Abstract

Petroleum refining industry is undergoing drastic and visionary changes. The weird world is giving way to constructive plans and visionary challenges. The world of petroleum refining is now in a critical juncture with the fear and provoking challenges of depletion of the fossil fuel resources along with the inevitable concern of environmental sustainability. In such a situation , the answers to better refining possibilities need to be addressed. The vision is clear and permanent with new emerging areas in this domain. Today, man is standing in the midst of devil and deep sea as far as energy sustainability is concerned. The depletion of fossil fuel resources is of major concern in today's world and today's civilization. Here comes the need of renewable energy resources and the application of successful energy sustainability doctrine. This review deals lucidly on the future dimensions of petroleum refining vision and its countless solutions with the depletion of fossil fuel resources. It will also deal with new technologies in petroleum refining and its far reaching relevance towards energy sustainability. This treatise provides a keen insight into the immense new concepts and new vision targeted towards the next generation petroleum refining technology. The aim and the purpose of the study is to elucidate the challenges and vision of petroleum refining and the evolution of future strategies in this critical juncture of depletion of fossil fuel sources. The author delves deep into the recent advances of petroleum refining and the vision of energy sustainability also giving glimpses of advancements of fluidized catalytic cracking technology. Challenges, vision and optimism need to be restructured and reassessed in gearing up towards newer future avenues in petroleum refining technology.

Abstract

Renewable energy is gaining more and more popularity due to various reasons such as crude prices which are going up day by day and global warming due to burning of fossil fuels. Biodiesel produced from algae, thus crude fossil petroleum can be substituted by mass cultured biomass's algae for eco-sustainable biodiesel production in the near future. In the present study, biodiesel is synthesized as per ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) method by using algae as a raw material which environmentally is considered as a harmful waste and blooms in ponds, lakes and reservoirs. In order to improve fuel quality, trans-esterification process was carried out to remove fatty acids and thereafter, various fuel parameters of the biodiesel have been determined. The calorific value of the bio-diesel and density was 42660 kJ/kg   0.86608 g/cm³ respectively. The viscosity of the sample was found to be 1.9985. The cetane number of diesel fuel ranges from 40 to 55 and for biodiesel, it was found to be 47. The flash point and fire point of the sample was recorded as 80^o C and 94^o C respectively. This oil has been blended with diesel and ignited in single cylinder diesel engine to analyze the performance of diesel engine. The process does not require high end technology, hence can be used in the energy generation process in remote areas and also as alternative resources too.

Abstract

Ammonia and hydrogen sulphide contribute bad odor in tannery wastewater. The present work deals with odor reduction and treatment of wastewater from a tannery. Samples of tannery waste water are collected from different regions and from different tanning sectors to analyze sulphide and nitrogen contents with them. Methods of removal of these odor-sources by means of adding reactive-chemicals or passing compressed air or adsorption by activated charcoal are studied and discussed. The latter two of methods based on feasibility and eco-friendliness, is used for experimental study. Engineering design aspects of the proposed devices (CSTR / Packed Bed) are discussed. The odor removal process is made continuous by designing and employing a temperature controller by adjusting the flow rate of air passing through the float in a CSTR / packed bed. The automatic control reduces labor cost, stabilizes operating conditions and helps in effective removal of odorous streams and gases.

Abstract

Modern technological developments have multiplied the hazards to which human beings, animals, plants, flora and fauna are exposed. Environmental pollution today has become a threatening menace to the survival of life in our planet, which is necessary to be reduced. The investigations are undertaken to develop an effective anaerobic biomethanation of rubber processing industry wastewaters using actively digested sludge from aerobic sewage plant for biogas generation, a future fuel, and removal of pollution loads in three-phase fluidized bed reactor. Attempts are made to optimize digestion time, feed pH, feed temperature and feed flow rate for maximum biomethanation production and maximum pollution abatement of COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) and BOD of rubber processing industry wastewaters in three-phase fluidized bed reactor. The optimum digestion time is 6 hrs and optimum initial pH of feed is observed as 5. The optimum temperature of feed is 55 ºC and optimum feed flow rate is 6 L/ min. The maximum COD and BOD reduction of the rubber processing industry wastewaters are 87.65 % (w/w) and 89.25% (w/w) at optimum biomethanation parameters. The maximum biogas yield rate is 0.674 m³ /kg COD m^-3 hr^-1 with maximum methane gas (CH₄ ) yield rate of 0.456 m³ /kg COD m^-3 hr^-1 at optimum biomethanation parameters.

Abstract

This paper deals with the development of new process simulation modules and related teaching materials that is incorporated in the classes. The process simulation package ‘CHEMCAD’ is used to develop these modules. The main benefit of using a process simulator in encouraging the systems approach is, its powerful interactive aspect that allows students to identify and alter in real-time, physical properties such as pressure and temperature, chemical properties, and other relevant process parameters of a system are being studied. Afterward, the students can examine the resulting changes not only on the particular unit operations but more importantly, on the overall system behavior as well as the operating economics. Similarly, by using a process simulator, the students can imitate controlled 'misbehavior' of the system and in doing so, be able to study, realize, and understand the effects and impacts of the various process parameters on each and every component of the system.

The new modules and teaching material proved to actively engage students' participation and have been included horizontally through time so that the principles of each set modules stresses on are easily mastered from week to week. The modules were developed in such a way that they proceed from simple to complex applications. The section has been integrated vertically so that they can strengthen the subject matter learned by the students in the lecture component of the capstone design course. Vertical integration has been achieved by developing modules that are directly related to the topics the students are currently taking in a particular week. The aim of this paper is to look at the process in detail and to develop a simplified CHEMCAD simulation and create scenarios, which will be used as teaching tools. The chosen chemical process is the manufacture of vinyl chloride monomers. Literature reviews were done first to fully understand the process. A base case design was generated and a generic block diagram with the mass and energy balance for the process was done. They were then implemented into CHEMCAD Software. Finally, it is converted to teaching tools in the form of tutorial/assignments, written in accordance to subject teaching goals. The processes were successfully implemented into CHEMCAD software and converted into teaching tools that illustrate process or structure analysis.