The utilisation of hydrogen in refineries enhances efficiency, improves the quality of end products, and aids in meeting environmental regulations by reducing the content of pollutants in fuels. As the industry moves towards cleaner and more sustainable practices, hydrogen is becoming increasingly important in refining operations.
The utilisation of hydrogen in refineries enhances efficiency, improves the quality of end products, and aids in meeting environmental regulations by reducing the content of pollutants in fuels. As the industry moves towards cleaner and more sustainable practices, hydrogen is becoming increasingly important in refining operations.
Hydrogen plays a crucial role in refineries across various processes:
Hydrocracking and Hydrotreating
Refineries use hydrogen in hydrotreating and hydrocracking processes to remove impurities like sulfur, nitrogen, and other contaminants from crude oil and other feedstocks. This helps in producing cleaner fuels, meeting environmental regulations, and enhancing product quality.
Desulfurization
Hydrogen is essential in desulfurization processes, where sulfur compounds are removed from fuels such as gasoline and diesel. This is critical for reducing sulfur emissions and meeting stringent fuel quality standards.
Catalytic Reforming
Hydrogen is a crucial component in catalytic reforming processes that convert low-octane naphtha into high-octane gasoline. It helps in breaking down large hydrocarbons into smaller, more useful molecules.
Hydrogen Production
Refineries often produce hydrogen through processes like steam methane reforming (SMR) or through electrolysis. This hydrogen is used internally for various refinery processes and can also be surplus for sale to other industries.
Residue Upgrading
Hydrogen is used in residue upgrading processes to convert heavier and less valuable fractions of crude oil into lighter, more valuable products like gasoline and diesel.
