PTQ Q3 2023 Issue

waste heat sources inside an HDS unit. Qpinch has already engineered solutions for several European refiners for this process unit. Figure 6 shows the battery limit flows for such an example. Delayed coker unit A coker or delayed coker unit (DCU) is the most extreme step in turning residual bottom products into high-value refinery products. Several different technologies exist, but generally the bottom flow of the vacuum unit is further thermally cracked with steam and high-pressure water into coke on the one hand and lighter products on the other. The different non-solid products are separated in the coker main fractionator column. The different coolers and condensers present in the side cuts of this distillation column are valuable waste heat sources to apply the QHT technology. Concrete examples are the heavy coker gasoil cooler, light coker gasoil cooler, and the main fractionator overhead condenser, containing mostly heavy naphtha. As with the previous examples, all these sources can be combined into one QHT unit to benefit from economies of scale in generating Opex-free and CO₂-neutral steam for the refinery network (see Figure 7 ). Conclusion In an environment challenged by the energy trilemma, the QHT has the potential to bring certainty and reduce the pressure on refinery margin by fluctuating gas, electricity, and CO₂ costs. The patented chemical heat pump (QHT) is fully driven by the waste heat source, allowing COP >25 on

a megawatt scale. The patented technology is applicable in a temperature range between 80°C and 210°C.

All figures/graphics shown in this article are property of Qpinch BV and cannot be used, reproduced or distributed without Qpinch BV’s written consent. Qpinch heat Transformer (QHT) is a mark of Qpinch BV. References 1 Westervelt R, Race to Zero, Chemical Week by S&P Global, 184, No. 9, April 18, 2022. 2 McKinsey & Company, Global Energy Perspective 2022 , published April 26, 2022 and retrieved in Feb 2023 via www.mckinsey.com/ industries/oil-and-gas/our-insights/global-energy-perspective-2022. 3 Ellerington T, Refining Competitiveness – Increasing the Pace, pre - sented at European Refining Technology Conference, Nov 2022. 4 Lei T, Guan D, Shan Y, Zheng B, Liang X, Meng J, Tao S, Adaptive CO2 emissions mitigation strategies of global oil refineries in all age groups, One Earth , 4(8), 1114-1126, 2021. 5 Zhang Z, Borhani T N G, El-Naas M H, Carbon Capture in Exergetic, Energetic and Environmental Dimensions (I Dincer, C O Colpan and O Kizilkan Eds.), 997-1016, 2018, Academia Press. 6 Szarek G, Increasing Competitiveness through Decarbonization, pre - sented at European Refining Technology Conference, Nov 2022. Bernd Van Den Bossche is in Business Development at Qpinch, a Belgium-based clean tech provider founded in 2012. His key roles have been in R&D, engineering and operations, and bringing the tech - nology from pilot to current commercial scale. He holds an MSc in bio-

engineering from Ghent University, Belgium. Email: Bernd.van.den.bossche@qpinch.com

In today’s modern world, there are many good reasons for finding ways to minimise the number of hours operatives spend in a nitrogen atmosphere during catalyst handling projects. We have developed a number of technologies; one of this is our remote vacuum robot – a remotely operated device that allows dry granular catalyst to be unloaded from outside the confined space. Are you ready to elevate safety to the next level? Be a game changer. Get in touch to discuss how this technology can be used for your next turnaround. BUCHEN-ICS GmbH Emdener Str. 278 // 50735 Cologne // Germany T +49 221 7177-0 // vertrieb.ics@buchen.net // buchen-ics.com A company of the REMONDIS Group

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Non-man-entry N reactor unloading solutions 2

PTQ Q3 2023