Optimization of Refinery Distillation Column by Entering Light Product of Flash Drum to up Tray of Distillation Column

One of the basic strategies in every industrial unit is to reduce energy consumption and enhance efficiency. In oil refineries, as energy producers, this is very important. One of the main strategies to reduce energy consumption and increase distillation column efficiency, is to separate light substances from crude oil and entering it to atmospheric distillation tower in the area where the combination of light substances is similar to flow combination inside the column. This causes reducing energy consumption in furnaces and pumps and also decreasing the number of trays and the size of tower, which will finally lead to column efficiency enhancement. In this research, the possibility of light compounds separation and transferring them to upper part of atmospheric distillation column, via flash evaporation column is studied. This research has been performed with Hysys software and it has specified that with a few changes in operation conditions and distillation column, refineries’ energy could be saved. By this method refineries can lower their constant and current costs and increase the purity of distillation column products.