Emerson automates refinery scheduling to improve margins

Customers use Aspen Unified Scheduling^TM (AUS) to eliminate the disconnected tools and manual data gathering that make scheduling harder during volatile markets. AUS now adds two new products – Crude Schedule Optimization and Multi-Blend Optimization – that bring planning, scheduling, and blending into one platform. As a result, customers can turn optimal plans into realistic schedules fast enough to keep up with changing market conditions.

“Refinery schedulers are managing more complexity and greater crude market volatility, with the same hours in the day,” said Claudio Fayad, CTO at Emerson’s Aspen Technology business. “By automating the most time-intensive workflows within a unified platform, our solutions free experienced teams to focus on higher-value decisions while enabling newer engineers to contribute faster. The result is stronger margins and better operational decisions across the organisation.”

Optimising crude scheduling

Crude Schedule Optimization takes refinery data from Aspen Unified PIMS^TM and automatically determines the optimal crude receipts, transfers, blends, and production schedules to maximise margins. By minimising manual work and enabling rapid 'what if' scenario testing, refineries can improve scheduling precision, thereby reducing errors and enabling rapid response to crude market fluctuations and price opportunities.

Maximising blending efficiency

Multi-Blend Optimization simultaneously optimises the recipe of each individual batch of blended product within the scheduling window. It continuously optimises product qualities and balances production against market conditions and operational constraints, while ensuring compliance with quality specifications. By making optimal use of available blend components, refineries reduce quality giveaway, lower blend component costs, and improve profitability.

Both solutions are offered as separately licensed products available within Aspen Unified Scheduling. As part of the broader Aspen Unified™ solution, Aspen Unified Scheduling connects data, optimisation, and execution – reducing manual intervention, improving operational consistency, and accelerating the speed of critical business decisions.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/refining/17072026/emerson-automates-refinery-scheduling-to-improve-margins/