Effective distribution of hydrogen in refinery hydrogen networks is a major concern for refiners tackling the stringent specifications on maximum sulphur levels in middle distillates and the increasing global demand of diesel fuel. A major challenge is the implementation of a shift from conventional to ultra-deep methods of desulphurisation. Meanwhile, the capacity of secondary conversion processes such as fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) and hydrocracking in refineries has steadily increased in converting the bottom of the barrel into high-value lighter products resulting in increased levels of hydroprocessing, which exerts a higher demand on refinery hydrogen systems. Previous methodologies on hydrogen network optimization have been developed mainly based on the assumption of fixed hydroprocessing performance with constant hydrogen consumption and light hydrocarbon yields, in order to reduce the complexity of the optimisation problem. Consequently, critical interactions among feed and catalyst properties, hydroprocessor operating conditions, product quality and yields, and hydrogen consumption are usually neglected. This research work involves three major aspects: 1. Development of semi-empirical nonlinear lumped hydrodesulphurisation (HDS) and hydrocracker models that are robust and sufficiently detailed to capture the behaviour of the process with changes in feed characteristics and operating conditions. The formation of light hydrocarbons during HDS reactions have been accounted for. Hydrocracker conversion models and five/six-lumped product yield models for vacuum gas oil (VGO) and vacuum residue (VR) feedstocks have been developed from a combination of first principles and empirical methods based on several process parameters. The proposed models are validated with different feedstocks and shows good agreement with industrial data. 2. Integration of HDS and hydrocracker performance models into refinery hydrogen network models to explore existing interactions between processes and the hydrogen network, and their combined effect on the overall network objective. 3. Optimization of the overall superstructure under different operating scenarios to facilitate the efficient distribution and utilization of hydrogen and the maximization of clean high-value products. The integrated superstructure network model is developed and optimized within the General Algebraic Modelling System (GAMS). The model is representative of the dynamic interactions between hydrodesulphurisation and hydrocracking processes in the refinery hydrogen network as demonstrated by the reproducibility of industrial refinery data. Thus, this work presents a holistic and realistic implementation of refinery hydrogen management technique.

Ce travail porte sur la compréhension du phénomène d'instabilité qui se produit dans le procédé d'hydroconversion des résidus sous vide (RSV). Au delà de 60% de conversion du RSV, l'instabilité se manifeste par un dépôt solide d'hydrocarbures lourds dans les unités industrielles de conversion des résidus, ce qui empêche d'atteindre un niveau de conversion du RSV plus élevé. L'objectif de cette thèse consiste à mieux comprendre l'influence du catalyseur utilisé dans le procédé d'hydroconversion sur l'apparition du phénomène d'instabilité. Des catalyseurs dopés au fluor et sodium ont été préparés par ajout de dopants à la surface d'un catalyseur NiMo/Al2O3 de référence. Après leur caractérisation, les catalyseurs ont été testés sur charge réelle RSV en réacteur autoclave. Les tests catalytiques ont été réalisés à haute température dans les conditions industrielles (430°C) et à plus basse température (390°C), afin de favoriser les réactions catalytiques par rapport aux réactions thermiques. Les tests catalytiques réalisés à 390 et 430°C montrent une teneur en sédiments deux fois moins importante avec le catalyseur F-NiMo, ce qui est expliqué par une amélioration de la conversion des asphaltènes. Celle-ci est expliquée par l'amélioration des réactions d'hydrogénation et de l'acidité, et par une meilleure résistance au cokage à 390°C. L'effet de la température sur la stabilité a également été étudié. Les résultats démontrent que la teneur en sédiments des effluents est deux fois supérieure pour les tests réalisés à 430°C par rapport aux tests réalisés à 390°C. Cet accroissement de l'instabilité est attribué à un caractère plus aromatique et condensé des molécules qui précipitent (asphaltènes), qui ont en conséquence une tendance accrue à s'agréger, et par la désalkylation des molécules qui stabilisent (résines). / This work focuses on the instability phenomena occurring during vacuum residue hydroconversion. At high level of residue conversion, carbonaceous sediments (sediments) are formed and have detrimental effects on the industrial