Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Energy and Environmental Conservation by SRU TGTU Amine Optimization

Received: 19 September 2023    Accepted: 9 October 2023    Published: 28 October 2023
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

Energy and environmental conservation have become the topic of every major and minor discussion around business conduct and industry. Managing site energy utilization has been always crucial for ensuring an efficient and environmentally friendly operations. Sulfur Recovery Unit (SRU) Tail-Gas Treatment Unit (TGTU) Amine energy utilization, i.e. process cooling and amine pumping, is technically dictated by amine circulation. Design amine rate cannot be reliably applied to drive TGTU energy usage to optimum point as it fails to consider others process parameters such as train capacity and amine strength. This potentially hinders TGTU operation from achieving its optimum operating point. A comprehensive optimization study using advanced process simulation and empirical modeling analysis to develop operating envelope correlations was completed. The study resulted in the development of the “TGTU Amine Energy Optimization Smart Advisory Dashboard”, which intuitively optimizes site energy utilization in a digital-interface form. Subsequently, the results were incorporated in a live model providing real-time Operational Analytics and decision-making capabilities for plant engineers and operators. The dashboard is capable to dynamically map and drive the site energy utilization to its optimum point, by providing multiple benefits that include prescribing a reliable amine rate as a dynamic operating envelope in order to drive TGTU energy utilization efficiency, mapping TGTU energy utilization and corresponding energy saving as the amine circulation is optimized, and continuous monitoring of “Environmental Performance”, i.e. carbon footprint corresponding reduction as a result. The study represents a good example of how to capture low-hanging fruit in energy efficiency with no capital expenditure, thus cost-effectively contributing to achieving sustainability targets.

Published in Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering (Volume 8, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.jeece.20230804.11
Page(s) 68-77
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Sustainability, Energy Efficiency, Optimization, Operational Analytics, Sulfur Recovery, Tail-Gas Treatment

References
[1] McKinsey & Company, Profits with purpose: How organizing for sustainability can benefit the bottom line, 2014.
[2] IEA, "Energy Efficiency," IEA, 2020.
[3] McKinsey & Company, Energy Efficiency: A compelling global resource.
[4] Ibrahim, A. Y., Ashour, F. H., Gadalla, M. A. et al. Performance assessment and process optimization of a sulfur recovery unit: a real starting up plant. Environ Monit Assess 195, 358 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-10955-xS.
[5] Mokhatab, W. A. Poe and J. Y. Mak, Handbook of Natural Gas Transmission and Processing, U.S.: Joe Hayton, 2019.
[6] L. Lyddon, "Sulfur Recovery Unit Modeling," 13 Feb 2007. [Online]. Available: https://www.bre.com/Blog/Sulfur-Recovery-Unit-Modeling.aspx. [Accessed Aug. 2023].
[7] http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Claus_processJ. A. Moulijn, M. Makkee and A. E. Van Diepen, Chemical Process Technology, Wiley, 2013.
[8] Science Direct, "Environmental Regulation," [Online]. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/environmental-regulation. [Accessed 27 08 2023].
[9] Forbes, The Remarkable Rise Of ESG, 2018.
[10] JAMES CHALMERS, EMMA COX, AND NADJA PICARD, "The economic realities of ESG," pwC, 2021.
[11] IFC, "Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability," International Finance Corporation, 2012.
[12] L. MICUCCI, SIIRTEC NIGI, "Understanding gas sweetening processes," 2020. [Online]. Available: http://gasprocessingnews.com/articles/2020/10/understanding-gas-sweetening-processes/.
[13] Scribbr, "Simple Linear Regression," [Online]. Available: https://www.scribbr.com/statistics/simple-linear-regression/.
[14] A. Shafik, "What is Process Optimization? | Basics and Techniques of Process Optimization," 2020. [Online]. Available: https://whatispiping.com/process-optimization/?expand_article=1.
[15] Bryan Research & Engineering, LLC., ProMax® Training, User Reference Guide, BRE Group, Ltd., 2020.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Mohammed Albuainain, Dedik Rahmat Ermawan. (2023). Energy and Environmental Conservation by SRU TGTU Amine Optimization . Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, 8(4), 68-77. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20230804.11

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Mohammed Albuainain; Dedik Rahmat Ermawan. Energy and Environmental Conservation by SRU TGTU Amine Optimization . J. Energy Environ. Chem. Eng. 2023, 8(4), 68-77. doi: 10.11648/j.jeece.20230804.11

