Effect of adding pump-around circuits and reducing stripping steam flow rate on the improving energy efficiency and increasing processing capacity of the atmospheric column

This paper discusses the effect of adding pump-around circuits and reducing stripping steam flow rate on the improving energy efficiency and increasing processing capacity of the atmospheric column in a refinery plant by using commercial simulator. It is shown that both the capacity and energy efficiency of the atmospheric column can be increased by adding pump-around circuits and reducing stripping steam flow rate. The modifications discussed in this paper will affect the separation of the atmospheric column in some way. However, the product qualities can still meet the specifications, if the changes of the parameters are not significant. Therefore, the above issues should be considered in the modifications overall.