The growing consumption of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) demands an increase in the production of their monomer, ethylene and propylene. Refiners are exploring the integration of petrochemical complexes with the refinery, as the petrochemical industry is expected to grow in the near future primarily due to the increased demand for plastics instead of traditional transportation fuel.
A combination of proper simulation models and accurate measurement of feedstock properties, which represent the type and chemical composition of the feedstock, feedback from temperature sensors, flow sensors, and historical data, provides a valuable tool for predicting the ethylene/propylene composition. This can be further utilised to determine the parameters of the fractionator. These form the basis to determine those KPIs that have the most influence on production efficiency.
