A brief introduction to the refinery-wide strict simulation system REFSYS!
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Based on Aspen’s most advanced general-purpose process simulation system, and incorporating various oil refining reaction models that have been used by Aspen over the years, Aspen RefSYS is the world’s most sophisticated system for simulating entire oil refineries. By creating a detailed model of the entire refinery – a virtual refinery – RefSYS can help identify potential economic benefits and continuously improve production efficiency. Establishing a one-to-one correspondence between the planning and scheduling systems and the overall refinery model can help you identify the key issues in procurement and production operations. Features of Aspen RefSYS: a. It can fully simulate the production processes in refineries. b. All reactors are modeled with great precision. c. Thanks to the use of overall process simulation technology, the process data between various production units is perfectly consistent. d. Utilize a highly intuitive graphical interactive input technology. Easy to understand, learn, and use. e. · Advanced computational methods are employed, enabling fast and stable model calculations. f. ·RefSYS integrates the crude oil database from Spiral Software Company. You can search through hundreds of crude oils in the database, and you can also create your own crude oil database. g. A highly mature general-purpose process simulation system, HYSYS, is used as the simulation platform. h. ·It can simulate and predict more than 100 properties specific to oil refining. i. The property values specific to oil refining can be transferred in any unit operation within a process simulation system. j. The greatest challenge in the plant-wide simulation system for refineries lies in the transfer of refinery-specific property values across various unit operations (such as aromatic potential, carbon residue content, sulfur content, etc.). Aspen’s unique material property synthesis technology has solved this problem. These property values specific to oil refining are dynamically updated. k. Various specialized reaction models; l. Properties specific to oil refining; m. Advanced logistics synthesis techniques – synthesis of property data specific to oil refining; n. More advanced process structures. o. Adjustment of crude oil testing data: When the testing data is inaccurate, it can be adjusted using internal specialized units so that it matches the data from the processing units. p. Blending of products and raw materials: Multiple products can be blended to ensure that the final product meets the specified standards. It can simulate the mixing of various raw materials. q. Crude oil distillation tower dedicated for refining r. The model converges very easily, and it can be adjusted to match the actual plant, ensuring complete consistency with the production facility. It is possible to simulate any type of column in a refinery, such as atmospheric and vacuum columns, as well as catalytic split columns. s. Advanced and mature optimization techniques. Sequence quadratic optimization technology proven through years of industrial use. t. Provides the productivity vector for the linear programming system (PIMS). u. The productivity vector table can be generated automatically within RefSYS and sent directly to the linear programming system (PIMS); users can modify and define various variables on their own. Users define the perturbation variables for the model themselves. v. Specialized reaction models for oil refining: a. Catalytic cracking model; b. Capable of simulating any fluidized catalytic cracking reactor used in industry. c. Catalytic reforming reaction model d. It can simulate continuous reforming and semi-regenerative reforming units. e. Isomerization reactor f. Alkylation reactor g. Hydrocracking reactor h. Hydrorefining/treatment reactor
However, in my opinion, for reaction simulation in the refining process, only models based on practical experience and regression using actual production data can reflect the real conditions of the process. Changes in the properties of the raw materials, changes in operating conditions, and changes in catalyst performance can all affect the model. Therefore, do not place blind faith in software; people are the most important. Software is merely a tool. I hope everyone can keep learning and making progress.
Maybe! I work in design too. I have a rough idea of how far the basic operating conditions are from reality, as what is being done here are new processes, at the most fundamental level, rather than simply following existing designs. Many simply use those foreign process packages to carry out the work; for some data, it’s not even clear where they come from – they just rely on PFDs to conduct simulations.
I was accepted at the refinery. It’s great to get the chance to see it; thanks!
This software is extremely useful; if utilized properly, it can be of great significance in guiding production!
Great stuff; it’s only by actually using the *simulated catalytic cracking unit that I realize how good this software is, hehe
In fact, the core of REFSYS is to use production data to correct the kinetic parameters of the reaction and the regression model. However, there are usually too many reactions involved in oil refining processes, which requires users to have a good understanding of reaction kinetics. Moreover, REFSYS provides full-process simulation involving numerous process parameters, and it can only be utilized effectively with the assistance of personnel who are well-versed in the plant operations.
It seems that if one buys this software, they will still need the technical support of Aspen’s technical team; Aspen is becoming less confident in its own software and is now considering turning to consulting services.
I want to create a QQ group dedicated to exchanging experiences regarding the use of refsys; I have received some training on it. Has anyone responded?
Simulation software cannot be generalized – process simulation tools such as PRO/II or HYSYS are unable to simulate reactions; whereas Refsys and KBC’s PetroSIM come equipped with numerous reaction modules, as mentioned earlier. Therefore, design firms use PRO/II or HYSYS for process simulation, which is sufficient to meet design requirements since there is no need to take reaction changes into account. Refsys, on the other hand, allows for the calibration of kinetic parameters to create simulation models under specific catalyst systems and raw material conditions; it can be used to optimize operating conditions, predict the quality and distribution of products manufactured from similar raw materials under certain conditions, and conduct energy-saving analyses by integrating simulations of both reactions and distillation processes.
If you are interested, we can discuss and exchange ideas together.