The basic design of the splitter package was completed in 2011 by
Linde Engineering,
with equipment procurement occurring between 2012 and 2013, based on
the detail
design by BARAN Engineering
The splitter package's function is to process raw propylene feed into
purified
propylene, with a concentration of 98.25%vol, suitable for use as a
feed in
polypropylene plants. The process package includes both pretreatment
and posttreatment
purification stages.
Designed to handle two grades of raw propylene simultaneously, namely
refinery
grade (75-77%) and chemical grade (90-92%), the process flow involves
predrying
the refinery grade propylene in molsieve (3A) dryers, followed by
stripping in a
column to remove light ends. The chemical grade propylene is fed
directly into the
splitter column due to its higher quality. The splitter column has two
different feed
trays to accommodate both feeds at their optimum point.
The column utilizes a heat pump design, employing a 3500 kW Atlas
Copco
turbocompressor to compress overhead gas, which is then sent into a
single reboiler.
Provision for twin reboilers is included for potential future
upgrades. Reflux pumps
are unnecessary in this design, as the reflux drum maintains a higher
pressure than
the distillation column.
Further purification of the propylene product occurs through a series
of regenerative
and non-regenerative treaters to eliminate components potentially
detrimental to
the polypropylene process. Regeneration systems for both refinery
grade raw
propylene (dryers) and regenerative propylene product treaters are
integrated into
the package.
All equipment involved in propylene processing is constructed using
lowtemperature
impact tested carbon steel to withstand flash temperatures as low
as
minus 47°C.
The nominal package design aims to process 10 tons/hr of chemical
grade propylene
and 18 tons/hr of refinery grade propylene. However, calculations are
made to
handle ultimate design feed rates of up to 14 tons/hr of chemical
grade propylene
and 23 tons/hr of refinery grade propylene. Minor upgrades, such as
installing a
second reboiler and replacing the rotor and motor for the overhead
compressor, are
required to achieve these ultimate feed rates.
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