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44-493: The Delaware City Refinery , currently owned by Delaware City Refining Corporation, a subsidiary of PBF Energy , is an oil refinery in Delaware City, Delaware . When operational it has a total throughput capacity of 210,000 barrels per day (33,000 m/d), and employs around 570 individuals. The refinery was commissioned in 1956 and Getty Oil operated it up until 1984, when Texaco bought Getty. In 1988, Star Enterprises,

88-631: A $ 12 million settlement for a joint federal-state civil lawsuit due to the explosion. The settlement covered civil penalties, environmental projects, and reimbursement for response costs. Motiva will also funded environmental projects worth over $ 4 million. Valero, the refinery's next owner, then implemented additional safety measures costing $ 7.5 million to prevent another incident similar to the Sulfuric Acid Tank explosion. The total settlement, valued at nearly $ 23.7 million, resolves claims under various federal and state environmental laws, making it one of

132-668: A charge on them. Then, the charged particles are either attracted to each other, forming larger, easier-to-collect particles, or they are collected on a surface. Condensation of water vapor on particles promotes collection by adding mass to the particles. Other mechanisms such as gravity , centrifugal force , and direct interception slightly affect particle collection. For particulate control, wet scrubbers (also referred to as wet collectors) are evaluated against fabric filters and electrostatic precipitators (ESPs). Some advantages of wet scrubbers over these devices are as follows: Some disadvantages of wet scrubbers include corrosion,

176-805: A combined processing capacity, known as throughput, of approximately 1,000,000 bpd, and a weighted average Nelson Complexity Index of 13.2. On November 30, 2022, PBF Energy acquired of the common units representing limited partner interests in PBF Logistics. PBF was formed in 2008 as a joint venture by Petroplus Holdings and the private equity companies Blackstone Group and First Reserve (the PBF in PBF Energy stands for Petroplus, Blackstone, and First Reserve), each committing $ 667 million in equity. In September 2010, Petroplus announced plans to sell its 32.62 percent stake to its partners for $ 91 million as PBF acquired

220-431: A company started when Saudi Aramco bought half interest, took over the refinery until 1998, when Motiva Enterprises , a joint venture between Star (Saudi Aramco) and Shell , operated it. Motiva's operation was the most controversial, with many lawsuits resulting from an explosion and many federal emission regulations violations. Premcor Refining Group bought the refinery from Motiva in 2004, but Valero acquired Premcor

264-745: A decrease in liquid-droplet size. However, collection by diffusion increases as particle size decreases. This mechanism enables certain scrubbers to effectively remove the very tiny particles (less than 0.1 μm). In the particle size range of approximately 0.1 to 1.0 μm, neither of these two collection mechanisms (impaction or diffusion) dominates. This relationship is illustrated in Figure 3. In recent years, some scrubber manufacturers have utilized other collection mechanisms such as electrostatic attraction and condensation to enhance particle collection without increasing power consumption. In electrostatic attraction , particles are captured by first inducing

308-407: A dumpster or stockpile. Droplets are produced by several methods: These droplets collect particles by using one or more of several collection mechanisms such as impaction, direct interception, diffusion , electrostatic attraction , condensation , centrifugal force and gravity . However, impaction and diffusion are the main ones. In a wet scrubbing system, dust particles will tend to follow

352-399: A mist eliminator (demister pads) to remove water droplets from the gas stream. The dirty water from the scrubber system is either cleaned and discharged or recycled to the scrubber. Dust is removed from the scrubber in a clarification unit or a drag chain tank. In both systems solid material settles on the bottom of the tank. A drag chain conveyor system removes the sludge and deposits in into

396-499: A properly designed and operated entrainment separator or mist eliminator is important to achieve high removal efficiencies. The greater the number of liquid droplets that are not captured by the mist eliminator, the higher the potential emission levels. Wet scrubbers that remove gaseous pollutants are referred to as absorbers . Good gas-to-liquid contact is essential to obtain high removal efficiencies in absorbers. Various wet-scrubber designs are used to remove gaseous pollutants, with

440-463: A random manner, or to diffuse , through the gas. This irregular motion can cause the particles to collide with a droplet and be collected (Figure 2). Because of this, diffusion is the primary collection mechanism in wet scrubbers for particles smaller than 0.1 μm. The rate of diffusion depends on the following: For both impaction and diffusion, collection efficiency increases with an increase in relative velocity (liquid- or gas-pressure input) and

