HVO pretreatment systems
Increasing demand for hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) calls for proven, reliable processes. Renewable fuel producers can rely on comprehensive Alfa Laval HVO pretreatment systems to produce renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuels from a wide range of fats and oils, including recycled animal fat and used cooking oils. Our automated HVO pretreatment systems produce feedstock free from impurities and adjust free fatty acids for conversion into renewable hydrocarbon transportation fuels.
Boost the quality and yield of hydrotreated vegetable oil biofuels
- Flexible, automated pretreatment systems for continuous handling high volumes of multiple feedstocks
- High yields of high-quality pretreated fats and oils
- Vast experience in energy-efficient and robust processing for the edible oil and the petroleum refining industries
- Leading technologies for waste water treatment and water recycling
- Global service network with local presence
Producing high-quality biofuels requires know-how. Alfa Laval has a deep understanding of hydroprocessing oils and fats into renewable fuels based on extensive experience with pretreatment systems for edible oil and petroleum refining.
To meet blending mandates and environmental legislation for low-carbon fuels, Alfa Laval helps optimize hydrotreated vegetable oil pretreatment systems, prolonging the lifespan of the hydrotreating catalyst to fit the HVO licensors and refiners turn-around cycle times. No matter the feedstock type or quality, Alfa Laval hydrotreated vegetable oil pretreatment systems can reduce the content of phosphorous, trace metals, chlorides, polyethylene and other impurities or adjust acidity through conditioning, degumming, adsorption and deacidification (if required).
Based on proven edible oil refining and petroleum refining technologies, these reliable hydrotreated vegetable oil pretreatment systems from Alfa Laval optimize stand-alone facilities for HVO production as well as oil refineries converted into HVO production facilities. All backed by our global service network with a local presence.
Renewable fuels production
Find out how smart design choices can help improve sustainability and profitability in plants producing renewable diesel.
How it works
How the HVO pretreatment process for biofuels works
Pretreatment begins with carefully engineered steps to prepare raw feedstocks such as used oils and fats. Alfa Laval HVO pretreatment systems combine advanced separation, heat exchange, and purification technologies to eliminate impurities and ensure HVO biofuel feedstocks meet the strict purity standards required for the production of biodiesel from vegetable oil and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Physical vs. chemical refining for HVO
Alfa Laval HVO biofuel pretreatment systems support both physical and chemical refining processes. For HVO, physical refining is preferred, using special degumming and/or enzymatic degumming, adsorption, and, when required, deacidification. Chemical refining is primarily used in biodiesel (FAME) pretreatment, where Alfa Laval also has extensive experience.
Removing phosphorous and trace metals
Feedstocks, such as tallow, soy, rapeseed, distillers corn oil, recycled animal fats, and used cooking oils, undergo acid degumming (citric or phosphoric), followed by washing and adsorption using bleaching clays. Alfa Laval process design based on separators, specially engineered equipment and plate heat exchangers ensure effective impurity removal with high energy efficiency.
Removing chlorides during HVO pretreatment
Chlorides, if present, are removed early through water washing, then processed using Alfa Laval separators and plate heat exchangers. This critical step protects downstream equipment and ensures reliable HVO biofuel production.
Eliminating polyethylene impurities in feedstocks
Certain feedstocks, such as some tallow grades, may contain polyethylene impurities. Customized Alfa Laval HVO pretreatment systems remove these through crystallization and filtration, enabling the processing of more challenging feedstocks in accordance with HVO purification standards.
Fatty acid management in HVO feedstock
Excessive fatty acid content can cause corrosion issues in hydroprocessing plants if the metallurgy is not compatible. Risks are mitigated through feedstock blending or steam stripping under vacuum conditions. An Alfa Laval Aalborg High Pressure Natural Circulation (HPNC) boiler, welded and gasketed plate heat exchangers, and stripping column provide efficient fatty acid removal.
Key components used in the HVO pretreatment systems
Key products
Applications
Service
Food system services
Alfa Laval Food system services help extend the performance of your food systems by maximizing the performance of your processes. This enables you to:
- Continually improve your operations to maintain competitive advantage
- Focus on uptime, optimization and availability
- Maximize return on investment throughout the life cycle of your food systems
Learn more about our service offer for food systems
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Q&As about HVO (RD) pretreatment systems
Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) here.
