Advanced Process Control / Blend Property Control

Oil blending is the final step in the process of converting crude oil into finished products such as gasoline, gas oil, and fuel oil. Optimization of the blending process can have a significant impact on quality control, inventory control, throughput of the entire process, and product processing costs. Blend property control improves the performance of the blending process thereby reducing inventory and property fluctuation and minimizing the component cost.

Yokogawa has many years' experience in providing oil movement control and blending solutions. This focus on providing solutions ensures that we not only consider the application of advanced technologies: we also consider aspects of the solution such as integration and user friendliness. We understand that blend property control is not only a concern of APC engineers but also has an impact on the oil movement operator, and must integrate fully with existing systems and applications such as the oil movement system, laboratory information system, analyzer system, scheduling/planning system, and business systems.

Yokogawa's Advanced Process Control / BPC service is based on standardized Six Sigma DMAIC methodology. This provides clear and effective steps to achieve a defined target while ensuring consistent and high levels of service quality.

	Define target e.g.  - Giveaway loss reduction: 3%  - Reduction of reblending / correction: 5% Basic design  - Control strategy  - Controller configuration  - Variables (control, manipulated, disturbance, economic) i.e.  - Flow controller  - Controlled / monitored properties  - Sources / destinations with steering factor / cost
	Gather baseline data e.g.  - Frequency of re-blends  - Quality give away Review blend ratio control Conduct blender dynamics test and gather response data Gather historical blend data Interview blend equation and parameter (if any)
	Detailed design  - Modelling  - Configuration  - Simulation and initial tuning
	Modify DCS*3  - Switch, sequence, graphics, interface ,etc Implement blend property control Commissioning  - Controllability check  - Fine tuning
	Measure and analyze improved data Issue improvement report e.g.  - Giveaway loss reduction: 3.5%  - Reduction of re-blending/correction: 5.3% Assess and report the result of implementation Identify next opportunities

*1: This consulting service is based on blend property control software.
*2: This service is executed on one cycle of the above DMAIC step.
*3: DCS engineering work such as interface development will be proposed as required.