated by the model:
Feed:
IRANIAN HEAVY (API 30.1)
Fraction Range Gap/Ovlap
Gas + LPG C4- 0
Naphtha C5-155 30
Kerosene 155-240 35
L. Gasoil 240-355 70
H. Gasoil 355-385 82
Residue 360+ -

In every output, the yield of each pseudo-component is not 1, because part of

it will end into the other fraction.

As a consequence the products

TBP curves will differ from the
TBP curve of the feed,
originating the fractionation
tails

SHORT-CUT Models: Distillation

 6
Pseudo Components distribution between fractions
After fractionation tails calculation, the model accurately predicts the quality.
Gap = 82

Gap = 75

Change in quality in the HGO and

Residue, when the GAP Index
changes

SHORT-CUT Models: Distillation

 7
Example of complex system fractionation

NVB

KVB

Atmospheric
Distillation
GVB

LVGO

HVGO1

Distillation
Vacuum
HVGO2

Vacuum
Preflash
HVGO3

RESIDUE

SHORT-CUT Models: Distillation