units during the hydroprocessing operations. The aim of this work is investigate the influence of the catalyst used inhydroconversion process on the sediments formation. Modified catalysts have been prepared by sodium and fluorine deposition on a NiMo/Al2O3 reference catalyst. After having been characterized, the catalysts have been tested in a perfectly stirred batch reactor. Catalytic tests have been performed at high temperature (430°C) in industrial conditions and at lower temperature (390°C) in order to favor catalytic reactions rather thermic reactions. The catalytic tests at the two temperatures show that the amount of sediments is two times lower with F-NiMo catalyst. This is explained by the improvement of asphaltenes conversion due to an increase of catalyst acidity and hydrogenation reactions. At 390°C, coking with F-NiMo catalyst is reduced so that porous volume is higher. The temperature effect on effluents stability has also been studied. Results show that the amount of sediments is twice lower at 390°C for a same catalyst. The increase of instability at 430°C is attributed to more condensed and aromatic asphaltenes and resins dealkylation which increase selfaggregation tendency of asphaltenes.

Le travail de thèse effectué a porté sur l'applicabilité et la compréhension d’un système catalytique bifonctionnel acide et hydro/déshydrogénante sur l'hydroconversion et l’hydrotraitement d'un Résidu Sous Vide. En amont de ce travail, il est rappelé qu'au-delà de 400 °C (régime thermique), la forte conversion du RSV conduit à des phénomènes indésirables de précipitation et d’instabilité, liés à l'augmentation de la polarité des asphaltènes. L’objectif de la thèse était donc de favoriser les réactions de craquage et d’hydrogénolyse à plus faible température (370 °C), grâce à la fonction acide du catalyseur, et d’étudier la nature des structures asphalteniques résultantes. Des catalyseurs modèles, de formulation NiMo, supportés sur des aluminosilicates préparés par greffage de silicium à la surface d'une alumine, ont été utilisés. Ces catalyseurs développent une acidité faible, apportée par le support. Cette acidité a été quantifiée et caractérisée sur les aluminosilicates synthétisés, comme sur le catalyseur fini. La phase hydrogénante, ainsi que la texture des solides, ont aussi été caractérisées en détail. Des catalyseurs, dont les trois paramètres précités ont pu être modifiés indépendamment, ont ainsi été obtenus.Les performances catalytiques ont ensuite été évaluées en hydroconversion d’un RSV Safaniya, en réacteur batch. Les résultats révèlent un impact limité de l’acidité sur les grandeurs globales du test. Les modifications successives des phases hydrogénantes, et l’apport de macroporosité, n’ont pas permis d’améliorer cet impact par la suite. L’analyse détaillée conduite sur les asphaltènes après conversion a mis en relief des modifications de structures moléculaires nettes. Celles-ci ont pu être illustrées via une méthode de reconstitution moléculaire. L'introduction d’acidité a ainsi favorisé les réactions de craquage des chaines aliphatiques ou naphténique des asphaltènes, sans pour autant augmenter l'aromaticité de la molécule. / The aim of this work was to study and investigated bifunctional sulfided and acidic catalyst for the hydroconversion and the hydrotraitment of a Vacuum Residue. Upstream works have already demonstrate that high level of residue conversion, at high temperatures ( > 400 °C), leads to create carbonaceous sediments (sediments), link to asphaltenes polarity and aromaticity. Thus, our objective was to promote hydrocracking reactions at lower temperatures (370 °C), by enhancing acidity of conventional sulfided catalysts. Structures of consequent asphaltenes, modified by acidity, were also studied. Model NiMo catalysts were obtained by grafting silica on the surface of alumina carriers. Characterization on carriers and sulfided catalysts reveal the improvement of a weak acidity. Hydrogenating phase and textures properties have also been characterized in this work. In the end, we have obtained catalysts with same texture, same hydrogenating power, but also different level of acidity strength. Catalytic performances were evaluated in batch reactor, for the hydroconversion reaction of a Safaniya Vacuum Residue. Results reveal no changes in hydroconversion or hydrotraitment reactions parameters with acidity. No improvement was observed by enhancing the hydrogenating power or by adding macroporosity on textures with acidic sulfided catalysts. Nonetheless, combinated asphaltenes analysis and molecular reconstructions methods have shown that acidity can modify asphaltènes structures and properties. Acidity enhances cracking reactions of aliphatic chains and naphthenic units, without improving the aromaticity of the molecules.

