ABB, a leader in power and automation technologies with a substantial presence in Saudi Arabia, has developed a new refining process to produce ultra low sulphur diesel, called the CC Deep HDS process.

The process utilises countercurrent reactor technology commercially proven by Lummus to provide significant cost savings for refiners looking to produce ultra low sulphur diesel (ULSD).
The CC Deep HDS process is particularly advantageous to refiners looking to revamp existing diesel hydrotreating units to achieve ultra low sulphur specifications. Depending upon the plant, refiners can expect to reduce revamp construction costs by more than 30 per cent over current open art solutions, drastically reduce turnaround time needed for the revamp, and lower overall construction cost risks.
In many cases, the CC Deep HDS process will allow refiners to revamp older units rather than build new units.
Moreover, the CC Deep HDS process will give refiners the flexibility to process more difficult feedstocks such as cracked stocks or high endpoint material and still achieve the ultra low sulphur specifications required in the future.
Operating costs, including catalyst costs, are significantly lower than those of other hydroprocessing solutions. The process utilises the most active, latest generation SynCat catalysts from Criterion Catalysts & Technologies L.P.
ABB Lummus Global is part of ABB's Oil, Gas and Petrochemicals Division that focuses on systems, products and services for oil and gas exploration and development, refineries and petrochemical plants worldwide.
The division employs approximately 13,000 people. ABB is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact.
The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries, employs about 133,000 people, and has a proven history of support for Saudi Arabia.
It recently announced it had been awarded a turnkey contract worth $90 million to install Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) technology in the Kingdom.
The installation will improve the transmission capability of a 380 kilovolt (kV) power transmission corridor by 80 per cent, preventing power shortages in the Riyadh area during summer peaks and eliminating the need to build costly new transmission lines or power generation facilities.
``With FACTS, more power can reach consumers at lower investment costs and with a minimal impact on the environment,'' said Peter Smits, head of ABB's Power Technologies division. ``This high-end power technology enhances the security, capacity and flexibility of existing power transmission systems.''
ABB will design, manufacture, install and commission four series compensation units in the existing transmission corridor between the Eastern and Central regions of the Saudi Electricity Commission (SEC) grid. Series compensation is part of FACTS technology and enables grid owners to increase capacity while maintaining or improving grid stability.
ABB's system is the first series compensation technology to be used in Saudi Arabia. ABB leads the growing field of FACTS, with 40 contracts worth more than $600 million in the past three years. ABB will also expand a 230 kV substation, install a 300 km long, high speed fibre optic telecommunication link, and build an auxiliary power feeder and associated equipment.