DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF A PILOT SCALE STRIPPING UNIT TO TREAT 5 BARRELS PER DAY OF ABU ZARIA MINIREFINERY SOUR WATER

AMINU, UBA ALHASSAN

DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF A PILOT SCALE STRIPPING UNIT TO TREAT 5 BARRELS PER DAY OF ABU ZARIA MINIREFINERY SOUR WATER

Date

2021-04-26

Authors

AMINU, UBA ALHASSAN

Publisher

Ahmadu Bello University Zaria

Abstract

This research work, design and fabrication of a pilot scale sour water stripping unit, is an integral part of the ABU Mini-refinery development. The unit serves the functions of treating the effluent water from various units of the said refinery to environmentally acceptable threshold before disposal to the environment. The design was based ona capacity of 5 barrels per day. Material and Energy balances were performed on the developed process flow diagram before detailed equipment design was done using Mathcad and Hysys simulation. Fabricated equipment were Surge Drum (V-100), Reflux Drum (V-101), Feed Preheater (E-100), Stripper Column Overhead Condenser (E-101), Column Bottom Reboiler (E-102), Product Cooler (E-103), and Stripper Column (C- 100). The Designed equipment were sequentially installed in accordance with the proposed Unit’s Process Flow Diagram.For energy economy, the entire unit was lagged using ISO-900-01 Fiberglass.Instrumentation and Control systems were specified to measure and control Flow, Liquid level, Temperature & Pressure to ensure on-spec product.The unit was, finally, test ran and product samples were collected and analyzed in the laboratory. Results of the laboratory analyses show that the pH of the water was reduced from 6.8 to 7.5. This is within the acceptable standard pH range of 6.5 to 8.5. Volatile Organic Compounds were reduced from 1800 mgl-1 to 478.8 mgl-1. This value is far above the standard value of <10 mgl-1. The hydrogen sulfide was reduced from 16 mgl-1 to 12.26 mgl-1. This value is far above the standard value of <0.2 mgl-1. Also, Ammonia was also reduced from 11.8 mgl-1 to 6.2 mgl-1. This value is also far above the standard value of <0.2 mgl-1. For better result and efficiency, optimization and upgrading of the SWS unit is recommended.