Nwankwojike, B. N.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike
Uduma, O. U.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike
Isaac, S. O.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike
Nwadinobi, C. P.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
Optimal framework for allocating
crude natural gas to its processing options and production of end-user products
at Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Company, Bonny was determined using mathematical programming to aid revenue maximization and consumers’ satisfaction in
this sector. This investigation involved formulation of a crude gas allocation
model of this company with revenue maximization as the objective function
subject to the constraints of its plant parameters as well as other technical,
environmental and market factors of the company/sector. Results revealed 3:1:2:6:17:8:1:2:2:2:1 as the optimal ratio by which the raw gas
should be allocated for the production of methane, ethane, propane, gasoline, ethylene,
propylene, butylene, gas oil, naphtha, kerosene and diesel respectively.
Contrary to the general view that conversion of the gas to ethylene will yield
more revenue due to its high demand. The
optimization result also indicated a revenue of
NGN10 billion (USD 48.1million) from processing of crude natural
gas based on this optimal ratio over the
existing production schedule of the company which has the raw gas processing
options in the ratio of 1:1:1:2:5:2:1:1:1:1:1. In addition to this revenue
improvement, allocation of crude natural gas for the production of these
end-user products in this ratio also raise the availability of these products
to rally with their ever increasing domestic and industrial applications
thereby reducing the bottleneck which other sector that depend on these
feedstocks are facing due to the shortfall in their supply from the company.
Keywords: Mathematical programming, natural gas, processing framework, utilization alternatives, revenue maximization
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Published
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Issue
Vol. 4 No. 1, JUNE 2018
Article Section
GENERAL
The contents of the articles are the sole opinion of the author(s) and not of UJET.
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