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Dme Project

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15 views4 pages

Dme Project

aspen plus projects

Uploaded by

bader291
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Design Project

Production of Dimethyl Ether

Simulate the following process using Aspen Plus

Process Description

Figure 1 is a preliminary process flow diagram (PFD) for the dimethyl ether production
process. The raw material is methanol, which may be assumed to be pure. The feed plus recycle
is pumped in P-201; heated, vaporized, and superheated in a heat exchanger (E-201); and then
sent to the reactor (R-201) in which dimethyl ether (DME) is formed. The reaction that occurs
is shown below. The reactor effluent is cooled and partially condensed in a heat exchanger (E-
202), and it is then sent to the separation section. In T-201, “pure” DME is produced in the top
stream (distillate), with methanol and water in the bottom stream (bottoms). In T-202, the
distillate contains methanol for recycle, and the bottoms contains waste water. The desired
dimethyl ether production rate is 100,000 tonne/y.

Process Details

Feed Stream

Stream 1: methanol, from storage tank at 1 atm and 25°C, may be assumed pure

Effluent Streams

Stream 7: dimethyl ether product, required 100,000 tonne/y, may be assumed pure

Stream 10: waste water stream, may be assumed pure in material balance calculations, is
not pure, so there is a cost for its treatment

Equipment

Pump (P-201)

The pump increases the pressure of the feed plus recycle to a minimum of 15 bar.

Heat Exchanger (E-201):

This unit heats, vaporizes, and superheats the feed to 250°C at 15 bar. The source of
energy for heating must be above 250°C.
2
Reactor (R-201):

The following reaction occurs:

(1)

The reaction is equilibrium limited. The conversion is 80% of the equilibrium


conversion at the pressure and exit temperature of the reactor. Based on the catalyst and
reaction kinetics, the reactor must operate at a minimum of 15 bar. The reactor operates
adiabatically, and, since the reaction is exothermic, the reactor effluent temperature will
be above 250°C.

Heat Exchanger (E-202):

This unit cools and condenses the reactor effluent to 80 oC. The valve before this heat
exchanger reduces the pressure to 10 bar. it must be identical to the pressure at which T-
201 operates.

Distillation Column (T-201):

This distillation column separates DME from methanol and water. DME is produced in
the distillate. The temperature of the distillate is the temperature at which DME
condenses at the chosen column pressure (10 bar).

Distillation Column (T-202):

This distillation column separates methanol for recycle from water. The valve before T-
202 is needed to reduce the pressure to 1 atm. If the pressures are the same, the valve
can be eliminated. If you desire a higher pressure in T-202, you must add a pump in
place of the valve.

Other Equipment:

For two or more streams to mix, they must be at identical pressures. Pressure reduction
may be accomplished by adding a valve. All of these valves are not necessarily shown
on the attached flowsheet, and it may be assumed that additional valves can be added as
needed at no cost. Flow occurs from higher pressure to lower pressure. Pumps increase
the pressure of liquid streams, and compressors increase the pressure of gas streams.

Utility Costs

Low-Pressure Steam (446 kPa, saturated) $5.00/1000 kg

Medium-Pressure Steam (1135 kPa, saturated) $7.31/1000 kg


High-Pressure Steam (4237 kPa, saturated) $8.65/1000 kg

Natural Gas or Fuel Gas (446 kPa, 25°C) $3.00/GJ

Electricity $0.05/kW h

Boiler Feed Water (at 549 kPa, 90°C) $2.54/1000 kg

Cooling Water $0.16/GJ


available at 516 kPa and 30°C
return pressure ³ 308 kPa
return temperature should be no more than 15°C above the inlet temperature

Refrigerated Water $1.60/GJ


available at 516 kPa and 10°C
return pressure ³ 308 kPa
return temperature is no higher than 20°C

Process Water $0.04/1000 kg


available at 300 kPa and 25°C

Waste Water Treatment $50/1000 m3

You should assume that a year equals 8000 hours. This is about 330 days, which allows for
periodic shut-down and maintenance.

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