Very-Low Sulfur Diesel Production (Hydrotreating Unit)

This report approaches an economic analysis for Very-Low Sulfur Diesel (VLSD) production via a hydrotreating process in the United States. In this process, a high-sulfur diesel feed is passed through a fixed-bed catalytic reactor, where sulfur and nitrogen impurities are reacted with hydrogen and converted into hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. The reactor effluent is then subjected to a sequence of separation steps, so that Very-Low Sulfur Diesel (50 ppm sulfur) is obtained as the final product.

The report provides a comprehensive study of Diesel production and related Diesel production cost, covering three key aspects: a complete description of the Diesel production process examined; an in-depth analysis of the related Diesel plant capital cost (Capex); and an evaluation of the respective Diesel plant operating costs (Opex).

The Diesel production process description includes a block flow diagram (BFD), an overview of the industrial site installations, detailing both the process unit and the necessary infrastructure, process consumption figures and comprehensive process flow diagrams (PFD). The Diesel plant capital cost analysis breaks down the Capex by plant cost (i.e., ISBL, OSBL and Contingency); owner's cost; working capital; and costs incurred during industrial plant commissioning and start-up. The Diesel plant operating costs analysis covers operating expenses, including variable costs like raw materials and utilities, and fixed costs such as maintenance, labor, and depreciation.

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