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A research report submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Engineering to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2019 / The report considers survival mechanisms used by Platinum Group Metal (PGM) producers over the period 2008 to 2017 when mining operations were considered marginal for an extended period. Various methods to build cost curves for the PGM industry were tested, with co-product costing, inclusive of sustaining capital, selected. Industry cost curves were developed for the period, showing that a significant portion of producers were marginal from 2014 to 2017, with Impala lease area, Rustenburg mines and Lonmin marginal for more than two years in that period. Survival was achieved through cross-subsidisation, utilising cash reserves, deferring sustaining capital, re-capitalisation and working capital management, before ultimately restructuring through sale or closure took place. While industry cost curves were effective at indicating operational competitiveness in a particular year, a mechanism to indicate relative financial strength (ability to sustain this position) needs to be sought. / TL (2020)

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Este trabalho tem por objetivo apresentar a evolução da indústria do refino de petróleo no Brasil desde suas origens, sua evolução ao longo dos anos, explicitando as mudanças no perfil de produção, na matéria prima processada e na complexidade das nossas refinarias. Busca, também, apresentar os próximos passos para o refino de petróleo nacional, seus desafios face a produção de petróleos pesados e ácidos, bem como os impactos provocados pela necessidade de produção de derivados com especificações cada vez mais restritivas e com menor impacto ambiental. Optou-se pelo hidrorrefino como o primeiro grande passo para os próximos anos concluindo-se que unidades para o hidrotratamento de correntes intermediárias ou mesmo produto final assumirão um papel fundamental nos futuros esquemas de refino. Outra vertente importante analisada foi a necessidade de aumento de conversão, ressaltando-se que o caminho hoje escolhido de implantação de Unidades de Coqueamento Retardado se esgota no início da próxima década abrindo caminho para a tecnologia de hidroconversão de resíduo. Com relação à qualidade da gasolina e do óleo diesel foi apresentada uma proposta de esquema de refino para permitir o atendimento de especificações mais rígidas / This thesis aims to present the oil refining industry in Brazil since its origin, its evolution along the years, showing the changes in the production profile, in the crude oils processed and in the complexity of our refineries. Tries, additionally, to present the next steps for the national oil refining industry, its challenges facing the acid and heavy crude oil production, besides the impacts coming from the necessity of producing derivatives with stricter specifications and reduced environmental impact. Hydro-refining is showed to be the option for the next years, once intermediary and final products hydro-treating will assume a fundamental role on future refining scheme. Another important issue analyzed was the increased conversion necessity, highlighting that the current solution adopted which is the delayed coking units reaches its deadline in the beginning of the next decade, opening the door for residuum hydro-conversion technology. Related to gasoline and diesel oil quality, a refining configuration proposal was presented in order to achieve tighter specifications

Este trabalho tem por objetivo apresentar a evolução da indústria do refino de petróleo no Brasil desde suas origens, sua evolução ao longo dos anos, explicitando as mudanças no perfil de produção, na matéria prima processada e na complexidade das nossas refinarias. Busca, também, apresentar os próximos passos para o refino de petróleo nacional, seus desafios face a produção de petróleos pesados e ácidos, bem como os impactos provocados pela necessidade de produção de derivados com especificações cada vez mais restritivas e com menor impacto ambiental. Optou-se pelo hidrorrefino como o primeiro grande passo para os próximos anos concluindo-se que unidades para o hidrotratamento de correntes intermediárias ou mesmo produto final assumirão um papel fundamental nos futuros esquemas de refino. Outra vertente importante analisada foi a necessidade de aumento de conversão, ressaltando-se que o caminho hoje escolhido de implantação de Unidades de Coqueamento Retardado se esgota no início da próxima década abrindo caminho para a tecnologia de hidroconversão de resíduo. Com relação à qualidade da gasolina e do óleo diesel foi apresentada uma proposta de esquema de refino para permitir o atendimento de especificações mais rígidas / This thesis aims to present the oil refining industry in Brazil since its origin, its evolution along the years, showing the changes in the production profile, in the crude oils processed and in the complexity of our refineries. Tries, additionally, to present the next steps for the national oil refining industry, its challenges facing the acid and heavy crude oil production, besides the impacts coming from the necessity of producing derivatives with stricter specifications and reduced environmental impact. Hydro-refining is showed to be the option for the next years, once intermediary and final products hydro-treating will assume a fundamental role on future refining scheme. Another important issue analyzed was the increased conversion necessity, highlighting that the current solution adopted which is the delayed coking units reaches its deadline in the beginning of the next decade, opening the door for residuum hydro-conversion technology. Related to gasoline and diesel oil quality, a refining configuration proposal was presented in order to achieve tighter specifications

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A project report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Engineering. / A hydrochlorination facility was developed for tile processing of refinery precious metal residue materials on the laboratory and pilot scale. Hazard elements were identified and evaluated using an Event Tree Analysis. An exponential technique was applied to estimate the cost of the proposed production hydrochlorination facility. The estimated cost was R120 000. The Expected Present Value Ratio was +190 which indicated satisfactory project economics. The reactor material for the pilot scale unit was selected using a weighted values quantitative material selection procedure. Stainless steel Type 316L and Type 310 were selected. Failure of the Type 516L reactor occurred after 40 hours service. The mode of failure was extensive surface scaling which was attributed to the hydrogen chloride, sulphide gases and 1 000 °c operating envirornment. Subject to certain provisions it would be feasible to commission a safe and profitable production hydrochlorination facility. The consumable reactor concept was based on its replacement after 40 hours service. This was justifiable because of the high value of the material and the saving in down-stream processing costs. / Andrew Chakane 2018

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