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Mohammed Albuainain, Dedik Rahmat Ermawan. Energy and Environmental Conservation by SRU TGTU Amine Optimization . J Energy Environ Chem Eng. 2023;8(4):68-77. doi: 10.11648/j.jeece.20230804.11

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.jeece.20230804.11,
      author = {Mohammed Albuainain and Dedik Rahmat Ermawan},
      title = {Energy and Environmental Conservation by SRU TGTU Amine Optimization
    
    	
    },
      journal = {Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering},
      volume = {8},
      number = {4},
      pages = {68-77},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jeece.20230804.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20230804.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jeece.20230804.11},
      abstract = {Energy and environmental conservation have become the topic of every major and minor discussion around business conduct and industry. Managing site energy utilization has been always crucial for ensuring an efficient and environmentally friendly operations. Sulfur Recovery Unit (SRU) Tail-Gas Treatment Unit (TGTU) Amine energy utilization, i.e. process cooling and amine pumping, is technically dictated by amine circulation. Design amine rate cannot be reliably applied to drive TGTU energy usage to optimum point as it fails to consider others process parameters such as train capacity and amine strength. This potentially hinders TGTU operation from achieving its optimum operating point. A comprehensive optimization study using advanced process simulation and empirical modeling analysis to develop operating envelope correlations was completed. The study resulted in the development of the “TGTU Amine Energy Optimization Smart Advisory Dashboard”, which intuitively optimizes site energy utilization in a digital-interface form. Subsequently, the results were incorporated in a live model providing real-time Operational Analytics and decision-making capabilities for plant engineers and operators. The dashboard is capable to dynamically map and drive the site energy utilization to its optimum point, by providing multiple benefits that include prescribing a reliable amine rate as a dynamic operating envelope in order to drive TGTU energy utilization efficiency, mapping TGTU energy utilization and corresponding energy saving as the amine circulation is optimized, and continuous monitoring of “Environmental Performance”, i.e. carbon footprint corresponding reduction as a result. The study represents a good example of how to capture low-hanging fruit in energy efficiency with no capital expenditure, thus cost-effectively contributing to achieving sustainability targets.
    },
     year = {2023}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Energy and Environmental Conservation by SRU TGTU Amine Optimization
    
    	
    
    AU  - Mohammed Albuainain
    AU  - Dedik Rahmat Ermawan
    Y1  - 2023/10/28
    PY  - 2023
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20230804.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.jeece.20230804.11
    T2  - Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering
    JF  - Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering
    JO  - Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering
    SP  - 68
    EP  - 77
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2637-434X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20230804.11
    AB  - Energy and environmental conservation have become the topic of every major and minor discussion around business conduct and industry. Managing site energy utilization has been always crucial for ensuring an efficient and environmentally friendly operations. Sulfur Recovery Unit (SRU) Tail-Gas Treatment Unit (TGTU) Amine energy utilization, i.e. process cooling and amine pumping, is technically dictated by amine circulation. Design amine rate cannot be reliably applied to drive TGTU energy usage to optimum point as it fails to consider others process parameters such as train capacity and amine strength. This potentially hinders TGTU operation from achieving its optimum operating point. A comprehensive optimization study using advanced process simulation and empirical modeling analysis to develop operating envelope correlations was completed. The study resulted in the development of the “TGTU Amine Energy Optimization Smart Advisory Dashboard”, which intuitively optimizes site energy utilization in a digital-interface form. Subsequently, the results were incorporated in a live model providing real-time Operational Analytics and decision-making capabilities for plant engineers and operators. The dashboard is capable to dynamically map and drive the site energy utilization to its optimum point, by providing multiple benefits that include prescribing a reliable amine rate as a dynamic operating envelope in order to drive TGTU energy utilization efficiency, mapping TGTU energy utilization and corresponding energy saving as the amine circulation is optimized, and continuous monitoring of “Environmental Performance”, i.e. carbon footprint corresponding reduction as a result. The study represents a good example of how to capture low-hanging fruit in energy efficiency with no capital expenditure, thus cost-effectively contributing to achieving sustainability targets.
    
    VL  - 8
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Fadhili Gas Plant Department, Saudi Aramco, Fadhili, Saudi Arabia

  • Fadhili Gas Plant Department, Saudi Aramco, Fadhili, Saudi Arabia

  • Sections