Question
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What do you see necessary for successful implementation of plant-wide AI and machine learning (ML) in the refinery and petrochemical complex? Can AI/ML strategies provide additional benefits beyond APC?
Jul-2022
Answers
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Alvin Chen, BASF Corporation, alvin.chen@basf.com
Successful implementation of machines with artificial intelligence (ML/AI) in refinery or petrochemical complexes requires a deliberate and thoughtful targeted approach with clearly defined benefits, a robust and safe technology framework, and a clear economic benefit.
These hydrocarbon processing facilities have some of the highest safety standards in the world, and the use of their technologies in ML/AI offers the potential for benefits, yet they must achieve standards of safety and robustness that are often higher than many other industries. This can often set the speed of adoption in the industry, yet it cannot be missed as a tool because there are large potential benefits to operations that can be achieved with AI/ML.
ML/AI offers a chance to continuously learn and improve, leading to better productivity, less downtime, and ultimately improved cost efficiency. Specific AI/ML strategies can provide additional benefits beyond automated process control (APC) by extending analysis to monitoring market conditions and adjusting crude acquisition plans.
Additionally, it can allow catalyst formulation adjustments to accommodate market changes and uncertainty. A specific example is changing catalyst to move away from Câ‚„= selectivity in favour of C₃/Câ‚„ flexibility when there is uncertainty about which production will have the highest value and demand.An AI/ ML program can help in these types of decision-making recommendations while allowing a final human interface in the process. This is just one simple example of how these tools can be implemented, which is why today’s much more complex logistics, process control, and maintenance monitoring are being improved through AI/ ML.
Jul-2022
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