EXERGY EVALUATION OF THE VACUUM DISTILLATION UNIT OF THE PORT HARCOURT REFINERY

¹Wauton, Iand  ²Gumus, R.H

¹Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Niger Delta University,

²Wilberforce Island,  P.M.B.071, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

E-mail: isankpruke@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The exergy analysis of the Vacuum Distillation Unit of the Port-Harcourt Refinery was carried out using Aspen-HYSYS 2006 Software for the characterization and simulation of the unit. From the study, the total energy lost in the unit was 99.423% with efficiency of 0.577%. This is an indication of high wastage of energy within the unit; therefore, there is the need to revamp the unit for optimum energy integration and utilization.

Keywords: Energy utilization, exergy analysis, process revamp and improvement.