Lube Plant

Lube oils are vital to the operation of mechanical devices, explaining the continued growth in world demand. Lube base oils make-up 85 to 95% of lube oils and the remaining 5 to 15% are additives used to meet requirements for viscosity, stability and cold start properties. Lube oils face a growing and changing market. World lube base oil demand is shifting from Group I to Groups II and III as environmental and performance specifications become more and more restrictive.

Axens Offer

Axens’ large technology portfolio includes all the processing steps to produce Group III lube base oils from Vacuum Gasoil (VGO) or Deasphalted Oil (DAO) feedstocks. For this purpose, a combination of hydrocracking (HyK™) and hydrodewaxing (HyDeWax™) technologies is the best choice.

Besides base lube oil technologies, Axens also offers wax hydrotreatment, white oils hydrotreatment technologies allowing our customer to produce different special oils including:

Feed-grade wax
Technical grade white oils
Medical white oils

The target of Axens Solutions' Hydrorefining technology is the production of a wide choice of suitable lubricant base stocks from a variety of crude sources. Very similar to the hydrocracking process regarding operating conditions, it uses a special amorphous catalyst having a dual function (hydrotreating and cracking).

The production of lube oils with Viscosity Index (VI) values between 95 and 145 is associated with a conversion to lighter fractions between 20 and 60 wt%.

Axens Solutions' HyDeWax™ technology allows the production of high-quality Group III Lube base oils from Unconverted Oil (UCO) from Hydrocracker or from Hydrorefined Vacuum Gasoil (VGO)/Deasphalted Oil (DAO) feedstocks or from 100% Wax feed. The latest combination of hydro-isomerisation and hydrofinishing catalysts will ensure excellent yields and optimum lube quality and stability.

In order to produce white oils from the existing base oils of the refinery, it is necessary to completely hydrogenate aromatic structures into naphthenic ones.

Waxes coming from Deoiling need a final hydrotreatment to be used in food applications.

Modular Units

A modularization strategy offers superior benefits versus on-site manufacturing. During the last 40 years, Axens has supplied over 500 modular units, both onshore and offshore, providing tailor-made designs according to client project specifications.

Lube Oil Hydrorefining

The hydrorefining/hydrocracking scheme for lube base oil manufacturing has many advantages over the conventional solvent process scheme:

Higher flexibility
Higher yields of high-value, high-quality lube base oils
Higher viscosity index: between 95 and 145
Production of high-quality fractions: gasoline, jet and diesel fuel
No wax production

Related Offer

Modular Unit

Catalysts

VGO Hydrotreating Catalysts

Nowadays, VGO (Vacuum Gasoil Hydrotreating) HDT operators are not only focused on maximizing HDS performance, they are also looking for a boost in nitrogen removal and aromatics saturation. Depending on the Unit Pressure and targeted achievement, Axens offers a complete portfolio of Catalysts.

Gradings

Arsenic Management

Arsenic is by far the most severe poison for Catalysts. Arsenic maximum allowable content on hydroprocessing catalysts during operation, depending upon the service, is in the range of hundreds of wppm.

Gradings

Gums & Polymer formation control

Pressure drop induced by gum formation is frequently encountered in unit processing some cracked feedstock derived from various conversion processes. The olefins and mainly the diolefins contained in these streams tend to polymerize and get oxidized forming a crust which deposit in the upper layers of the reactor.

Gradings

Nickel & Vanadium Management

Nickel and vanadium are naturally present in Crude Oil and usually in fractions boiling over 500°C. Nickel and vanadium poisoning affect only VGO and resid hydrotreaters and hydrocrackers.

Gradings

Silica Management

Silicon is a well-known widespread poison for hydroprocessing catalysts. The main contributor to silicon is the Delayed Coker. In addition, there is a general tendency in the oil production industry to use more silicon-based flow improvers.

Gradings

Speciality Bed Topping

In Hydroprocessing reactors, pressure drop is mainly induced by particulates build-up and gum formations. Pressure drop not only affect the capacity of the unit but can also have detrimental impact on the distribution.

Furnaces

Furnace(s) is a key equipment considering the need for optimal operation of unit. Thanks to an extensive design experience with feedbacks from operators and a complete knowledge of this process, Heurtey Petrochem Solutions provides an unparalleled service such as these following features:

High fuel efficiency (94%+) depending on fuel S level
Fully Modularized
Lowest Emission (95%+ reduction with emission reduction technology)
Optimized Plot Plan

Find out more

Consulting

Axens offers a customized approach, including tailored studies, audits and consulting services, covering technical and operational challenges.

Unit Revamps & Retrofits

You face many challenges, which include operating in a safe, reliable and environmentally sound manner while responding to changing markets dynamics.

Modular Units

Customer Training

Designed for all Axens technologies, dedicated to operators & engineers, Axens offers customized training solutions to all our licensees, covering the whole range of Axens technologies.

Technical Support & Performance Management

Axens is fully committed to be your partner and provide assistance and support during your project lifecycle, from conception to start-up & running operations.

Environmental Systems & Services

Energy efficiency awareness can lead to tremendous economic and environmental benefits. Expert studies show that there is still vast untapped energy efficiency potential of up to 25% of heavy industry in Europe alone.

Catalyst Protection Systems

Impurities, fines, gums, scales and inorganic matter can be carried over with the feed. While catalyst performance is steadily increasing due to constant innovation, they are often more sensitive to poisoning.

