Volume 2: Innovative Solutions for Energy Transitions: Part I

Energy Recovery in an Italian Oil Refinery by Means of a Hydraulic Power Recovery Turbine (Hprt) Installed in a H2S Removal Process Mosè Rossi , Gabriele Comodi , Nicola Piacente , Massimiliano Renzi*

Abstract

Industrial and chemical plants, especially oil refineries, are highly energy-consuming plants. Several energy efficiency interventions are being currently performed: besides gas recovery solutions, also energy recovery in liquid flows can be applied. In this paper, a case study of an Italian oil refinery regarding the use of a Hydraulic Power Recovery Turbine (HPRT), which is installed in a Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) removal process from the Syngas produced by an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC), is analysed and presented. The real performance data of the process are discussed: on average, 353.4 t/h of liquid SELEXOL can be elaborated by the HPRT with 445.4 m of head. Finally, the recovered electrical energy on a yearly basis is equal to 2966 MWh, or 531 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. The pay-back period of the intervention ranges indicatively between 6 and 9 years, depending on the discount rate.

Keywords High Power Recovery Turbine; Oil Refinery; H2S Removal; Energy Efficiency; Emission Trading System