Comparison of BERC Re-Refining Process with Acid/Clay/Distillation Process

摘要

This report compares the economics of acid/clay re-refining with the economics of the BERC solvent re-refining process. The costs of re-refining using the BERC process have been studied in a previous report entitled ''Predesign Cost Estimate for Re-refined Lube Oil Plant'' prepared for the Bartlesville Energy Research Center. Many of the basic assumptions such as plant size, unit capacities, etc. used in that report have been used in this document. Part I of this report compares both technologies with vacuum distillation as is anticipated with the BERC process. The cost of processing a gallon of re-refined oil with acid/clay/distillation technology was found to be 48.7 cents per gallon compared to 40.1 cents per gallon using the BERC solvent/distillation process. Part II of the report compares acid/clay technology as is now commonly used with the BERC solvent system, without using vacuum distillation for either re-refining scheme. Cost for processing a gallon of oil using acid/clay without vacuum distillation was found to be 45.8 cents per gallon compared to 37.9 cents per gallon for the BERC solvent system without vacuum distillation. It should be noted that the BERC process is less expensive than either acid/clay process. (ERA citation 03:016683)