The impact of real-time data on quality/compliance/reuse!
In a refinery, strict management of water quality and quantity is necessary for efficient operations. An average refinery consumes about 1.5 barrels of water to produce 1 barrel of crude oil. Rapid decision-making using real-time data contributes to cost and time savings, as well as water reuse and recycling.
The water used in refineries varies widely, including cooling water and boiler feedwater, each with different water quality requirements. In particular, boiler feedwater requires high purity. To quickly assess the deterioration of water quality, responsive measuring instruments are necessary.
Refineries primarily use large amounts of water for cooling and heating, but significant water is also used in other processes. Water quality monitoring helps facilitate decisions on regeneration/discharge/processes while managing and minimizing water usage and complying with regulatory requirements. Since most of the incoming pollutants originate from natural organic matter, and the main products are organic matter with the primary discharge standards being organic matter concentration, TOC monitoring allows for real-time decision-making and process control improvement. Directly monitoring organic matter throughout the refinery, from river intake to river discharge, aids in operational efficiency, cost management, and plant sustainability.
