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Development of a Dynamic Process Simulator for Refinery Unit Operations for Operator Training System (OTS) Applications

Development of a dynamic Operator Training Simulator (OTS) for a refinery isomerization unit to train operators and simulate normal and abnormal operating conditions, startup, shutdown, and emergency scenarios, with the aim of reducing human error and improving safety and operational efficiency without disrupting production.

Oil Design and Construction2024
Overview
  1. 1

    The challenge

    Limited access to accurate kinetic and thermodynamic data for modeling chemical reactions and phase equilibria, the complexity of dynamic process modeling, and the integration of control, alarm, and interlock systems into the simulator.

  2. 2

    Our approach

    Development of the unit’s steady-state model in an interpreted environment; development of the dynamic model first in an interpreted environment and subsequently in a compiled environment; design of thermodynamic and kinetic calculation engines; development of solvers for mass, energy, and momentum balance equations; simulation of the process control system; and management of operator training scenarios.

  3. 3

    The result

    A dynamic operational simulator for the isomerization unit, deployable on the company’s existing infrastructure, together with a user manual and a training platform for operator assessment and competency development.

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Development of a Dynamic Process Simulator for Refinery Unit Operations for Operator Training System (OTS) Applications | Novaco