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Refineries today must operate at unprecedented levels of sustainability and efficiency, driven by a dual commitment to commercial viability and environmental responsibility. This article will delve into the key initiatives that refiners can undertake to elevate their sustainability goals.

To begin, sustainability will be defined in the context of the refining industry. A successful refinery must surmount several challenges: producing clean products while minimising energy consumption, ensuring affordability for end-users, and maintaining stable income and margins. All of this must be viewed through the lens of environmental responsibility and emissions reduction.

Every existing facility must strike a balance between commercial competitiveness and environmental responsibility. They must also be willing to invest in adaptation to meet the evolving energy market landscape. Currently, transportation fuels, especially diesel, remain in high demand. Despite the disruption in global crude flows, the EU stands as a reliable buyer, importing finished fuel products from various sources and destinations. However, the market is currently facing fluctuations; long-term predictions indicate decreased demand for fossil liquid fuels.

Despite the EUs pledge to ban the sale of internal combustion engine cars by 2035, there will still be decades before the existing fleet is replaced. Consequently, production companies should focus their investments on refinery assets that can effectively adapt to the changing landscape of the energy transition and evolving technological requirements.

It is important to note that sustainability is often conflated with renewables, which is not entirely accurate. For example, in some scenarios, utilising lower-carbon fossil feedstocks can be more sustainable than relying on renewable sources which may have higher carbon intensity.

To successfully enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions in petroleum refining, adapting multipronged approaches is crucial. Fortunately, many energy efficiency projects rank among the most cost-effective investments for refineries. These projects not only boost productivity, but also contribute significantly to reducing their carbon footprint.

Heat transfer is a fundamental aspect of thermodynamics, playing a crucial role in refining processes. Industrial-sized heat exchangers are the workhorses responsible for this heat transfer within refineries. These robust units, however, often operate under severe conditions, facing a multitude of operational challenges over their lifespan. Fortunately, several strategies can be employed to enhance heat transfer efficiency and minimise energy losses.

This article was originally published in the December 2023 issue of Hydrocarbon Engineering magazine. To read the full article, sign in or register for a free subscription.

Written by Miro Cavkov, Euro Petroleum Consultants (EPC).

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Elevating sustainability in the world of refining - Hydrocarbon Engineering