Kolmetz.Com is a chemical engineering web site that publishes technical articles on distillation, process optimization, operations training, personal improvement, process unit safety and environmental concerns.
Engineering and Equipment Design Guidelines
Operations Training and Training Course Materials
“DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR PROPYLENE
SPLITTERS”
By
Timothy M. Zygula
BASF Corp
Port Arthur, TX
Karl Kolmetz
KLM Technology Group
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Prepared for Presentation at the 2011 Spring National Meeting
Chicago, Illinois, March 14-17, 2011
Introduction:
The Chemical Processing Industry has been continually pushing the capacity envelope of new and existing distillation columns. While increasing the capacity of existing columns is not unusual, great care needs to be taken when a revamp is being considered. There is a fine line between success and failure when a column is designed at or near the upper end of the capacity envelope.
The authors will detail the methodology used when designing a new or considering a capacity increase for an existing propylene splitter. This paper will discuss design aspects that need to be considered when designing a propylene splitter. The authors will also present a generic case study of a propylene splitter revamp.
Some of the topics that will be covered by the authors are:
1. Process simulation of a propylene splitter – proper simulation techniques
2. From the simulation to the field – tray efficiencies
3. Utilizing a process simulation to develop column hydraulics
4. The types of internals that have been used in propylene splitter columns
5. Design considerations that need to be addressed when considering a revamp.
Table of Contents Page
1. Introduction 3
2. General Design of a Distillation Column 4
3. Design of a Propylene Splitter 4
4. Process Simulation of a Propylene Splitter 6
Proper Simulation Techniques
5. High Pressure Distillation Tray / Column Design 9
6. Simulation Accuracy 9
7. Column Sizing 10
8. Column Internals Design 12
9. Design Case 15
10 Design considerations that need to be addressed when 16
considering a grass roots or revamped column
11 Conclusions 18
Please review purchasing guidelines for complete paper