Step 6, Step 7, & Step 8
Reduce refinery Scope 2 and 3 Emissions, Eliminate Giveaway, Generate Credits for Sulfur and Benzene
Step 6 highlights the reduced CO2 environmental benefits of the technology. Scope 3 CO2 emissions are the tailpipe emissions that come from using gasoline. HRC Gasoline has about 12 % lower Scope 3 CO2 tailpipe emissions on a per mile drive basis than typical US gasolines. This is primarily because it is hydrogen-rich: there are few olefins and aromatics. But the paraffins also have a higher energy density that olefins and aromatics, which contributes to lower Scope 3 emissions. Scope 2 CO2 emissions are produced by the refinery as patufacruring process. Catalytic Reforming is an endothermic process – the reactions consume energy. Cutting back or eliminating Catalytic Reforming can significantly reduce Scope 2 refinery emissions. For any refinery looking ahead to decarbonize their operations, this is a cost saving, simplifying change.
We present this step as the only one that is not a money-maker. That is because the savings are hard to quantify in our simple analysis. Reformer costs are significant, but so is the benefit of the by-product hydrogen. This balances differently for different refiners. However, some refiners will market their gasolines as the most environmentally friendly drop-in gasoline available. A lot of drivers who cannot afford EVs or other ZEVs will want to do what they can to minimize CO2 from their vehicles. You can supply that gasoline, and save money making it!
Step 7 is a consequence of having the aromatic amines on hand in the refinery. Blending can be adjusted to be just below the octane target, because the high octane aromatic amine is available to make the final adjustment.
Step 8 occurs for refiners who currently pay for credits. Paraffinic HRC gasoline contains virtually no benzene. The reformer reduction will make less benzene than any non-HRC Gasoline. Also, the lower cost octane from HRC gasoline allows full treating of heavy cat gasoline to eliminate all sulfur and olefins. This is economic and further swells the HRC gasoline pool.