Reactor Internals

In today’s complex environment, refineries and petrochemical plants around the world need advanced solutions to reach operational excellence. In units featuring fixed-bed reactors, the use of high-efficiency reactor internals are essential to help achieve this goal.

Lube Hydrofinishing

The target of Axens Hydrofinishing process is to adjust color and stability requirement for motor base oils. In that purpose, polar compounds (oxygenate, unsaturated, ...), responsible for both brown color in lubes and instability, are hydrogenated.

This process uses classical desulfurization catalysts in low severity operating conditions (low temperature and low hydrogen partial pressure).

Related Offer

Modular Unit

Catalysts

VGO Hydrotreating Catalysts

Furnaces

High fuel efficiency (94%+) depending on fuel S level
Fully Modularized
Lowest Emission (95%+ reduction with emission reduction technology)
Optimized Plot Plan

Find out more

Consulting

Axens offers a customized approach, including tailored studies, audits and consulting services, covering technical and operational challenges.

Unit Revamps & Retrofits

You face many challenges, which include operating in a safe, reliable and environmentally sound manner while responding to changing markets dynamics.

Modular Units

Customer Training

Designed for all Axens technologies, dedicated to operators & engineers, Axens offers customized training solutions to all our licensees, covering the whole range of Axens technologies.

Technical Support & Performance Management

Axens is fully committed to be your partner and provide assistance and support during your project lifecycle, from conception to start-up & running operations.

Environmental Systems & Services

Catalyst Protection Systems

Reactor Internals

HyDeWAX™

HyDeWax™ is a two-stage process.

During the initial stage the cold flow properties of the UCO (unconverted oil) produced in the hydrocracking reactor or the hydrorefined VGO are improved through hydro-isomerization reactions of the n paraffins. The n-paraffins have poor cold flow properties, the hydro-isomerization step improves the lube base oil cold flow properties considerably while reaching higher yields than with a conventional solvent process scheme. During the hydro-finishing stage, aromatic molecules are saturated and the color and stability of the oil are brought to specification.

HyDeWax™ can also upgrade 100% wax feed in order to produce high quality lubes.

Related Offer

Modular Unit

Catalysts

VGO Hydrotreating Catalysts

Furnaces

High fuel efficiency (94%+) depending on fuel S level
Fully Modularized
Lowest Emission (95%+ reduction with emission reduction technology)
Optimized Plot Plan

Find out more

Consulting

Axens offers a customized approach, including tailored studies, audits and consulting services, covering technical and operational challenges.

Unit Revamps & Retrofits

You face many challenges, which include operating in a safe, reliable and environmentally sound manner while responding to changing markets dynamics.

Modular Units

Customer Training

Designed for all Axens technologies, dedicated to operators & engineers, Axens offers customized training solutions to all our licensees, covering the whole range of Axens technologies.

Technical Support & Performance Management

Axens is fully committed to be your partner and provide assistance and support during your project lifecycle, from conception to start-up & running operations.

Environmental Systems & Services

Catalyst Protection Systems

Reactor Internals

White Oils Hydrotreating

When the objective is technical-grade white oils, a one-step process is required, that uses a catalyst and a configuration close to that of hydrofinishing for motor base oil production.

When the objective is medicinal-grade white oils, a second step is necessary after that required for technical-grade products, in particular to completely eliminate polycyclic aromatics. In all cases, those white oils comply with BGA, FDA and CODEX quality specifications.

Related Offer

Modular Unit

Catalysts

VGO Hydrotreating Catalysts

Furnaces

High fuel efficiency (94%+) depending on fuel S level
Fully Modularized
Lowest Emission (95%+ reduction with emission reduction technology)
Optimized Plot Plan

Find out more

Consulting

Axens offers a customized approach, including tailored studies, audits and consulting services, covering technical and operational challenges.

Unit Revamps & Retrofits

You face many challenges, which include operating in a safe, reliable and environmentally sound manner while responding to changing markets dynamics.

Modular Units

Customer Training

Designed for all Axens technologies, dedicated to operators & engineers, Axens offers customized training solutions to all our licensees, covering the whole range of Axens technologies.

Technical Support & Performance Management

Axens is fully committed to be your partner and provide assistance and support during your project lifecycle, from conception to start-up & running operations.

Environmental Systems & Services

Catalyst Protection Systems

Reactor Internals

Wax Hydrotreating

The merits of Axens’ process for wax hydrotreating are as follows:

No sludge disposal problems
Easy and reliable operation
Great flexibility of use
Low operating cost
High yield: around 99 wt% for all types of products assuming that the correct type of catalyst has been selected.

Most severe food specifications reached even for microcrystalline waxes.

Related Offer

Modular Unit

Catalysts

VGO Hydrotreating Catalysts

Furnaces

High fuel efficiency (94%+) depending on fuel S level
Fully Modularized
Lowest Emission (95%+ reduction with emission reduction technology)
Optimized Plot Plan

Find out more

Consulting

Axens offers a customized approach, including tailored studies, audits and consulting services, covering technical and operational challenges.

Unit Revamps & Retrofits

You face many challenges, which include operating in a safe, reliable and environmentally sound manner while responding to changing markets dynamics.

Modular Units

Customer Training

Designed for all Axens technologies, dedicated to operators & engineers, Axens offers customized training solutions to all our licensees, covering the whole range of Axens technologies.

Technical Support & Performance Management

Axens is fully committed to be your partner and provide assistance and support during your project lifecycle, from conception to start-up & running operations.

Environmental Systems & Services

Catalyst Protection Systems

Reactor Internals

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