Minimization and optimization of water consumption in an oil refinery using water pinch analysis: A case study in Iran

In the present study, to minimize water consumption and reduce wastewater production in an oil refinery, a technique called water pinch analysis (WPA) was used with two single and double pollutant approaches. Total dissolved solids (TDS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were selected as the index pollutants. The results showed that the use of WPA has reduced the overall consumption of freshwater in the refinery on average between 79 m 3 /h (45%) in the single pollutant approach (77 m 3 /h for COD and 81 m 3 /h for TDS) and 99 m 3 /h (56%) in the double pollutant approach. It was also found that the volume of produced oily and sanitary effluents decreased between 31 and 52 m 3 /h. These findings show that WPA is a useful tool that can help make strategic decisions to minimize water consumption and modify consumption patterns in industries, and by reducing effluent production environmental risks will be reduced.