(121c) Using Distributed Feed to Assess Potential Commercial Gains Realisable in an Atmospheric Crude Distillation Unit

Abstract
Distillation is an energy intensive process which consumes an estimated 3% of the world’s energy (Masoumi & Kadkhodaie, 2012). The ever increasing interest in environmental issues and dwindling energy resources has impelled engineers in the petrochemical and allied industries to synthesise innovative low-cost distillation designs that are energy efficient. One such model which has been proposed and shown to have great promise for non-sharp split separations is utilisation of multiple feeds (Beneke et al., 2012). The objective of this investigation was to assess the potential commercial gains with regard to energy savings and capital expenditure achievable through use of distributed feed in an Atmospheric Crude Distillation Unit (ACDU). Prior to applying distributed feed to an Aspen Plus simulated ACDU, the method was initially tested on a three component ideal mixture of pentane heptane and hexane under the supposition that it would behave in the same manner as the synthetic crude feed. Column Profile Maps (CPM) in conjunction with Aspen Plus was used to synthesise and check for the effectiveness of the technique. The same concept was then advanced to the ACDU taking in a synthetic crude feed in an Aspen Plus environment. The results showed that, there was major potential to reduce the overall energy consumption of the ACDU. There were energy savings realized in the condenser as well as the furnace duties of up to 30% and with it the potential to reduce the said equipment size, thus both operating expenses and capital expenditure could be minimized.
References
1. Beneke, D., Peters, M., Hildebrandt, D. & Glasser, D., 2013. Understanding Distillation Using Column Profile Maps. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
2. Masoumi, M. E., Kadkhodaie, S., 2012. Optimization of Energy Consumption in Sequential Distillation Column. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, 61, pp.576-80