Overview

A SONG webinar with a technical presentation by the technical professional team from Heriott Watt University.

In the refinery, crude oil blending is an important step to improve the yield and profitability of the products from crude distillation systems. The product's yield and quality are strongly dependent on the properties of the crude oil processed. However, the products of crude distillation systems especially the vacuum distillation unit (VDU), must satisfy the yield and quality requirements of the downstream processes units in the refinery. Otherwise, the downstream units will be affected, and thereby, cause loss of profitability in the refinery. Hence, it is important to optimise the performance of the VDU to avoid loss of profitability.

This webinar explores the combination of process simulation, surrogate modelling, and mathematical programming to optimise the high vacuum gas oil (HVGO) yield and total annualised cost (TAC). When compared to the simulation results, the proposed methodology provides near approximate estimations on the behavior of VDU. The optimised results provide insight into the optimal process conditions of VDU for the refiners. With this insight, effective strategic planning and control applications can be developed to overcome the limitations present in VDU operations.

Speaker

Dr. Viknesh Andiappan, Assistant Professor, Heriott Watt University

Viknesh Andiappan is an Assistant Professor at Heriot-Watt University, Malaysia Campus. His research area focuses on integrating design and operational optimisation approaches for systems and supply chains. He applies his research to integrated energy systems, integrated biorefineries, industrial symbiosis, greenhouse gas emission reduction and sustainable agriculture planning. His work utilises mathematical programming, multi-objective optimisation, input-output modelling, game theory models, process simulation and Process Integration tools such as pinch analysis. Dr Andiappan is well-published and well-cited for a young researcher (over 50 publications with an h-index of 12) and presented several papers in various conferences. He was also shortlisted as a finalist for the IChemE Young Researcher Malaysia Award in 2018 and 2019.

Dr Andiappan is also an editorial board member for internationally peer-reviewed journals such as Process Integration and Optimization for Sustainability (PIOS) and Frontiers in Sustainability (Sustainable Chemical Process Design). He is a member of the reviewer board for Processes Journal. In addition, he serves as a technical committee member for several conferences. Dr Andiappan also collaborates closely with well-known international researchers from Malaysia, Philippines, India, Japan, Taiwan, and United Kingdom. Most recently, he was awarded the IBAE Young Researcher of the Year Award in 2020 for his contributions and achievements in research. Aside from research, Dr Andiappan is a Chartered Engineer and serves as a Chartered Engineer C&C Report evaluator for the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE). He also serves as the Deputy Chair for the IChemE Palm Oil Processing Special Interest Group (POPSIG).

The material presented in this webinar has not been peer-reviewed. Any opinions are the presenter's own and do not necessarily represent those of IChemE or the Oil and Natural Gas Special Interest Group. The information is given in good faith but without any liability on the part of IChemE.

Time

18:00 - 19:15 MYT

Sponsors

IChemE gratefully acknowledges:

• PETRONAS Group Technical Solutions (GTS) sponsorship of SONG evening talks
• EAST One-Zero-One organizer of SONG evening talks

Get involved

Would you like to give a talk at a SONG event in Kuala Lumpur, or online to a wider audience of chemical engineers in the Asia Pacific region? We would like to hear from you. Please contact Avinash Ravendran with details about yourself and proposed a presentation.