484-429: A wet scrubber, the polluted gas stream is brought into contact with the scrubbing liquid, by spraying it with the liquid, by forcing it through a pool of liquid, or by some other contact method, so as to remove the pollutants. Wet scrubbers capture relatively small dust particles with the wet scrubber's large liquid droplets. In most wet scrubbing systems, droplets produced are generally larger than 50 micrometres (in

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528-428: A year later. On 20 November 2009, the refinery was shut down permanently as part of cost-cutting measures by Valero Energy Corporation. Anticipated economic impacts of the closure include major reductions in tax revenue and retail sales for Delaware City, increased materials acquisition cost for petroleum products re-sellers and an increase to consumer gasoline prices in the longer term. On 25 January 2010, Petroplus ,

572-460: Is highly complex with a Nelson Complexity Index of 13.6. In 2020, due to the impact of COVID on the business causing serious financial distress, PBF sold the hydrogen plant at Delaware City to Air Products and Chemicals . The sale was part of a 3-refinery hydrogen plant transaction and netted $ 530 million for PBF. As a major emitting facility, The PBF Delaware City Refinery and Petrochemical Site must report its complete greenhouse gas emissions to

616-499: Is poor below 10 μm. However, they are capable of treating relatively high dust concentrations without becoming plugged. Wet cyclones use centrifugal force to spin the dust particles (similar to a cyclone), and throw the particulates upon the collector's wetted walls. Water introduced from the top to wet the cyclone walls carries these particles away. The wetted walls also prevent dust reentrainment. Pressure drops for these collectors range from 2 to 8 in. water (½ to 2 kPa), and

660-400: The packed tower and the plate tower being the most common. If the gas stream contains both particulate matter and gases, wet scrubbers are generally the only single air pollution control device that can remove both pollutants. Wet scrubbers can achieve high removal efficiencies for either particles or gases and, in some instances, can achieve a high removal efficiency for both pollutants in

704-570: The 0.1 to 0.5 micrometres range because they are the most difficult for wet scrubbers to collect. The design of wet scrubbers or any air pollution control device depends on the industrial process conditions and the nature of the air pollutants involved. Inlet gas characteristics and dust properties (if particles are present) are of primary importance. Scrubbers can be designed to collect particulate matter and/or gaseous pollutants. The versatility of wet scrubbers allow them to be built in numerous configurations, all designed to provide good contact between

748-520: The 150 to 500 micrometres range). As a point of reference, human hair ranges in diameter from 50 to 100 micrometres. The size distribution of particles to be collected is source specific. For example, particles produced by mechanical means (crushing or grinding) tend to be large (above 10 micrometres); whereas, particles produced from combustion or a chemical reaction will have a substantial portion of small (less than 5 micrometres) and submicrometre particles. The most critical sized particles are those in

792-497: The Delaware River, leading to the deaths of an estimated 2,400 fish and 240 crabs. The incident was subject to a year-long investigation by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board. The repost found that (excerpted): Motiva did not have rules to limit high-temperature cutting (welding) that could generate molten metal and sparks from being performed directly above a corroded hazardous storage tank that had holes in its roof and shell and

836-607: The EPA every year subject to the EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. Direct Emissions Non-Biogenic Emissions Emissions The refinery is active in its community and donated $ 218,000 to charities and non-profits in 2023. In 2021, the refinery fundraiser generated $ 140,000 for donation to 16 local charities. PBF Energy In February 2020, with the acquisition of the Martinez Refinery, PBF Energy currently owns and operates six domestic oil refineries and related assets with

880-633: The Paulsboro refinery from Valero Energy . PBF then acquired the Toledo refinery from Sunoco in December 2010 for approximately $ 400 million. PBF went public in December 2012 with a $ 533 million initial public offering. In 2015 PBF acquired the 189,000 BPD Chalmette, Louisiana refinery from ExxonMobil and its partner, the state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela , for $ 322 million, in a deal that included interests in chemical facilities, pipelines and other assets at

924-409: The agglomerates grow larger, they settle into a collector. Since wet scrubbers vary greatly in complexity and method of operation, devising categories into which all of them neatly fit is extremely difficult. Scrubbers for particle collection are usually categorized by the gas-side pressure drop of the system. Gas-side pressure drop refers to the pressure difference, or pressure drop , that occurs as

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968-423: The bulk, making collection easier. 2. Gas-liquid contact - This is one of the most important factors affecting collection efficiency. The particle and droplet come into contact by four primary mechanisms: 3. Gas-liquid separation - Regardless of the contact mechanism used, as much liquid and dust as possible must be removed. Once contact is made, dust particulates and water droplets combine to form agglomerates. As

