Assessing the Economic Cost Benefit Analysis of Fractionating Raw Condensate into Specific Products by the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant, Ghana

In Ghana, the condensate market is nascent, but however has the potential of accelerated growth, as the nation continues to discover more gas reserves in addition to the existing reserves. The objective of the study was to analyze the condensate production by Ghana Gas and assess the economic viability of expanding the existing Atuabo Gas Processing Plant to facilitate the fractionation of raw condensate (which is currently being sold for limited industrial use) into specific products. The study is also geared towards identification of a means of optimizing the country’s gains from this product as well as recommending such optimizations for the benefit of the country. A quantitative survey based on the Net Present Value (NPV) economic model (of a Condensate Fractionation Unit configuration that yields Pentane foamer, Rubber Industrial Solvent Oil, Natural Benzene, Vegetable oil extraction solvent) was used in analyzing the feasibility of condensate production optimization in Ghana. The economic analysis of the raw condensate sale, yielded a net present value (NPV) of US $143,080,318.03 whiles that of the fractionated products yielded a positive NPV of US$ 167,471,583.84. Comparing the two models indicated clearly that the fractionated products were more viable and lucrative. This value of approximately US $ 24,391,265.81 was more than the NPV of the economic model for the sale of raw condensate. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis which elaborates effects of changes in raw material, prices of product and rate of return due to errors of estimation of investment cost proved, there is a ninety percent (90%) probability that the economic model for the project will yield a maximum NPV at the end of the project. Implying that fractionating condensate would be lucrative for Ghana National Gas Company. Therefore, the results from the Net Present Value (NPV) economic analysis revealed that Ghana Gas, Atuabo stands to gain immense benefits from fractionating condensate into Pentane foamer, Rubber Industrial Solvent Oil, Natural Benzene, Solvent for vegetable oil extraction. After performing the economic analysis with the net cash flow (NPV) model of both scenarios, it was also ascertained that should the proposed expansion project be carried out, measures should be taken to ensure constant or increased supply of natural gas (plant condensate) and also to reduce capital expenditure in order to enhance the project’s success since the afore mentioned are the most influential element. Keywords: Economic Cost Benefit Analysis, Fractionating, Raw Condensate, Atuabo Gas Plan

A Knowledge-Based System for Reliability-Centered Maintenance in the Chemical Industry.

An innovative new framework for the implementation of reliability centered maintenance (RCM) in industrial settings was developed and implemented during this study. Fuzzy reasoning algorithms were designed to evaluate and assess the likelihood of equipment failure mode precipitation and aggravation. Furthermore, an alternative to the traditional RCM decision tree for prioritizing equipment failure modes was defined through the development of an approximate reasoning scheme. This priority scheme not only takes into account the relevancy of failure modes on local and product effects, but also their possibility of occurrence, as well as associated negative consequences on adjacent machinery. The new RCM approach was implemented through an objected-oriented expert system built to perform reliability centered maintenance analysis on industrial chemical processes. The developed expert system reads the process flowsheet generated by ASPEN Plus, a chemical process simulation package, and, based on relevant machine operating data, it provides the user with the final process RCM availability structure diagram. This availability diagram consists of a listing of all critical machine failure modes likely to occur, prioritized according to their overall negative impact on the process, as well as important information on their corresponding local and system effects, and suggested controls for their detection. Although the chemical process industry was selected as the application domain for this research, the developed RCM framework was designed to be extensible across the entire maintenance activity spectrum, regardless of the type of industry associated. The prototype knowledge based system was constructed and delivered on an IBM compatible Personal Computer through an object oriented computer shell, LEVEL 5 Object

APPLYING CLEANER PRODUCTION AND OPTIMISING HEAT PROCESS OPERATIONS IN DAIRY PROCESSING PLANTS – A REVIEW

It is often claimed that Cleaner Production techniques do not yet exist or that, if they do, they are already patented and can be obtained only through expensive licenses. Neither statement is true . Applying cleaner production and optimising heat process operations in dairy processing plants is a critical and topical issue in today’s global food industry hence the appropriateness of this review article. This review paper discusses issues of cleaner production for the dairy industry, the methodologies and approaches in optimising heat processes. The paper also identifies the cleaner production opportunities for production processes, cites a case study of pasteurization and gives appropriate recommendations for dairy plants

