Remove Hydrogen from Methane, Ethylene and Ethane in Aspen HYSYS

Using Aspen HYSYS V8.0

Revised: November 26, 2012

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Objectives

Learn how to remove bulk of hydrogen using a flash drum in an ethylene plant. Learn how to configure an Adjust block. Learn how to configure a Spreadsheet.

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Background
In an ethylene plant, we have a feed stream containing hydrogen, methane, ethylene and ethane. Before this stream can be fed to the demethanizer, hydrogen must be removed so the volumetric flow is less, which decreases the required size for the demethanizer column. Because hydrogen has a much higher vapor pressure than that of the other components, one or more flash drums can be used for hydrogen removal.

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Key Teaching Points

Although hydrogen only accounts for about 10% of the feed stream on the mass basis, it accounts for over 51% of the feed on the mole basis. In a vapor phase, the volume fraction of a component is more proportional to its mole fraction than its mass fraction. The vapor pressure of hydrogen is much higher (6,600 times higher than that of methane at -150 C) than that of the other components. Therefore, it is possible to use one or more flash drums to remove the bulk of the hydrogen. An Adjust block can be used to identify the right operating condition (heat duty for this case) so that the process specifications are satisfied. A Spreadsheet can be used to perform custom calculations.
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Recommended Further Exercises

A soda can contains CO2 and water only. At 2.75 bar and the room temperature (25 C), what is the vapor and liquid compositions in the can?

Note: 1. Use the Electrolyte Wizard to generate Chemistry and define Henry components and property methods. 2. Example Dist-005_Reactive_Distillation contains steps showing how to use the Electrolyte Wizard.

2012 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved

Copyright
Copyright 2012 by Aspen Technology, Inc. (AspenTech). All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of AspenTech. ASPENTECH MAKES NO WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THIS WORK and assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. In no event will AspenTech be liable to you for damages, including any loss of profits, lost savings, or other incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of the information contained in, or the digital files supplied with or for use with, this work. This work and its contents are provided for educational purposes only. AspenTech, aspenONE, and the Aspen leaf logo, are trademarks of Aspen Technology, Inc.. Brands and product names mentioned in this documentation are trademarks or service marks of their respective companies.

2012 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved