A refinery was examining alternative methods of recycling various waste material streams generated at the facility. Waste sources were from roll-off bins containing solids material generated from various cleaning projects within the refinery, tank bottoms from a wide spectrum of sources, and various Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) listed waste streams, including characteristic wastes containing metals and benzene, and K and F listed wastes. The goal of the project was to reduce overall expenses associated with current methods of disposal of hazardous waste by incineration or hazardous landfill.
Onyx was able to apply a Particle Sizing System to this project, eliminating off-site disposal and saving the customer approximately $390,000.
Challenge
The challenge was to develop and provide new technology to take existing solids out of roll-off containers and blend them with a suspension media to meet delayed Coker quench cycle injection feed specifications. The resulting slurry from the PS-2001 system would be capable of self-suspension and meet the stringent quench cycle injection specifications.
Solution
On various refinery waste streams, the PS-2001 system can offer: mobile equipment design for easy set-up and operation; minimal footprint; elimination of nuisance odours; production rates of approximately 22 cubic yards per day (12 hour day); acceptable particle size for Coker quench cycle injection; solids remaining in suspension with water as a medium; a system designed for continuous operation; a system that operates on pumpable sludges as well as dry solids material; elimination of outhaul disposal of hazardous waste; and elimination of customer liability associated with hazardous waste disposal. The Coker also accepted and was able to feed the slurry without complication.
Economics
Onyx provided services to clean tanks containing 500 tons of crude oil tank bottoms, a listed waste code. A typical procedure required cleaning the tank followed by dewatering the sludge with a centrifuge or other device, with possible thermal drying for waste minimization and finally off-site disposal.
The Particle Sizing System has proven to be a cost-effective, alternative method for managing in-plant residual materials from hazardous and non-hazardous sources. In all cases, pumpable and non-pumpable sludges and solids material are homogenized and kept in suspension to satisfy Coker quench cycle injection specifications. The system is mobile and can move from site to site within the refinery, eliminating double handling of the sludge as well as the expense for off-site disposal.
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