BLOCK 2

TRANSITION IN REFINING, PETROCHEMICALS

& PRODUCTS
FORUM 7: 2:
Emission Reduction and Recycling in Refining
Innovations
& Petrochemicals
for Cleaner Production
Facilities

Ammonia Recovery from SRU and Utilise in Adjacent Biorefinery Project

Geetali Kalita
DGM (TS), Energy
Numaligarh Refinery Limited

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Emission Reduction and Recycling in Refining
Background Opportunity
• Indian refineries has scope of
reducing controllable mass loss in
terms of 1,35,000 tons per year of
ammonia.
• Numaligarh refinery has a potential of
6,000 Ton per annum ammonia from
current configuration.
BLOCK 2
TRANSITION IN REFINING, PETROCHEMICALS
& PRODUCTS
FORUM 7: 2:
Innovations
& Petrochemicals
for Cleaner Production
Facilities
• Valorisation of waste stream and opportunity of steam sharing:
Bio-refinery (adjacent to present Refinery) require aqueous
ammonia solution (25 wt %) for pH control in Hydrolysis reactor
• Reliability improvement: Getting rid of NH3 stream helps in its
trouble-free operation of SRB
• Emission reduction:
Emission reduction of GHG gas in terms of NOx
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 BLOCK 2
TRANSITION IN REFINING, PETROCHEMICALS
& PRODUCTS
FORUM 7: 2:
Emission Reduction and Recycling in Refining
Innovations
& Petrochemicals
for Cleaner Production
Facilities

Source of Ammonia Present Operation

• Nitrogen associated with Crude form
NH3 during processing
• NH3 laden Sour Gas and Sour Water
from Refinery Process units to
Sulphur Recovery Block
• The NH3 rich streams are being Incinerated
• In quantity ,around 11,00 Tons per annum NH3 is wasted
Existing Disadvantage
• Emission of GHG gas in terms of NOx due to Improper destruction of
NH3
• Loss to recover economic value of NH3
• Occupies significant hydraulic space in system – Reduces Acid gas
throughput in SRU
• Increase in CAPEX – Requires special reduction burner systems
• Increase in OPEX- Additional enriched air demand corresponds more
power consumption

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 BLOCK 2
TRANSITION IN REFINING, PETROCHEMICALS
& PRODUCTS
FORUM 7: 2:
Emission Reduction and Recycling in Refining
Innovations
& Petrochemicals
for Cleaner Production
Facilities

Sulphur Recovery Block

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 BLOCK 2
TRANSITION IN REFINING, PETROCHEMICALS
& PRODUCTS
FORUM 7: 2:
Emission Reduction and Recycling in Refining
Innovations
& Petrochemicals
for Cleaner Production
Facilities

Objective of the NH3 Recovery Project Advantage

• Recover the NH3 from NH3 rich stream
• Produce 25wt% Aqueous NH3 solution
to cater to adjacent Bio refinery
• Reduce Emission of GHG gas NOx
• Reuse NH3 solution and subsequently cutting down input cost of Bio
Refinery
• Capacity increase in SRU due to additional hydraulic space created in
SRU
• Increase in upstream units’ throughput
• Better MCC temperature, overall increase in conversion, recovery of S
due to less dilution effect
• Saving in incinerator fuel & reheating duties due to reduction in N2
flowrate

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 BLOCK 2
TRANSITION IN REFINING, PETROCHEMICALS
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FORUM 7: 2:
Emission Reduction and Recycling in Refining
Innovations
& Petrochemicals
for Cleaner Production
Facilities

Ammonia Main reactions

• Ammonia being a weak base, exists as H2S(g) ↔ H2S (aq)
soluble gas (NH3 (aq)) in water. But in
presence of H2S, NH3 exists in the form
H2S (aq) ↔ H+ + HS-
of NH4+.

NH3 (g) ↔ NH3 (aq)

NH3 (aq) + H+ ↔ NH4+

NH4+ + HS- ↔ NH4+ HS

• As per above equations, when NH3 and H2S are

present together, it will exhibit infinite solubility in water.

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 BLOCK 2
TRANSITION IN REFINING, PETROCHEMICALS
& PRODUCTS
FORUM 7: 2:
Emission Reduction and Recycling in Refining
Innovations
& Petrochemicals
for Cleaner Production
Facilities

Material flow diagram for Ammonia rich stream - Recovery & Liquefaction

Plot requirement: Plot size of

3000 sq m would be required for
the aqueous Ammonia plant.

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 BLOCK 2
TRANSITION IN REFINING, PETROCHEMICALS
& PRODUCTS
FORUM 7: 2:
Emission Reduction and Recycling in Refining
Innovations
& Petrochemicals
for Cleaner Production
Facilities

Ammonia Recovery and Aqueous NH3 production unit- Process flow

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 BLOCK 2
TRANSITION IN REFINING, PETROCHEMICALS
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FORUM 7: 2:
Emission Reduction and Recycling in Refining
Innovations
& Petrochemicals
for Cleaner Production
Facilities

Ammonia Specification Sl. No Characteristic Grade 1 Grade 2

• Product: Aqueous Ammonia solution
with NH3 con. = 25 wt.% (Min.) and H2S Residue On
concentration < 5 ppmw (Max.); 1 Evaporation, % by 0.02 0.5
Minimum product rate = 10 TPD. mass, Max
Moisture, % by mass, 0–5
2 0.2
• Specification: Commercial grade of Max
Anhydrous ammonia: 99.90- 99.98 % Oil, ppm by mass, 10
3 -
wt. NH3 Max
Refrigeration
Miscellaneous
purposes
industrial uses, such
4 Application as for manufacture of
Other uses where
HNO3, preparation of
relatively purer
liquor ammonia etc.
material is essential

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 BLOCK 2
TRANSITION IN REFINING, PETROCHEMICALS
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FORUM 7: 2:
Emission Reduction and Recycling in Refining
Innovations
& Petrochemicals
for Cleaner Production
Facilities

Conclusion Key Take Away Points

1 2 3 4 5
Marginal increase in reboiler
and pump around duty
Convert Waste Utilize Aq. NH3 Value realize : NOx issues
Increase in no of stages in Save Incinerator can be
to value in adjacent Bio 2 Million USD
fuel addressed and
strippers addition Refinery per annum
contribute
positively in
Increase in hydraulic flow by GHG emission
10-12% in stripper reduction

Increase in Sulphur
production by 8-10 %

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 BLOCK 2
TRANSITION IN REFINING, PETROCHEMICALS
& PRODUCTS
FORUM 7: 2:
Emission Reduction and Recycling in Refining
Innovations
& Petrochemicals
for Cleaner Production
Facilities

Thank You

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