Utilizationof Low Grade Thermal Energy in Refinery

Utilization of low grade thermal energy in refinery

 

LI Shiyu^1*LI Zhaoying²

¹School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, China, 300072

²Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, UK, CB30DF

Abstract

       Some strategies of low grade thermal energy reduction and utilization in a small refinery have been discussed in this paper. By reducing external energy supply through systematic optimization and utilizing low grade heat through direct feeding between connective processes and direct heat exchange between relevant processes, the remaining low grade heat was reduced to the minimum. Considering the climate conditions, the remaining low grade heat was recovered in absorption refrigeration in the summer and heat preservation of some tubes and tanks in the winter. And then, the overall energy efficiency of the refinery was substantially improved.

Key words: low grade heat utilization, refinery, energy efficiency