Steady State Modelling and Parametric Study of a Vapor Recompression Distillation Unit

Abstract

<p> Steady state heat and mass balancing around an ethylene/ethane distillation unit at Polymer Corporation, Sarnia is studied using the CHESS simulation executive system.</p> <p> The unit involves a single column with reboiler heat provided by recompression of the overhead vapor stream.</p> <p> A new column model is developed, based on the approximate pseudo-binary method of Hengstebeck, and is shown to give good results with marked savings in computation time over the conventional tray to tray methods. Models for vapor compression and heat exchange are also presented.</p> <p> The system model is fitted to plant data and a routine developed to obtain satisfactory system convergence.</p> <p> A parametric study is carried out in which column pressure and distillate product enthalpy are varied to demonstrate significant improvements in plant operation.</p> <p> An evaluation of the CHESS simulation system is presented.</p>