1. Aromatics Unit Revamp Kenning Engineering Dr. Leon Fan PhD.
Seymour TX USA
(940)

2. Reduce Energy Consumption
Aim & Guidelines
Reduce Energy Consumption
Minimize field work
Internals only
No change to vessel

3. Units Revamped
Aromatics Extraction Unit
PX Separation Unit

4. Aromatics Extraction Process Flowsheet
NA reflux to Extractor
Condensing water to Na wash column
Aromatics (benzene, toluene) to benzene column
Raffinate oil after sulfolane removal
Sulfolane
Washing water
NA Raffinate oil
Extractor Feed
Water
Rich Liquid
Rich Liquid
Solvent to Extractor
Extractor
NA Wash Column
Stripper
Solvent Recovery Column
NA=Non Aromatics

5. Revamp of Aromatics Extraction Unit
Aromatics Extractor

6. Tower Layout (before revamp)

7. Tower Layout (after revamp)

8. Strategy Design pipe distributor for Heavy Phase
Design pipe distributor for Light Phase
Remove column top baffle
Increase number of trays
Redesign Extractor trace

9. Heavy Phase Distributor (before revamp)

10. Heavy Phase Distributor (after revamp)

11. Light Phase Distributor Fresh solvent feed (before revamp)

12. Light Phase Distributor (after revamp)

13. Insert Extra Tray Extra tray Space around feed nozzle before revamp
Space around feed nozzle after revamp

14. Column Top Baffle Removed

15. Existing Extractor Tray Layout

16. Tray Modification Tray thickness changed Up-comer height modified
Open area adjusted

17. Performance Improvement after Revamp (Extractor (14-C-011)
Operating conditions
Units
Before
Target
After
Top Pressure
Mpa(g)
0.157
Top temperature ⁰C 88 86
Bottom temperature 65 61
Feed rate
t/h
30.4 38
37.5
Solvent ratio
3.2
2.6
2.3
NA reflux Rate
11.5
10.6

18. Quality and Calibration data of Intermediate product
(From Zhenhai, Sinopec Group, China in 2007)
Name
Unit
Design value(Protocol value)
Calibration value
27日8:00
28日8:00
29日8:00
Purity of Extracted Aromatics
wt%
≮99.85
99.86
99.83
99.84
Content of Sulfolane in Extracted Aromatics
mg/kg ≯1 ＜1 1
Purity of NA
≮99
99.85
99.92
99.95

19. Design and Calibration data for yield of Benzene、Tolune and recovery rate of Aromatics
(From Zhenhai, Sinopec Group, China in 2007)
Name
Unit
Design value
Protocol value
Calibration value
11月27日
11月28日
11月29日
Average value
Recovery rate of Benzene
wt%
99.9
99.5
100.00
Recovery rate of Tolune
99.97
99.98
Yield of Benzene and Tolune
To Extractor Feed
66.81
58.05
58.68
58.09
58.27

20. Conclusion Target for energy consumption achieved
No changes to any vessel
Field work objectives reached