Ethylene fractionator revamp results in 25% capacity increase

Journal Article · Mon Aug 10 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Oil and Gas Journal; (United States)

OSTI ID:7112850

Summers, D R ^[1]; Coleman, S T ^[2]; Venner, R M ^[3]

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1. UOP, Tonawanda, NY (US)
2. Lyondell Petrochemical Co., Channelview, TX (US)
3. ABB Lummus Crest Inc., Houston, TX (US)

Lyondell Petrochemical Co. and ABB Lummus Crest Inc. studied the revamp potential of Lyondell's two Channelview, Tex., olefins plants, setting a target ethylene capacity increase of 20%. The target was exceeded, with each plant capable of producing 800,000 metric tons/year of polymer-grade ethylene. This represents an increase of more than 35%, compared to the original nameplate capacity. This paper reports that the following modifications of the ethylene fractionation system resulted in a 25% capacity increase without adding a parallel splitter: The flow scheme was modified for capacity increase via improved energy efficiency; UOP High Flux tubing was retrofitted to the condensers; The operating pressure and reflux rate were lowered; Valve trays were replaced with UOP Multiple Downcomer trays (also marketed as MD trays); A new side reboiler was added.

• OSTI ID: 7112850
• Journal Information: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States) Vol. 90:32; ISSN OIGJA; ISSN 0030-1388
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020400 -- Petroleum-- Processing
020500* -- Petroleum-- Products & By-Products
ALKANES
ALKENES
BY-PRODUCTS
CHEMICAL PLANTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ETHYLENE
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTIONATION
FUELS
HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROCHEMICAL PLANTS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM FRACTIONS
POLYMERS
PRODUCTIVITY
SEPARATION PROCESSES