1012-407: The collection efficiency is good for 5 μm particles and above. Packed-bed scrubbers consist of beds of packing elements, such as coke, broken rock, rings, saddles, or other manufactured elements. The packing breaks down the liquid flow into a high-surface-area film so that the dusty gas streams passing through the bed achieve maximum contact with the liquid film and become deposited on the surfaces of

1056-415: The diverging section of the venturi. The large agglomerates formed in the venturi are then removed by an inertial separator. Venturi scrubbers achieve very high collection efficiencies for respirable dust. Since efficiency of a venturi scrubber depends on pressure drop, some manufacturers supply a variable-throat venturi to maintain pressure drop with varying gas flows. Another way to classify wet scrubbers

1100-418: The exhaust gas is pushed or pulled through the scrubber, disregarding the pressure that would be used for pumping or spraying the liquid into the scrubber. Spray-tower scrubber wet scrubbers may be categorized by pressure drop as follows: However, most scrubbers operate over a wide range of pressure drops , depending on their specific application, thereby making this type of categorization difficult. Due to

1144-840: The fourth largest independent refiner in North America. PBF's refineries in Paulsboro (NJ) and Delaware City (DE) have been cited by environmentalists for processing crude oil from the Amazon River Basin in South America. In 2015, the Delaware City and Paulsboro refineries were processing more than 3,300 and 2,666 barrels per day of crude originating in the Amazon, respectively. The company had 3,165 employees as of 2017 with annual revenue of $ 21,787 million. In June 2019, PBF agreed to purchase Shell's Martinez, California oil refinery. The sale

1188-543: The large number of commercial scrubbers available, it is not possible to describe each individual type here. However, the following sections provide examples of typical scrubbers in each category. In the simple, gravity-spray-tower scrubber, liquid droplets formed by liquid atomized in spray nozzles fall through rising exhaust gases. Dirty water is drained at the bottom. These scrubbers operated at pressure drops of 1 to 2 in. water gauge (¼ to ½ kPa) and are approximately 70% efficient on 10 μm particles. Their efficiency

1232-648: The largest independent refining company in Europe, announced its interest in buying the refinery. In June 2010, it was announced that the Delaware City Refinery was purchased by PBF Energy Partners for $ 220 million. The refinery was expected to reopen in Spring 2011. PBF Energy announced that the restart of the refinery was completed successfully on 7 October 2011. The refinery processes heavy sour crude. The refinery occupies more than 5,000 acres of land, making it one of

1276-495: The largest industrial facilities in North America. On July 17, 2001, a 415,000-gallon tank at the Refinery exploded from a spark from carbon-arc welding while holding spent sulfuric acid—a mix of sulfuric acid, water, and hydrocarbons. The explosion resulted in the death of one worker and injuries to either others. Over one million gallons of sulfuric acid were released from the tank area, with approximately 100,000 gallons spilling into

1320-711: The largest settlements for such violations in Delaware. The family of the 50-year oil boilermaker who was killed in the incident sued Motiva for its culpability. They won a $ 36.4 million settlement in 2003. According to PBF's filings with the US DOE's Energy Information Agency, the unit capacities for the Delaware City Refinery are presented below: Both the fluid coker and the FCC regenerator have independent wet gas scrubber s that were installed for about $ 200 million per unit in 2005 according to Valero's refinery tour presentation. The refinery

1364-431: The liquid and polluted gas stream. Wet scrubbers remove dust particles by capturing them in liquid droplets. The droplets are then collected, the liquid dissolving or absorbing the pollutant gases. Any droplets that are in the scrubber inlet gas must be separated from the outlet gas stream by means of another device referred to as a mist eliminator or entrainment separator (these terms are interchangeable). Also,

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1408-491: The manner in which the gas and liquid phases are brought into contact. Scrubbers are designed to use power, or energy, from the gas stream or the liquid stream, or some other method to bring the pollutant gas stream into contact with the liquid. These categories are given in the table below. There is a large variety of wet scrubbers; however, all have one of three basic configurations: 1. Gas-humidification - The gas-humidification process agglomerates fine particles, increasing

1452-582: The need for entrainment separation or mist removal to obtain high efficiencies and the need for treatment or reuse of spent liquid. Wet scrubbers have been used in a variety of industries such as acid plants , fertilizer plants, steel mills , asphalt plants, and large power plants . Some components that are specific to the wet scrubbing process include: A system may include one or multiple of these components in addition to various supporting components such as: A typical wet scrubbing process can be described as follows: Wet scrubbers can be categorized by

