Modelagem da disponibilidade hídrica em refinarias de petróleo brasileiras : o caso da REPLAN

Water is an essential resource for the production of derivatives, but increasingly scarce. In Brazil, in cases of water shortages, human and animal supplies are prioritized, which directly affects the industrial sector. In this context, the present study aims to analyze to what extent the multiple uses of water in a region can affect the operation of refineries and indicate possible alternatives to reduce water consumption. To this end, the production of the Brazilian refining plant was simulated to obtain its water demand through the tool Carbon and Energy Strategy Analysis for Refineries (CAESAR). Next, the region in which each refinery is located was classified in relation to the availability of water through two indicators and a refinery was chosen in a critical location for a case study. This consists in the elaboration of a water balance of the hydrographic region that the refinery is inserted considering other consumptive uses during the period between 2015 and 2040 with the aid of the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) tool. The refinery chosen was REPLAN and the results obtained indicate the possibility of future water restriction due to the conflict of multiple water uses in the analyzed region. Finally, it is suggested possible ways of minimizing the water consumption of oil refineries..A água é um recurso essencial para a produção de derivados, porém cada vez mais escasso. No Brasil, em casos de carência hídrica, prioriza-se o abastecimento humano e animal, o que afeta diretamente o setor industrial. Neste contexto, o presente estudo tem como objetivo analisar em que medida os múltiplos usos de água de uma região podem afetar a operação de refinarias e indicar possíveis alternativas para reduzir o consumo de água. Para este fim, a produção do parque de refino brasileiro foi simulada para se obter sua demanda hídrica através da ferramenta Carbon and Energy Strategy Analysis for Refineries (CAESAR). A seguir, a região em que cada refinaria se encontra foi classificada em relação a disponibilidade de água através de dois indicadores e escolheu-se uma refinaria em sitação crítica para um estudo de caso. Este consiste na elaboração de um balanço hídrico da região hidrográfica a qual está inserida a refinaria considerando os demais usos consuntivos durante o período entre 2015 e 2040 com o auxílio da ferramenta Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP). A refinaria escolhida foi a REPLAN e os resultados obtidos indicam a possibilidade de restrição futura de água em função do conflito dos múltiplos usos de água na região analisada. Por fim, sugerem-se possíveis formas de minimizar o consumo de água das refinarias

Climate-energy-water nexus in Brazilian oil refineries

International audienceOil refineries are major CO2 emitters and are usually located in water-stress sites. While some CO2 mitigation options can reduce water demand, others can increase it, and still others are neutral. By simulating two parametric models, one for all Brazilian refineries, and the other locally detailing the water balance of the country´s largest refinery, this study aimed to quantify the impacts of CO2 mitigation options on the water use of oil refineries. Findings show that, by pricing CO2 emissions up to 100 US$/tCO2, the list of mitigation options was able to abate 25% of the annual emissions in Brazilian refineries. A relevant share of this abatement derives from the implementation of carbon capture (CC) facilities in fluid catalytic cracking and hydrogen generation units. However, these CC facilities offset the co-benefits of other CO2 mitigation options that can reduce steam and cold-water requirements in refineries. In fact, for the largest Brazilian oil refinery, the implementation of all mitigation measures had almost no effect on its water balance. This means that CO2 abatement in refineries has no significant impact on water demand (no negative trade-off). However, this also means that the water stress in oil refineries should be dealt with measures not directly linked to CO2 abatement (no significant co-benefits)

Impacts of a warmer world on space cooling demand in Brazilian households

Air Conditioning (AC) appliances are a highly effective adaptation strategy to rising temperatures, thus making future climate conditions an important driver of space cooling energy demand. The main goal of this study is to assess the impacts of climate change on Cooling Degree Days computed with wet-bulb temperature (CDDwb) and household space cooling demand in Brazil. We compare the needs under three specific warming levels (SWLs) scenarios (1.5 °C, 2 °C and 4 °C) to a baseline with historically observed meteorological parameters by combining CDDwb projections with an end-use model to evaluate the energy requirements of air conditioning. The effects of the climate change were isolated, and no future expansion in AC ownership considered. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with AC energy demand are also calculated. Results show an increase in both average CDDwb and AC electricity consumption for the global warming scenarios in all Brazilian regions. The Northern region shows the highest increase in CDDwb (187% in CDDwb for SWL 4 °C), while the Southeast presents the highest AC energy consumption response (326% in the AC energy consumption for SWL 4 °C) compared to the baseline. At the national level, CDDwb and the AC energy consumption in all SWLs scenarios grow by 70%, 99% and 190%, respectively