Texas JV to burn residue gas in cogen unit

Refiners continue to pursue onsite power generation projects fed by bottom-of-the-barrel byproducts. A joint venture of Phillips Petroleum Co. and CSW Energy Inc., Dallas, broke ground on a 325,000 kw cogeneration power plant to adjoin Phillips' Sweeny, Tex., refinery and petrochemical complex. The $200 million plant will convert residue gas, a refinery byproduct, to steam and electricity for use in Phillips' 185,000 b/d refinery and 1.6 million metric ton/year ethylene plant. The

Sept. 23, 1996

2 min read

Refiners continue to pursue onsite power generation projects fed by bottom-of-the-barrel byproducts.

A joint venture of Phillips Petroleum Co. and CSW Energy Inc., Dallas, broke ground on a 325,000 kw cogeneration power plant to adjoin Phillips' Sweeny, Tex., refinery and petrochemical complex.

The $200 million plant will convert residue gas, a refinery byproduct, to steam and electricity for use in Phillips' 185,000 b/d refinery and 1.6 million metric ton/year ethylene plant. The residue gas feed will be supplemented with 85 MMcfd of natural gas.

Electricity will be generated by three 100,000 kw Westinghouse Model 501D5A combustion turbines. Three heat-recovery steam generators in simple-cycle configuration will convert turbine waste heat to steam.

Environmental benefits

"We are particularly pleased with the environmental benefits," said Bob Ridge, general manager of Phillips' Sweeny unit.

Use of dry, low-NOx combustion technology in the cogen plant will reduce overall nitrogen oxide emissions for the Sweeny complex. NOx emissions from the cogen plant will be 15 ppm by volume, CSW Energy says. CSW also expects carbon monoxide emissions of 15 ppm by volume and negligible sulfur dioxide emissions.

Sweeny Cogeneration LP, of which CSW Energy is managing partner, will own the cogen plant. CSW Energy will operate it on land leased from Phillips.

Phillips will purchase steam and electricity from the plant. Surplus electricity will be sold on the Texas wholesale market.

Terry Dennis, president and chief executive officer of CSW Energy, said, "By harnessing a resource that is not commercially marketable, CSW Energy is able to provide a highly efficient source of steam and low-cost electric power."

The plant was designed and will be constructed by Nepco, Redmond, Wash. Completion is scheduled for first quarter 1998.