Submitted by Marlene Santos (marlene.bc.ufg@gmail.com) on 2018-07-27T18:43:45Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Maria Eugênia de Oliveira Ferreira - 2017.pdf: 2295850 bytes, checksum: 937ef23483ab6e46d51253d73c4e2ef2 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2018-07-30T14:07:22Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Maria Eugênia de Oliveira Ferreira - 2017.pdf: 2295850 bytes, checksum: 937ef23483ab6e46d51253d73c4e2ef2 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-30T14:07:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Maria Eugênia de Oliveira Ferreira - 2017.pdf: 2295850 bytes, checksum: 937ef23483ab6e46d51253d73c4e2ef2 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-06-22 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Heavy petroleum fractions, especially the vacuum residue, concentrate the largest amounts of nitrogen compounds. Such compounds are considered contaminants of the refining process, and interfere in the conversion steps to obtain lighter derivatives from the heavy fractions. In this study, the aim was to evaluate the removal of nitrogen compounds by adsorption process. Quinoline solution solubilized in toluene was used as a synthetic filler. Commercial activated carbons from coconut shell of babaçu and dendê in their original form and chemically modified with concentrated solutions of nitric and sulfuric acid, as well as sulfonated carbon developed from the rice husk, were evaluated for the adsorption capacity against compounds nitrogen residues present in the vacuum residue and synthetic charge. The textural characteristics of the adsorbents were also evaluated, in which it was observed that the modification with acid reduces the specific area of the activated carbons, but it promotes an increase in the removal of quinoline from the medium. From the preliminary batch adsorption test, the activated carbon from dendê treated with sulfuric acid (CDAS) was able to remove 67.08% of the quinoline present in the solution and was selected for kinetic and equilibrium study. The adsorption kinetics of quinoline were relatively fast for the three concentrations studied (500, 2000, 5000 mg L-1), reaching equilibrium after 240, 120 and 60 minutes of contact, respectively. The kinetic data for the three systems fit the pseudo-second order model better. The equilibrium data were better adjusted to the Freundlich model, revealing the physisorption character of adsorptive process. The maximum adsorption capacity obtained by Langmuir model was 56.63 mg g-1. The results show that CDAS is a promising adsorbent for the removal of quinoline in organic medium. In relation to the vacuum residue sample, batch adsorption tests were conducted in such a way to ascertain the efficiency in class N removal. The results of Mass Spectrometry, ESI (±) Orbitrap MS, showed that the adsorbents CBB and CBAN were more selective in the removal of the non-basic nitrogen compounds, while the basic nitrogenous ones were more persistent and were not removed by any of the adsorbents tested. / As frações pesadas do petróleo, especialmente o resíduo de vácuo, concentram as maiores quantidades de compostos nitrogenados. Tais compostos são considerados contaminantes do processo de refino, e interferem nas etapas de conversão para obtenção de derivados mais leves a partir das frações pesadas. Esta dissertação teve por objetivo avaliar a remoção de compostos nitrogenados por meio do processo de adsorção. Solução de quinolina solubilizada em tolueno foi utilizada como carga sintética. Carvões ativados comerciais de casca de coco de babaçu e de dendê, em suas formas original e modificados quimicamente com soluções concentradas de ácido nítrico e sulfúrico, além de carvão sulfonado desenvolvido a partir da casca de arroz, foram avaliados quanto à capacidade de adsorção frente a compostos nitrogenados presentes na carga sintética e no resíduo de vácuo (resíduo da última etapa de destilação do petróleo). As características texturais dos adsorventes também foram avaliadas, e foi observado