Crude Unit Overhead Reliability Improvement
Edward Robertson - Technical Consultant, Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions
A heavy crude unit faced a series of fouling, corrosion, and operational issues on the top pump-around circuit of the atmospheric tower, getting more severe halfway through a turnaround cycle. On several occasions, production rates were reduced to limit differential pressure across the upper tower trays. These symptoms have been observed previously. This presentation will review the symptoms observed during this event, the analyses and modeling conducted to identify and monitor the cause, the contingencies deployed to mitigate future fouling and corrosion, and the changes to operation and treatment programs put in place.