Optimal management of hydrogen in a petrol refinery

A study of the optimal real-time management of hydrogen H2 networks in an oil refinery has been carried out. The paper addresses the main problems related to the operation of the networks combining data reconciliation with a real-time optimization RTO system for the optimal production and redistribution of hydrogen. Coherent and robust results have been achieved regarding the data reconciliation stage despite all the uncertainty in measurements and process operation, according to the off-line validation performed. Once the network state has been estimated, a RTO approach was followed aiming at the real-time optimal operation of the global refinery H2 network; an analysis of the solutions achieved was also performed.