A mathematical programming model for achieving total emission control in the petroleum refining industry

This paper addresses the planning and optimisation of a petroleum refinery with consideration to multiple pollutants and greenhouse gases reduction alternatives. The study provides a tool that can be utilised for optimum pollution and greenhouse gases control strategy to achieve a given reduction level. The proposed method is based on a mathematical programming model whose performance is demonstrated through an industrial scale refinery case study with various emissions including sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and CO2. The optimal mitigation alternatives were determined by economic and market analysis, given a stated set of policy priorities. The conflicting objectives due to reducing the different emissions in the model illustrated the importance of using a common purpose model for studying different alternatives for reducing emissions and meeting future environmental regulations. It was found that a decrease of 60% in the overall pollutants and greenhouse gases from the refinery furnaces can be achieved with a cost increase of only 7.4%. [Received: October 18, 2007; Accepted: April 17, 2008]