(32b) Design & Optimization of Cumene Plant Using Aspen Plus Platform

Isopropyl benzene popularly known as Cumene is gaining a lot importance nowadays. Cumene is the major chemical used in the manufacturing of phenol and its co-product acetone on the industrial scale. It is also among the preliminary material in the production of acetophenone, methyl styrene, di-isopropyl benzene and di-cumyl peroxide. To make the process more efficient it needs to be studied and to optimize it for the increase in the cost efficiency of the process. With the advent of computers and the simulating software like ASPEN PLUS it is possible to design and optimize a particular process. The proper designing of a process can significantly reduce production cost as well as help in making the process secure and in reduction in the environmental hazards.

In the present study, a thorough study of the process is done to understand the various parameters and reagents utilized in the process. It is found that the cost of materials used is much higher than the cost of energy needed for the process. Steady state simulation using ASPEN Plus platform is done. Considering each unit individually in a sequential manner, the parameters are optimized. The reactor system is optimized using an equilibrium based approach suggesting for the operating temperature to be 360°C and Benzene and Propylene to be in 6:1 ratio in the feed. The distillation columns were optimized and the optimized number of trays for benzene column was found to be 8 and that for cumene column to be 10 while the reflux ratios were found to be 0.5 and 0.8 respectively for the columns. The optimized temperature for flashing was identified as 92.5°C.