| Popis: |
The full potential of simulation has, to date, not been fully exploited for numerous reasons, including but not limited to lack of awareness of this computational approach. Nowadays, steady state simulators that model operating plant are used as the custom-made tools to predict global performances, even though they are not able to mimic ‘real’ process behaviour. The work described herein introduces dynamic process plant models as an efficient way to simulate time-dependent variables, handling changeable ‘real-time’ operating conditions. A stabilization unit was the object of an engineering study with the intent to sustain production, enhance energy efficiency and safety of operations through low-cost computational technology. The entire process plant was modelled and tuned with commercial simulator equipped with a dynamic suite. The latter requires equipment data and real geometry to simulate operating conditions upsets, feed or composition change in a transient way. Once the steady state model is matched, the switch to dynamic environment allows the user to model upset of input variables and to study system response. It guarantees to adapt the entire process in a new and more efficient configuration by optimization of the control system. Steady state simulations are very fast and use continuous, time-interval based, steady-state approximations, requiring the least effort to set up and calibrate. Contrariwise, they are not able to simulate transient phenomena and control system responses, thus limiting simulation capabilities to provide representative conditions of the real plant behavior. Considering that cost to benefit ratio is rapidly moving in favor of computerization, the implementation of dynamic simulations in process industries represents the best way to achieve complex targets. The presented case study demonstrates the strength of this approach and its influence on optimal monitoring and control of process plant performance. Other benefits have been shown on real time optimization, including operational troubleshooting and field operating cost reductions. ‘Fine-tuning’ is the resume word of this work and represents the way to efficiently achieve complex targets, moving Oil & Gas toward applications that have otherwise been characterized only for petrochemical or complex plants. Currently, the global energy world is facing even more complex scenarios, which technical engineers must address in order to confront the new challenges ahead. |