1496-470: The packing elements. These scrubbers have a good collection efficiency for respirable dust. Three types of packed-bed scrubbers are: Efficiency can be greatly increased by minimizing target size, i.e., using 0.003 in. (0.076 mm) diameter stainless steel wire and increasing gas velocity to more than 1,800 ft/min (9.14 m/s). Venturi scrubbers consist of a venturi-shaped inlet and separator. The dust-laden gases venturi scrubber enter through

1540-613: The particle and droplets increases. As particles get larger they are less likely to follow the gas streamlines around droplets. Also, as particles move faster relative to the liquid droplet, there is a greater chance that the particle will hit a droplet. Impaction is the predominant collection mechanism for scrubbers having gas stream velocities greater than 0.3 m/s (1 ft/s) ( Perry 1973 ). Most scrubbers operate with gas stream velocities well above 0.3 m/s. Therefore, at these velocities, particles having diameters greater than 1.0 μm are collected by this mechanism. Impaction also increases as

1584-532: The resultant scrubbing liquid must be treated prior to any ultimate discharge or being reused in the plant. A wet scrubber's ability to collect small particles is often directly proportional to the power input into the scrubber. Low energy devices such as spray towers are used to collect particles larger than 5 micrometers. To obtain high efficiency removal of 1 micrometer (or less) particles generally requires high-energy devices such as venturi scrubbers or augmented devices such as condensation scrubbers. Additionally,

1628-490: The same system. However, in many cases, the best operating conditions for particles collection are the poorest for gas removal. In general, obtaining high simultaneous gas and particulate removal efficiencies requires that one of them be easily collected (i.e., that the gases are very soluble in the liquid or that the particles are large and readily captured), or by the use of a scrubbing reagent such as lime or sodium hydroxide . The "cleaned" gases are normally passed through

1672-496: The site located just ten minutes from downtown New Orleans. In July 2016, PBF acquired the 155,000 BPD ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California for $ 537.5M. The acquisition included ownership interests in several crude gathering and transportation pipelines, product pipelines, products terminals and crude and products storage facilities, and increased PBF's total throughput capacity to approximately 900,000 barrels per day, making it

1716-462: The size of the liquid droplet decreases because the presence of more droplets within the vessel increases the probability that particles will impact on the droplets. Very small particles (less than 0.1 μm in diameter) experience random movement in an exhaust stream. These particles are so tiny that they are bumped by gas molecules as they move in the exhaust stream. This bumping, or bombardment, causes them to first move one way and then another in

1760-403: The streamlines of the exhaust stream . However, when liquid droplets are introduced into the exhaust stream, particles cannot always follow these streamlines as they diverge around the droplet (Figure 1). The particle's mass causes it to break away from the streamlines and impact or hit the droplet. Impaction increases as the diameter of the particle increases and as the relative velocity between

1804-422: The tragic accident. 1) the company did not have an adequate mechanical integrity management system, 2) there was an inadequate system for managing engineering, and 3) the hot work program was inadequate. In 2005, Motiva pleaded guilty to the incident and negligently endangering workers at its former refinery. It was sentenced with a $ 10 million criminal fine and three years of probation. In addition, Motiva agreed to

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1848-427: The venturi and are accelerated to speeds between 12,000 and 36,000 ft/min (60.97-182.83 m/s). These high-gas velocities immediately atomize the coarse water spray, which is injected radially into the venturi throat, into fine droplets. High energy and extreme turbulence promote collision between water droplets and dust particulates in the throat. The agglomeration process between particle and droplet continues in

1892-405: Was finalized Feb. 1, 2020. As of October 2023, PBF owns and operates six oil refineries, with a combined processing capacity (known as throughput) of approximately 1,000,000 bpd and a weighted average Nelson Complexity Index of 13.2. Wet gas scrubber The term wet scrubber describes a variety of devices that remove pollutants from a furnace flue gas or from other gas streams. In

1936-565: Was known to contain flammable vapors. The incident likely would have been prevented if safety management processes had been adequately implemented. Motiva did not consider the tank farm to be covered by the requirements of the OSHA Process Safety Management Standard, which sets safety standards for various chemical operations. The Board recommended that OSHA take steps to include such tanks farms under its regulatory system going forward. There were three root causes of

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