Gazprom Neft implementing advanced process control systems at Moscow refinery
An advanced process control (APC) system is being implemented at the Gazprom Neft Moscow Refinery, directed at increasing effectiveness and optimizing the operation of the plant’s production facilities. The new system has been installed throughout 2016 at the plant’s crude distillation units, catalytic reforming units, gas fractionating facilities, gas-fractionation and hydrotreatment facilities for diesel fuels.
The implementation of the APC is part of a thoroughgoing program of automation throughout Gazprom Neft’s refining assets.
“Encompassing all of the company’s refineries, the APC is facilitating greater yield of light oil products, improving facilities’ productivity and energy efficiency, enhancing reliability, and reducing the impact of the human factor,” the company said in a press release. “In contrast to other systems, which regulate each element separately, without monitoring their impact on each other, the APC sets in place an operational algorithm, calculating and assessing the impact of various combinations, in advance. Depending on various external factors and the quality of feedstock, the APC selects the optimum regime and stabilizes the operation of facilities.”
The new APC is expected to begin operation at five further facilities within the Moscow Refinery by 2018. The implementation of the control systems will allow the production process to be organized at maximum operational efficiency.
Improving the energy-efficiency and environmental aspects of operational processes is an objective of the modernization program ongoing at the Moscow Refinery since 2011. The company is currently implementing the second stage of this modernization program throughout its refining facilities, the priorities of which are increasing operational efficiency of production concurrently with increasing the yield of light oil products and improving refining depth.
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