The integration based method for identifying the variation trend of fresh hydrogen consumption and optimal purification feed

Hydrogen purifier is widely used in refinery. In the view of hydrogen network integration, the Purification Feed Purity (PFP) and Purification Feed Flow Rate (PFFR) influence each other and should be optimized simultaneously. Based on the hydrogen network integration, a graphical method is developed for identifying the feasible purification feed region, the optimal purification feed and the variation trend of the fresh hydrogen consumption. With the quantitative relation between the limiting PFP and limiting PFFR analyzed, a diagram is built to identify the limiting line and feasible region of the purification feed. Furthermore, the relationship among the optimal PFP, optimal PFFR and the fresh hydrogen consumption is derived, and a two-dimensional diagram is developed to identify the variation trend line of the optimal PFP, the saved fresh hydrogen (or Hydrogen Utility Savings, HUS) and the pinch point along PFFR, as well as that of the optimal PFFR along PFP. Based on this, the optimal purification feed can be identified, as well as the maximum HUS. A case is studied to illustrate the applicability of the proposed method. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.