Refining India December 2025 Issue

2500

CDU/VDU

DCU

Ms Block

DHDT/HGU

PFCCU

2222.2

2000

1500

1000

500

0

Minor leak (in Kg/hr)

Major leak (in Kg/hr)

Total leak (in Kg/hr)

Total leak (in tonnes/annum)

Figure 4 Leakage estimation for various units of refinery complex

•Control room hardware. •Software licence (perpetual). Generic prices have been considered for estimation purpose. If wireless infrastructure already exists or is planned in a unit, the cost of control room hardware and gateways will be excluded from the overall cost. Analysis of both cases – plants with existing wireless infrastructure and plants without such wireless infrastructure – has been carried out. For the purpose of optimisation, the Edge devices have been considered only for active relief devices, not for standby devices (which are lock closed). Redundancy in network devices and field hardware has been regarded as standard engineering practice. Also, these devices are not considered for relief valves with rupture discs.

across the five units in Figure 5 is approximately INR. 21,500,000. Case 2: Plant has no existing wireless infrastructure Figure 6 shows the estimated Capex required to implement this system across different units of a typical refinery complex with no existing wireless infrastructure. The total cost of implementation across the five units in Figure 6 is approximately. INR. 35,500,000. Considering hydrocarbon losses of 2,500 tonnes per year, industry data suggest a very quick return on investment (assuming a conservative hydrocarbon price as crude price, with approximately four months for Option 1 and five months for Option 2). Implementation The installation of IIoT-based flare monitoring systems offers notable advantages in terms of deployment efficiency and operational reliability. The clamp-on, strap-in design of Edge devices eliminates the necessity for additional nozzles or stubs, streamlining the installation process. Furthermore, positioning sensors at elevated locations, where pressure safety valves (PSVs) discharge into flare lines, ensures optimal wireless communication with control room gateways, thereby enhancing data transmission reliability.

Case 1: Plant has existing wireless infrastructure

Figure 5 shows the estimated Capex required to implement this system across different units of a typical refinery complex with wireless infrastructure. The total cost of implementation

8 , 000 , 000

6 , 000 , 000 7 , 000 , 000

5 , 000 , 000

4 , 000 , 000

15 , 000 , 000

3 , 000 , 000

10 , 000 , 000

2 , 000 , 000

1 , 000 , 000

5 , 000 , 000

0

0

MS b lock

PFCCU DHDT/ HGU

DCU with unsat. LPGTU

CDU/VDU with s at. LPGTU and FHTU

MS b lock

PFCCU DHDT/ HGU

DCU with unsat. LPGTU

CDU/VDU with s at. LPGTU and FHTU

Figure 5 Capex for plants with wireless infrastructure

Figure 6 Capex for plants with no existing wireless infrastructure

Refining India

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