Revamp of an existing diesel hydrotreater or build new diesel hydrotreaing capacity?

O&G Next Generation, Thursday, November 10, 2011 (Issue 7)

Revamp of an existing diesel hydrotreater or build new diesel hydrotreaing capacity?

Haldor Topsoe

[EXCERPT]

Refiners in Europe and U.S. have been busy completing their clean fuels projects to meet the regulatory deadlines for ultra low sulphur diesel (ULSD).

Topsøe has been leading the hydrotreating revolution and has to date designed 92 units for ULSD and sold more than 22,000 tonnes of catalyst for ULSD service including to units that were not originally licensed by Topsøe.

Topsøe clients have taken different approaches to their ULSD projects based on their refineries needs. The most basic decision that refiners must first make is whether to revamp their existing distillate hydrotreater or build new distillate hydrotreating capacity. This decision may be influenced by the following considerations:

•Existing unit design pressure and capacity

•Feedstock properties (straight or cracked stock, feed endpoint, sulphur content)

•Present and future crude slate

•Ability to reuse existing distillate hydrotreater as gasoline desulphurization unit

•Expectations on future regulation of sulphur and aromatics

•Plant location (Middle East, North Africa, Europe, USA etc.)

•Corporate clean fuels goal

No matter which approach the refiner chooses, the project team must have the necessary knowledge within the catalyst, process, and engineering fields to properly evaluate various project options. Furthermore, the project team must have a clear understanding of the interplay between catalyst and process solutions to arrive at the optimal solution. Since it is during the early scoping phase when the key decisions having the biggest impact on project cost are made, the licensor's participation during this critical phase is vital. An experienced licensor can add value during this critical phase by bringing to the table:

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