Tehran Oil Refining Company has installed a stack emission monitoring system to monitor gas emissions in real time, the head of the refining company said.
“The online system will help measure the emission of hazardous gases like SO2, CO2 and NOx that are constantly released from process stacks, furnace stacks, boiler stacks and chimneys into the atmosphere,” Hamed Armanfar was also quoted as saying by IRNA.
Carried out in four years at an estimated cost of $10 million, the project was implemented by the private sector (Zistazma Group) and it is certified by the UK’s MCERTS, which is the Environment Agency’s Monitoring Certification Scheme for environmental permit holders, he added.
Stack emission monitoring procedure includes measuring, testing, sampling and analysis of gaseous contaminants, which also involves onsite determination of physical parameters of flue gases such as temperature, flow and pressure.
Armanfar said Tehran Oil Refinery is committed to working for a low-carbon future, which primarily involves reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Whenever the stack emission parameters, including CO (carbon monoxide), SO2 (sulfur dioxide), VOC (volatile organic compound) and hydrochloric acid vapor and mist (HCl), exceed their defined limits, the authorities monitoring the emission are responsible for taking action and ensuring that the emission parameters are within the limits.
The refining facility has been introduced by the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company as the top refiner in terms of measures taken to help preserve the environment.
The ranking came after surveys by NIORDC were based on criteria such as green space, wastewater, air pollutants and energy management.
According to environmental laws, industries and production units should allocate 10% of their total area to green space. In addition to complying with regulations, Tehran Oil Refinery has 293 hectares of green space.
Wastewater Treatment
The refinery has increased the capacity of its wastewater treatment unit to 11,000 cubic meters per day to use reclaimed sewage instead of municipal water.
To reduce air pollutants, the huge refinery in southern Tehran uses natural gas as feedstock in furnaces and boilers. In the past, it used liquid fuels like mazut, which is a major source of pollution. It has also installed oxygen analyzers on furnaces and boilers to control the combustion process and reduce gas consumption.
Moreover, the refinery launched a nitrogen production unit to improve health and environmental standards.
With a production capacity of 1,200 cubic meters of nitrogen per hour, the unit will help replace natural gas with nitrogen in storage tanks to prevent possible hazards from flammable liquids.
A carbon dioxide recycling facility near the refinery has reduced its CO2 emissions. The refinery annually converts 40,000 tons of CO2 emissions into industrial and food-grade CO2, meeting 15% of the domestic demand for the product.
Prior to the construction of the recycling unit, carbon dioxide — the most dangerous and prevalent greenhouse gas — was released into the atmosphere, which worsened Tehran’s air pollution.
CO2 is a natural and essential component of life, accounting for 0.03% of the atmosphere. Plants require CO2 to grow (photosynthesis) and in the process, release oxygen into the atmosphere. CO2 is produced naturally by the decay of all organic materials.
It is also a byproduct of many industrial processes, emitted whenever fossil fuels are burned. But in environmental terms, CO2 is a cause for concern.
Nevertheless, in industrial gas trade, CO2 is an important element with several useful applications, including environmentally-friendly processes in which the gas replaces much more damaging products.
In the food industry, CO2 is used throughout the cold chain to ensure quality, freshness and food safety.
Unleaded Gasoline
Tehran Oil Refinery is located 15 kilometers south of the capital. It produces 7 million liters of unleaded gasoline with octane ratings of 87 (regular) per day. The company’s daily diesel output is 8 million liters.
“The company accounts for 50% of jet fuel produced in Iran”, the head of the refining company said.
“The facility receives 250,000 barrels of crude oil per day as feedstock, a part of which is converted to jet fuel conforming to international standards.”
Jet fuel is a specialized type of fuel used to power aircraft. It is generally of a higher quality than what is used in heating or road transport.
In addition to meeting domestic needs, Iran exports jet fuel to Armenia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Central Asian countries and Pakistan.
According to the Aviation Fuel Department of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company, about 1,300 aircraft in Iran need close to 1.5 billion liters of fuel annually.
About 55 aircraft filling stations are operating nationwide.
