New technologies to optimise efficiency in vacuum distillation stills using advanced numerical simulation

EFIVAC was established with the aim of developing more efficient, safer and more sustainable vacuum furnaces. The project will develop advanced simulation and decision-support tools to optimise the operation of these facilities, reduce their energy consumption and CO₂ emissions, and facilitate the future incorporation of more sustainable fuels.

Vacuum furnaces operate under demanding conditions and face challenges such as coke formation, the limitations of conventional combustion and equipment wear caused by high temperatures. EFIVAC will tackle these challenges using digital models capable of reproducing the phenomena occurring inside the furnace and virtually evaluating different operating conditions.

These tools will enable the optimisation of steam injection, the study of alternative fuels such as mixtures of hydrogen and fuel gas, the reduction of coke formation, and the improvement of the plant’s overall performance. Furthermore, predictive solutions will be developed to assess the integrity of equipment and estimate its service life when using new fuels.

Within the consortium, AIMEN will contribute advanced simulation technologies, combining digitalisation, CFD modelling and structural analysis to validate the solutions in a real industrial environment and contribute to a more efficient, reliable and sustainable refining industry.