The Feasibility Study of Solvent Deasphalting Unit - Heavy Residue Upgrading Plan

Addressing of refinery heavy residue by variety of upgrading technologies helps designers to choose the best case based on their own requirements. In this study, the solvent deasphalting (SDA) technology has been considered and applied for upgrading of Iranian vacuum bottom (VB, API=6.1). Consequently, by focusing on some issues such as technological selection scenario, portfolio diversity, process simulation, economical, and financial calculation, the feasibility of VBSDA unit at 30,000 bbl/day in capacity has been studied which results in Deasphalted Oil (DAO) and asphalt as products. By considering quantitative and qualitative restrictions and using of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as solvent, 35%vt of feed as DAO (API=30) can be extracted. Also, according to economic and financial calculations, the total capital investment for VBSDA unit was evaluated 105MM$ that returns with the internal rate of 54% under pay-back period of 4 in year.