que a modificação com ácido reduziu a área específica dos carvões, no entanto promoveu o aumento da remoção de quinolina do meio. A partir do teste preliminar de adsorção em batelada, o emprego do carvão ativado da casca de dendê tratado com ácido sulfúrico (CDAS) resultou na remoção de 67,08% da quinolina presente na solução e foi selecionado para estudo cinético e de equilíbrio. A cinética de adsorção da quinolina revelou um processo relativamente rápido para as três concentrações estudadas (500, 2000, 5000 mg L-1), atingindo o equilíbrio após 240, 120 e 60 minutos de contato, respectivamente. Os dados cinéticos, para os três sistemas, foram ajustados com sucesso ao modelo de pseudo-segunda ordem. Os dados de equilíbrio foram melhor ajustados ao modelo de Freundlich, revelando o caráter de fisissorção do processo adsortivo. A capacidade de adsorção máxima, obtida segundo modelo de Langmuir foi de 56,63 mg g-1. Os resultados mostram que o CDAS é um adsorvente promissor para a remoção de quinolina em meio orgânico. Em relação à amostra de resíduo de vácuo, ensaios de adsorção em batelada foram conduzidos de tal forma a averiguar a eficiência na remoção da classe N. Os resultados de Espectrometria de Massas, ESI (±) Orbitrap MS, mostraram que os adsorventes CBB e CBAN foram mais seletivos na remoção dos compostos nitrogenados não-básicos, enquanto os nitrogenados básicos mostraram-se mais persistentes, não sendo removidos por nenhum dos adsorventes testados.

Phase behaviour information is essential for the development and optimization of hydrocarbon resource production, transport and refining technologies. Experimental data sets for mixtures containing heavy oil and bitumen are sparse as phase behaviour data are difficult to obtain and cost remains prohibitive for most applications. A computational tool that predicts phase behaviours reliably for mixtures containing such ill-defined components, over broad temperature, pressure and composition ranges would play a central role in the advancement of bitumen production and refining process knowledge and would have favourable impacts on the economics and environmental effects linked to the exploitation of such ill-defined hydrocarbon resources. Prior to this work, predictive computational methods were reliable for dilute mixtures of ill-defined constituents. To include a much wider range of conditions, three major challenges were addressed. The challenges include: creation of a robust and accurate numerical approach, implementation of a reliable thermodynamic model, and speciation of ill-defined constituents like Athabasca Bitumen Vacuum Residue (AVR). The first challenge was addressed by creating a novel computational approach based on a global minimization method for phase equilibrium calculations. The second challenge was tackled by proposing a thermodynamic model that combines the Peng-Robinson equation of state with group contribution and related parameter prediction methods. The speciation challenge was addressed by another research group at the University of Alberta. Pseudo components they proposed were used to assign groups and estimate thermodynamic properties. The new phase equilibrium computational tool was validated by comparing simulated phase diagrams with experimental data for mixtures containing AVR and n-alkanes. There is good qualitative and quantitative agreement between computed and experimental phase diagrams over industrially relevant ranges of compositions, pressures and temperatures. Mismatch was only observed over a limited range of compositions, temperatures and pressures. This computational breakthrough provides, for the first time, a platform for reliable phase behaviour computations with broad potential for application in the hydrocarbon resource sector. The specific computational results can be applied directly to solvent assisted recovery, paraffinic deasphalting, and distillation and refining processes for Athabasca bitumen a strategic resource for Canada. / Chemical Engineering

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