Journal of Food Processing & Technology

Performance simulation of industrial vegetable oil refining

4^th International Conference and Exhibition on Food Processing & Technology

August 10-12, 2015 London, UK

Gabriele Landucci1, Gabriele Pannocchia1, Lorenzo Fagiuoli2 and Cristiano Nicolella1, 3

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Food Process Technol

Abstract:

This work focuses on the performance analysis of an industrial vegetable oil refinery. Using a commercial process simulator,
a process model was developed and validated against actual vegetable oil refinery field data. The simulator allowed
investigating both energy and safety aspects related to the presence of residual extraction solvent (extraction grade hexane) in
the processed crude vegetable oil. The critical nodes for hexane accumulation in the process were evaluated both considering
ordinary operative conditions and undesired process deviations due to increase of the hexane content. In this latter case, the
control actions able to restore the normal operation were simulated in terms of increased utility consumption (e.g., motive
steam for ejectors and cooling water) or by modifying and optimizing equipment operating conditions. Finally, the possibilities
of flammable mixtures formation inside process vent pipes caused by the entrainment of air due strong vacuum conditions, was
also investigated.

Biography :

Gabriele Landucci is from Università di Pisa Italy.