On the Energy Efficiency of Stripping-Type Crude Distillation

In this article, the energy efficiency of crude fractionation using stripping-type columns is analyzed to test previous reports indicating that this option is advantageous over the conventional design. Rigorous simulations demonstrate that, for the processing of a light crude, the stripping-type column cannot achieve the same small residue yield of the conventional case, unless the column is heated above the maximum allowable temperature that prevents coking. In addition, it is shown that operation of the stripping-type design at similar residue yields also provides no advantage over the conventional design.