Technical and Economic Study of Trays Collapse in Crude Distillation Column C1 at RA1K – Skikda Refinery
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Date
2026-06-24
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University 20 August 1955-SKIKDA
Abstract
This study focuses on a common problem in the distillation column C1 of the atmospheric
distillation unit at the Skikda refinery RA1K which is the trays collapse. This work analyzes the
various causes of trays collapse in the column C1, which range from operational, mechanical to
human factors. The analysis is supported by the Bow-tie method that integrates top event, causes,
consequences, preventative and protective barriers to avoid the problem and mitigate its impact.
Our work examines also the resulting economic consequences of the collapse at the unit level and
for the refinery as a whole including maintenance and repair costs and the decline in production of
the most valuable and in-demand petroleum products. The aim is to provide a comprehensive
overview combining technical and economic analysis to understand the phenomenon of trays
collapse and reduce its frequency.