PROPUESTA DE MEJORA TECNOLÓGICA PARA EL USO RACIONAL DEL VAPOR, AGUA Y ENERGÍA ASOCIADA EN LA REFINERÍA CIENFUEGOS S.A.

Introduction: The Cienfuegos Refinery A.S has a steam and water high consumption that affects production costs, energy consumption carriers and environmental impact. It is also known that steam generation is one of the most water consuming processes in oil refining. Objective: To evaluate proposal for technological improvement in the steam generation system at Cienfuegos Refinery A.S, that allows a reduction in production costs, energy carriers and reduces environmental impact. Materials and Methods: For this research, a methodology was proposed that made it possible to identify, through the Cause-Effect Diagram, the main causes that origin steam and water excessive consumption in the refinery and to evaluate the proposed technological improvement presented. Information was collected on processes to investigate the causes of such consumption. Based on technical-economic criteria, the proposal for improvement in the steam generation process was identified. Results and Discussion: Production costs are reduced to 47.88 $/t of steam produced, based on the technological improvement proposal, as well as reducing the consumption of energy, steam and water carriers and the environmental impact Conclusions: Steam and water consumption can be reduced by carrying out the technological improvement proposal in the steam recovery boiler. Production costs are reduced from 119.78 to 47.88 $/t steam, saving $ 71.90 for each ton of produced steam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]