High-capacity trays debottleneck Texas C{sub 3} splitter

Journal Article · Mon Nov 06 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Oil and Gas Journal

OSTI ID:122663

Summers, D R ^[1]; McGuire, P J; Resetarits, M R ^[2]; Graves, C E ^[3]; Harper, S E ^[4]; Angelino, S J ^[5]

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1. Stone and Webster Engineering Corp., Houston, TX (United States)
2. UOP, Tonawanda, NY (United States)
3. Chevron Chemical Co., Baytown, TX (United States)
4. Chevron Chemical Co., Kingwood, TX (United States)
5. Angelino (Salvatore J.), Tonawanda, NY (United States)

In 1992, Chevron Chemical Company placed 325 of UOP`s Enhanced Capacity Multiple Downcomer (ECMD) trays in its large C{sub 3} splitter at Port Arthur, Tex. The capacity of the splitter was increased by 40% /to about 124,000 lb/hr. Many times, engineers are faced with debottlenecking their fractionation trains. High-pressure and heavily liquid-loaded service is of particular interest because of the high capital cost to replace a vessel. This recently patented high-capacity tray enabled Chevron to revamp its fractionation tower, thus avoiding costly tower replacement. At Chevron`s Port Arthur, Tex., plant, the propylene/propane stream first flows through a multiple-bed treatment system to ensure high-purity product. The steam then proceeds to a large propylene/propane fractionation unit that produces hundreds of millions of pounds per year of polymer-grade propylene while utilizing mostly waste heat to keep operating costs low. The paper describes the ECMD trays, their development, commercialization, an design, the Chevron revamp start-up, and operation.

• OSTI ID: 122663
• Journal Information: Oil and Gas Journal, Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal Journal Issue: 45 Vol. 93; ISSN 0030-1388; ISSN OIGJAV
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
CAPACITY
DATA
DESIGN
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
MATERIALS RECOVERY
PERFORMANCE
PETROLEUM REFINERIES
PROPANE
PROPYLENE
SPECIFICATIONS
TEXAS
WASTE HEAT UTILIZATION