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Olakunle, M. S.
Department of Chemical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
Adefila, S. S.
Engineering and Environmental Management Services Limited, Suite 5, ZM Plaza, Ahmadu Bello Way, Garki II, Abuja, Nigeria
Olawale, A. S.
Department of Chemical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
An
approach based on thermodynamic analysis was proposed in this work to assess
and improve the efficiency of a debutanizer column. The approach is hinged on
the application of exergy analysis, which is becoming readily available for a
converged distillation column simulation. Temperature-enthalpy curves and
exergy loss profiles obtained from Aspen Plus were used to assess the
performance of the debutanizer and suggest suitable modification for
improvement in the column’s efficiency. The debutanizer operates with 32
stages, a feed preheater, top condenser and bottom reboiler. An assessment of
the converged base case simulation indicated the need for more efficient
operations. The improvements achieved is to utilize an inter-reboiler
arrangement that withdraws liquid from stage 26, heats it up to about 50%
vapor, and returns it to stage 29. The range of reduction in the total exergy
losses is 12 to 21%. The thermodynamic efficiency for this retrofit is 66% as
compared to the base case value of 58%.
Keywords: Exergy, Inter-reboiler, Retrofit, Debutanizer, Modification
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Published
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Issue
Vol. 2 No. 2, DEC 2016
Article Section
GENERAL
The contents of the articles are the sole opinion of the author(s) and not of UJET.
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