Using a Refracto-Densimetric Method for Control of Secondary Oil-Refining Processes: Hydrotreating and Hydrocracking
The possibility of using flow refractometers and densimeters or refracto-densimetric analyzers to study the quality of diesel fuels obtained in the processes of hydrotreating and hydrocracking of raw materials was discussed. The results of the research show that on the basis of primary analytical signals - refractive index and density - it is possible to visualize the dynamics of time-related changes in the group (component, hydrocarbon) composition of the controlled flow of the output product (diesel fuel) on a 2D identification map constructed in the coordinates “Lorentz-Lorenz specific refraction sR - Kurtz refraction intercept RI ”. The refracto-densimetric analysis of the samples of raw materials and final products of hydrotreating, hydrocracking, and fractionation, which were performed at the “TANECO” Company, revealed the possibility of simple control of the course of chemical processes and visualization of changes in the group hydrocarbon composition of raw materials and products on the identification map, broadcast in real time on the monitors of the control center. The possibility of integrating refracto-densimetric analyzers into the existing control and regulation systems of the main process parameters (hydrogen gas pressure, catalyst temperature, raw material temperature, contact time, etc.) to maintain the quality of the output product at the required level was considered.