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HDA Simulation PDF
HDA Simulation PDF
HDA Simulation PDF
Instructor Incharge
Abhishek Y8013
Introduction
Hydrodealkylation of Toluene process involves the conversion of toluene to the more valuable
benzene product, with methane and diphenyl as the byproducts. A production rate of 265
lbmol/hr of benzene at 99.99% purity was assumed.
For the HDA process, the basic input-output structure with recycle streams can be developed
as
Subsequent to the input-output structure, Douglas [1] continued with the stages in the design
procedure in and arrived at the flowsheet shown below. This flowsheet was re-simulated and
evaluated in this project.
Work Done in Aspen
Input Data
Heavy Key Component Benzene - 0.0001
Light Key Component Methane - 0.9999
Top Stage Pressure (psi) 150
Bottom stage pressure 160 (psi)
Reflux Ratio 1.75*Rmin
Analysis of Output
Here we can see that separation is very easy so reflux ratio is low. Other thing in this we
can see that condenser temperature is 11oF. This is because we recovering almost all benzene
in bottom.
Input Data
Heavy Key Component Toluene 0.004
Light Key Component Methane 0.999
Top Stage Pressure 120 (psi)
Bottom stage pressure 140 (psi)
Reflux Ratio 1.75*Rmin
Analysis of Output
This is our product column so quality control is quite desirable. Here we can see actual
no. of stages is 32.98 so we will use distillation column with 33 stages and location of feed tray
would be 13 (Above Stage). Since the separation of benzene and toluene is not that easy as in
first column, so reasonable good amount of reflux ratio is needed. In the current case reflux
ratio 3.87 is used.
3. Recycle Column:
Bottom of product column essentially contains toluene with little quantity of biphenyl.
Removal of biphenyl is necessary otherwise it will accumulate in the process so this column
separates biphenyl and recycles back toluene. There is sufficient difference in boiling point
temperature of toluene and biphenyl, one is C7 compound and other is C12 compound so the
separation is a very easy separation. So, the column should be operated at reasonably low
pressure. In current scenario this column is being operated at 110 psi.
Input Data
Heavy Key Component Diphenyl : 0.00005
Light Key Component Toluene : 0.999
Top Stage Pressure 110 (psi)
Bottom stage pressure 120 (psi)
Reflux Ratio 1.75*Rmin
Analysis of Output
Three is large difference in boiling point of toluene and diphenyl, one is C6 aromatic and
other is C12 aromatic. So this is a quite easy separation and low value of reflux ratio 0.2123
would be able to remove all the diphenyl .
Sensitivity Analysis
1. Column 1 (Stabilizer Column)
To judge the purity of distillate we will observe the mole fraction of benzene vs. reflux
ratio and mole fraction of methane vs. reflux ratio.
Analysis
Here in above plots we can see that benzene is major impurity in distillate so we will try to
minimize the mole faction of benzene in distillate while maximize the mole fraction of
methane. In last
two plot it can be seen that optimum value of D:F is around 0.04 and first plot tells the
optimum reflux
ratio around 0.14.
REFERENCES
Douglas, J.M., Conceptual Design of Chemical Processes, New York: McGraw-Hill (1988).
Lim Kuan Howe1, Dennis1, N.V.S.N. Murthy Konda1 and G.P Rangaiah1 , Synthesis and
Design of Chemical Processes, Journal of the Institution of Engineers (2005)
ASPEN PLUS 12.1 Instructional Tutorials, Matthew Bernards and Ren Overney, 2004.