Simplified Modelling and Validation of an Industrial Diesel Hydrodesulfurization Plant

A dynamic reduced model of an industrial diesel hydrodesulfurization plant has been developed and validated against plant data. Its purpose is the prediction of the rate of hydrogen consumption, as well as some other critical variables, as a function of the hydrocarbon feed, so as to be integrated in a decision support system aimed at the operation optimization in real time of the refinery hydrogen network. A model which combines first physical-chemical principles with black box elements is proposed. Model structure and calibration procedure are described, and validation results are presented.