Honors Theses
Date of Award
2015
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Chemical Engineering
First Advisor
Paul Scovazzo
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
Two case studies completed under the direction of Jacobs Engineering are presented and discussed. In the first case study, the economics of the installation of an oil cooler are examined. A vapor recovery unit (VRU) for an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) facility in Grieve, WY, will be installed to capture the vapors from an oil tank. With the installation of the VRU, a question arose: would an oil cooler proposed to be installed before the oil tank be necessary? A simulation and economic analysis of the process suggests that oil cooler installation is still economically favorable. When the low pressure (LP) separator is operated at the typical temperature of 140°F, nine additional barrels of oil per day (BOPD) are recovered through the use of an oil cooler. The net present worth (NPW) of oil cooler installation is calculated to be $248,000. In the second case study, an overfill protection line was proposed to be installed for a gas flotation unit on an offshore oil rig. It was postulated that there might be a risk of hydrocarbon diffusion through the stagnant liquid in the line, presenting a hazard to equipment and personnel. Calculations were performed to approximate the rate of gas flux through the line. As the physical situation is difficult to model without precise information, alternative preventative methods are presented.
Recommended Citation
Redwine, Connor, "Chemical Process Analysis and Modeling Case Studies: Liquid Diffusion and Thermodynamic Considerations" (2015). Honors Theses. 223.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/223
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