Currently, the refining industry struggles with profitability challenges from oil price volatility and the complexities of the global energy transition. To navigate these challenges, refiners are embracing advanced technology solutions to transform how they produce, use, and manage energy.
The integration of digital twins into the refining supply chain optimizes processes, energy consumption, and control applications, for example, real-time optimization and advanced process control systems. Applications such as KPI visualization, production accounting, LP model updates, process optimization, real-time optimization, advance process control and asset/corrosion monitoring show the wide-ranging benefits of digital twin simulation software. The technology connects process models through open platform communications, ensuring accurate calibration for continuous improvement and reliability. The success of a digital twin depends on its accuracy and currency, with outdated models limiting operational potential.
This paper presents a successful case study where a refinery effectively used a digital twin to mitigate corrosion in the crude distillation unit overhead system. Explore how innovative approaches are enabling refiners to evaluate overall performance and implement continuous improvement strategies to develop a plan for sustained excellence in refining operations and design.