Modern automation technologies offer a fast and cost-effective way to maximize olefins production profits. NAPCON Optimizer real-time optimization solution maximizes the plant gross margin by pushing the operating point continuously towards the optimal one, taking into account process constraints and other limitations. A public case history shows how NAPCON Optimizer increased the ethylene production of an ethylene plant by 9.5 percent. Propylene and other product rates were also increased by a few percent.

Ethylene plants are complex processes; the actions taken in the upstream cracking furnaces dictate the process state in the downstream cold section. The key to operate such a plant in consequent manner is that advanced process control (APC) solutions run individual units in optimal way. A real-time optimization application is in the plant automation hierarchy on a higher level than the APCs. Its task is plant-wide optimization. It coordinates the APCs so that the entire facility is run optimally.

Plant-wide optimization is based on an economic objective function spanning both product revenues and relevant costs, such as feedstock and utility costs, including e.g. decoking costs. The objective function is maximized continuously by small manipulations on APC control targets and constraints. Typical manipulated variables are severity targets and feed flow rates that are modified so that the profit is maximized and constraints are resolved.

NAPCON Optimizer implementation is a cost effective way to increase production, because the benefits are achieved with automation technology and no process changes are required. Since NAPCON Optimizer is installed on top of the existing process control systems, no shut-downs are needed either.

NAPCON offering covers products both for the APC layer and for the plant-wide optimization layer. NAPCON services cover all project phases from benefit estimation and feasibility study to implementation, commissioning and life-cycle services.



Plant-wide optimization with NAPCON Optimizer pays off. Ethylene production increased by nearly 10 percent when a solution based on this software was installed on an ethylene plant. Plant-wide optimization is based on an economic objective function, and it coordinates advanced process controllers to run the entire plant optimally.



NAPCON offering covers complete software suites for real-time process optimization, advanced process control, online process calculations and reporting as well as for dynamic process simulation. Our services span all project phases from benefit estimation and feasibility studies to project implementation, commissioning and life-cycle services.



Contact details:
Neste Engineering Solutions Oy | NAPCON

Address: P.O. Box 310, FI-06101 Porvoo, Finland
Website: www.napconsuite.com
Contact person: Arjan van Zijp
Email: [email protected]
Tel.: +31624193859