Russian Engineers Build Digital Twin of Distillation Column
The model is designed to improve process control and optimize oil refining operations.
Researchers at Novosibirsk State Technical University (NSTU NETI) have developed a digital model of a complex industrial unit. The system is expected to improve control quality and optimize oil refining processes, the university’s press service told IT-Russia.
Gasoline, Kerosene, Fuel Oil
A distillation column is the core unit used to separate crude oil into fractions. It operates based on differences in boiling points. Raw feedstock enters the column and is separated into gasoline, kerosene, fuel oil, and other products. To enable precise control of this process, the system uses control valves that regulate the flow of steam and liquid, ensuring stable operation.
According to Anastasia Stoyanova, a graduate student at the university’s Faculty of Mechatronics and Automation, output of a specific fraction can be increased by 5–7% by adjusting valve positions. This is why the team developed a mathematical model that replicates the physics of rectification, where feedstock enters the column and is separated into fractions. In the digital twin, valve positions can be adjusted virtually to assess their impact on output.
Automated Workstation
The team also created an operator workstation within a SCADA system to monitor system performance and control the process.
The researchers plan to refine the digital model by mid-2027.
Earlier reports said digital technologies are being used in Russia to track oil from wellhead to fuel tank.
