TT12 - Turbomachinery for Refinery Applications

Abstract

This tutorial covers the basics, applications, and operation of compressors, expanders, steam turbines, and gas turbines in refinery applications. Modern refineries utilize a wide range of turbomachinery that must flexibly operate under harsh, fluid conditions with long life and minimal maintenance downtime. In refinery service, the fluids pose unique aerodynamic, materials, and structural design challenges including wet gas service, high gas path temperatures, and corrosive, flammable, and sometimes toxic service. These requirements make the design, packaging, controls, application, and operation of turbomachines in refineries highly complex and challenging. Operational and technical details of turbine and compression applications such as gas boost, refrigeration, hydrogen recycle, blow gas compression, coke gas compression, reformer recycle compression, steam turbine drivers, and gas turbine drivers will be discussed for refinery processes including alkylation, reforming, hydrocracking, fluid cracking, power generation, and gas boost. Topics cover refinery process fundamentals, turbomachines in refinery applications, design conditions, and -examples of special operational considerations in refinery service. A basic understanding of the processes as well as the type, power requirements, utilities, and application challenges of operating turbomachines in refineries is provided.