Physical Refinery

Listing ID #2453945

Pre Treatment & Bleaching : The feed oil is heated to 65-70^oC in the Economiser by outgoing deodorized oil followed by feed heater (during start up). Concentrated phosphoric acid (0.05 - 0.10%) is injected by the Acid Metering Pump and intensively mixed with the oil in the Acid Mixer before entering the Conditioning Reactor. The oil is discharged into the slurry mixer above the Bleacher. A valve dosing system proportions bleaching earth. The earth is introduced under the oil spray in the mixing chamber for improved mixing so that earth does not enter the Bleaching Vacuum System. The oil is heated up to Bleaching temperature in the first compartment of Bleacher. The earth adsorbs any residual gums as well as trace metals, color bodies and other polar impurities. The Bleacher has multiple agitated compartments and operates under vacuum to ensure complete moisture and air removal. The dried oil and earth mixture is discharged by the Bleacher Discharge Pump to one of the Filters where the spent earth is removed. The filtered oil is collected in the Filtrate Receiver. The Bleached Oil Pump sends the oil to the Bleached Oil tank via one of the alternating Polish Filters.
Filter Management : The standard bleaching system is based on the use of two filters of which one is on line while the other is being cleaned and prepared for the next cycle. When a filter has reached its maximum capacity, as indicated by high feed pressure, it is taken off line for cleaning and replaced by the other filter.
The cleaning procedure begins by first pressurizing the filter with steam to expel residual oil into the Recovered Oil Tank and dry the spent filter cake. The oil recovered from the filter cake is collected in the tank and can usually be recycled to the Bleacher. After drying, a bottom discharge valve on the filter is opened and the leaves pneumatically vibrated so that the spent cake is dislodged and discharged via a hopper. The filter is then closed and readied for the next batch. Before going on line again it can be pre-coated with filter aid and/or bleaching earth in order to seal the filter leaves and minimize clogging. The adsorbents are mixed with bleached oil in the Precoat/Heel Tank and applied to the leaves by circulation with the Precoat Pump. When not using filter aid or off-line pre-coat, the empty clean filter is filled and put on line while the other filter is still in operation. The filtrate from the clean filter is recycled back to the Bleacher until the filter is pre-coated with bleaching earth and the oil is clear. After this the full flow is switched to the new filter.
De Acidification / Deodorisation : Bleached oil is continuously pumped from the Feed Tank by the Deareator Feed Pump. The oil is pre-heated in the Deaerating Economizer by outgoing deodorized oil followed by the Deaerating Heater (if necessary) before entering the Deaerator. The vessel is under full vacuum, so that residual air is reduced to an absolute minimum. The Deaerator Discharge Pump sends the oil through a Heat Economizer where the temperature is increased by hot deodorized oil. The oil is heated to full processing temperature in the Vacuum Heater by thermal fluid from the Thermal Oil Heater. A portion of the free fatty acids in the oil will be flashed off in the Heater.
Stripping : The hot oil enters the Packed Column, which is filled with special structured packing so that the oil is distributed into a thin film and is evenly agitated by stripping steam flowing counter currently from the bottom of the column. As a result, free fatty acids and other remaining volatile impurities in the oil are evaporated and removed with the steam. The residence time in the column is only a few minutes. The bulk of the free fatty acids along with aldehydes, ketones etc. in the oil are quickly stripped off before any heat induced permanent damage has been done.
Deodorizing : The stripped oil from the column flows into the Deodorizer where it flows through the channels of a series of vertically stacked compartments (trays) while agitated by stripping steam. The prolonged thermal action breaks down carotene and other color bodies, resulting in a lighter oil color. Also, the amount of remaining free fatty acids in the oil is reduced to an absolute minimum. The stripping steam passes through the packed column and no separate steam is required in the stripping column. The maximum retention time in the Deodorizer is 70 minutes.
Cooling : The deodorized oil is discharged by the Product Pump and further cooled to storage temperature in the Deodorizing Economizer , Deaerating Economizer, Bleaching Economiser and Product Cooler. The anti-oxidant is mixed with oil in the Deodorizer. The finished oil is finally sent to storage via one of the alternating Product Filters.
Distillate Recovery : Fatty acids and other materials, evaporated from the oil, are condensed by contact with recycled and cooled distillate in the Vapor Scrubber. The distillate is circulated by the Distillate Pump via the Distillate Cooler where it is cooled by cooling water. Accumulated distillate is discharged from the Scrubber to storage.
Trans and Tocopherol : The high efficiency (low amount of stripping steam) and short retention time of the stripping column, combined with the possibility to reduce the heat bleaching time or temperature, ensure optimum conditions for controlling the process. The oil can thereby be properly deodorized without the creation of trans fatty acids while also controlling the amount of tocopherol removed from the oil
Protection Against Air Contamination : For optimum quality, especially when processing unsaturated oils, the oil should be protected from air contamination during the entire deodorizing process. The packed column type Deareator ensures maximum removal of dissolved air before high temperature heating. This also helps minimize polymerization of the oil on the inside of the heat exchange coils of the heat Economizer.
Process Control : The control, operation and supervision of the plant can be handled by one operator per shift. All main process parameters, if required, e.g. flow rates, temperatures, liquid levels etc. are automatically maintained from a control panel or, as an option, with the help of PID/PC based controls.