The Digital Process Unit: Refinery Operations Monitoring and Optimization Using Real-Time Data Collection and Advanced Models

In the oil and gas industry, refiners continue to seek incremental improvements to existing assets in order to remain competitive. High speed data networks, cloud-based systems, and advanced data compilation tools are leading the way of cost effective techniques used in the industry to monitor and optimize its operating assets. Axens combines these solutions with real-time, advanced modeling in order to provide the greatest impact to process safety, operational excellence, and operating costs. The Axens’ digital suite includes:

• Connect’In™: a remote unit monitoring system displaying process data analyzed through high-fidelity kinetic models for engineers, operators, and management on an online platform.
• Advanced Process Control: a computational logic for multivariable control of unit performance based kinetic and thermodynamic models
• Real-Time Optimization: a next-generation, model-based solver for improved refinery performance based kinetic and thermodynamic models

This paper will present case studies, demonstrations, and economics highlighting the value added by integrating advanced real-time unit modelling into key performance indicator matrices, advanced process control, and optimized performance.