(140a) A Debottlenecking Study for a Dehydration Column

This study presents a case study of the debottlenecking of a distillation column used in the dehydration of a process stream. Due to recent developments on the process, limitations on the water stripping performance arose. Therefore, a debottlenecking study was conducted to alleviate the load on the distillation column, allow improved capacity and prevent the operation under the flooding regime. A thorough investigation of the system’s hysteresis and operating conditions (flow rates, temperatures, pressures, compositions, etc.) was carried out. This showed, for instance, an increase in the pressure drop across the column height. An ASPEN Plus^®* model was developed, validated and utilized to identify the associated bottlenecks, their interactions and their impact on the performance of the water removal column. A set of recommendations with respect to the design and operating parameters including adjustments to the feed temperature are presented to showcase the potential solutions of the problem. 

* ASPEN Plus is a trademark of AspenTech.