APPLYING CLEANER PRODUCTION AND OPTIMISING HEAT PROCESS OPERATIONS IN DAIRY PROCESSING PLANTS – A REVIEW

It is often claimed that Cleaner Production techniques do not yet exist or that, if they do, they are already patented and can be obtained only through expensive licenses. Neither statement is true . Applying cleaner production and optimising heat process operations in dairy processing plants is a critical and topical issue in today’s global food industry hence the appropriateness of this review article. This review paper discusses issues of cleaner production for the dairy industry, the methodologies and approaches in optimising heat processes. The paper also identifies the cleaner production opportunities for production processes, cites a case study of pasteurization and gives appropriate recommendations for dairy plants

Alternative blends of CO2 for transcritical refrigeration systems. Experimental approach and energy analysis

As a natural refrigerant, Carbon Dioxide (CO2) has been extended in almost all refrigeration fields due to its environmental friendliness, high availability, and high technological development in the main components of the cycle. However, despite the benefits, CO2 is limited to high-capacity applications due to the cost of components and the complex cycle arrangements to overcome the low coefficient of performance (COP) at high ambient temperatures. A simple but effective method to solve this issue involves mixing CO2 with other refrigerants obtaining a new refrigerant mixture with higher critical points, lower working pressures and low global warming potential (GWP). Depending on the mixture percentage, the mixture flammability can be suppressed, and the performance of the refrigeration plant can be increased. Building on this, this work determines theoretically different CO2­based zeotropic blends as an alternative to pure CO2 with the restrictions of non-flammability, GWP below 150 and higher COP than pure CO2. The results suggest two blends of CO2/R1270 and CO2/R32 that have been prepared and energetically tested in a vertical display cooler using pure CO2 as a reference. The results revealed that CO2-blends reduce energy consumption by up to 17.2 % at the ambient temperature of 25 °C and up to 12.2 % at 30 °C. Moreover, the results with CO2-blends were closest to those obtained with pure R1270 and better than R134a under the same operating conditions

CO2 Capture by the Integrated VSA/Cryogenics method including Pipeline Transportation

This thesis proposes a hybrid technology of vacuum swing adsorption and cryogenic liquefaction to capture CO2 at high recovery with an energy penalty comparable with the traditional amine absorption process. After the capture, this thesis also proposes a pipeline transportation system which utilizes the ground/ambient temperature to retain its liquid phase. Significant amount of laboratory experiment and software simulation have been conducted and conclusions and recommendation have been provided for future research work

Numerical Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow 2021

This reprint focuses on experiments, modellings, and simulations of heat transfer and fluid flow. Flowing media comprise single- or two-phase fluids that can be both compressible and incompressible. The reprint presents unique experiments and solutions to problems of scientific and industrial relevance in the transportation of natural resources, technical devices, industrial processes, etc. In the presented works, the formulated physical and mathematical models together with their boundary and initial conditions and numerical computation methods for constitutive equations lead to solutions for selected examples in engineering

The 25 kWe solar thermal Stirling hydraulic engine system: Conceptual design

The conceptual design and analysis of a solar thermal free-piston Stirling hydraulic engine system designed to deliver 25 kWe when coupled to a 11 meter test bed concentrator is documented. A manufacturing cost assessment for 10,000 units per year was made. The design meets all program objectives including a 60,000 hr design life, dynamic balancing, fully automated control, more than 33.3 percent overall system efficiency, properly conditioned power, maximum utilization of annualized insolation, and projected production costs. The system incorporates a simple, rugged, reliable pool boiler reflux heat pipe to transfer heat from the solar receiver to the Stirling engine. The free-piston engine produces high pressure hydraulic flow which powers a commercial hydraulic motor that, in turn, drives a commercial rotary induction generator. The Stirling hydraulic engine uses hermetic bellows seals to separate helium working gas from hydraulic fluid which provides hydrodynamic lubrication to all moving parts. Maximum utilization of highly refined, field proven commercial components for electric power generation minimizes development cost and risk

Energy Conversion Alternatives Study (ECAS), General Electric Phase 1. Volume 3: Energy conversion subsystems and components. Part 3: Gasification, process fuels, and balance of plant

Results are presented of an investigation of gasification and clean fuels from coal. Factors discussed include: coal and coal transportation costs; clean liquid and gas fuel process efficiencies and costs; and cost, performance, and environmental intrusion elements of the integrated low-Btu coal gasification system. Cost estimates for the balance-of-plant requirements associated with advanced energy conversion systems utilizing coal or coal-derived fuels are included