#1205 – Gasoline Blending in Refineries
Course Objective
This program is designed to provide a complete description of the gasoline blending operation. Topics include planning of blends, generating blending orders, quality controls, typical field equipment and software used in blending, current and future gasoline specifications and environmental considerations. Participants will come away with an understanding of the blending business and technology, the role of blending in the overall operation and profitability of the refinery, and the impact of environmental issues on blending operation.
Who Should Attend?
Individuals in the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and automotive industries who are involved in refining instrumentation and automation, refined products marketing, and fuel products trading. Individuals in government agencies who are responsible for fuel regulation would also benefit.
Course Description
The introduction of reformulated fuels to the gasoline market has turned gasoline blending into a highly technical process. Because of the multiple specifications that must be met on each batch of RFG and the average volume sold for the year, the difficulty of formulating gasoline blends has been expanded tremendously. This course is designed to completely describe the gasoline blending process.
Course Outline
- Introduction to Blending
- Types of Blending
- Sequential Blending
- Tank to Tank Simultaneous Blending
- In-Line Blending
- Linear vs. Non-Linear Blending
- Specifications, Components, and Additives
- Typical Specs, Conventional, RFG
- Blendstock Components and Typical Properties
- Additives and Dyes
- Component Interactions and Effects on Specs
- Typical Blending Equipment and Software
- In-Line Blenders
- Dye and Additive Injection Systems
- On-Line Analyzers (Convential, NIR and NMR)
- Remote Operated Equipment (MOV, Pumps, Mixers)
- Tank Gauging
- DCS
- Blending Software (Planning, Control, On-Line Optimization)
- Hands-On Demos of Blending Tools
- Creating a Linear MON Calculator
- Creating a Simple Linear Blending Calculator
- Examining a Non-Linear Blending Calculator
- Comparing Linear/Non-Linear Results
- The Blending Operation Cycle
- Blending in Refinery Optimization Hierarchy
- Planning of Blends/Generating Blend Orders
- Executing a Blend/Quality Control
- Criteria for On-Line Blend Certification
- Blend Documentation
- Quality Assurance
- Laboratory Measurements
- ASTM Methods/Lab Information Systems (LIMS)
- On-Line Analyzers
- Advantages vs. Single Lab Analysis
- Improvement Measurements with ASTM 2885/3764
- State-of-the-Art NIR Analyzers for Blend Control
- Clean Fuels and Environmental Issues
- EPA Complex Models and Demo
- Impacts of Upcoming USA and EU Regulations
- Phase Out of MTBE
- Ethanol Blending
- Sulfur Reductions with Tier 2
- Benefits of In-Line Blending
- Typical Benefits Study Content
- Benefits Caculation Methodology
- Inventory Reduction
- Quality Giveaway Minimization
- Use of Least Expensive Components
- Tankage Minimization
- Open Forum Q&A Session
- Summary of Each Participant Blending Operation
- Exchanging Problems/Handling of Common Blending Problems
- Handy Blending References
The course will include a hands-on group exercise using a case study to illustrate a modern, state-of-the-art blending operation.
Course Duration – 2-3 days
