WATER PINCH TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION TO MINIMIZE SULPHUROUS WASTEWATER IN AN OIL REFINERY

Abstract

In refining schemes based on hydrotreatment, there are no technological conditions to reuse industrial waters. The objective of present study is to apply Water Pinch process integration methodology, to a wastewater stripper unit of Cienfuegos Refinery S.A, to minimize sulphurous wastewater and reduce pollution of the bay that receives these residuals. This technology allows identifying possible ways of water recovery and reuse, based on the pollutant concentration intervals. To achieve this purpose, the stripper tower was evaluated using the Water Pinch software that provided an optimized distribution network as a technological improvement proposal. This made it easier to recover and reuse 667 757, 28 m3 of water per year, saving 1 035 023, 78 CUC.