(193a) Risk of Runaway in Backend Acetylene Converters
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
2020
2020 Virtual Spring Meeting and 16th GCPS
The 32nd Ethylene Producers Conference
Tutorial on Hydrogenation Reactors in Olefins Plants I
Friday, August 21, 2020 - 11:00am to 11:30am
In the âTail Endâ process configuration the cracked gas light ends are removed downstream of the cold box and acetylene hydrogenation is completed at the De-ethanizer overhead. The C2 fraction is combined with hydrogen upstream of the Acetylene Converter in stoichiometric H2/Ac molar ratio control. This controlled addition of hydrogen to the reactor limits the extent of the hydrogenation reaction making a thermal runway reaction rare in âTail Endâ operations. Nevertheless, runaway reactions have been observed in âTail-endâ processes when process design shortfall, mechanical failure or gross operational error have occurred. In such cases, uncontrolled hydrogen addition resulted in exothermic runway events.
âTail Endâ operating units are still the predominant process for Ethylene production and a viable option for new ethylene units under construction design. It is therefore important to review the risk of run-away in these units. In this session we will review the fundamentals of âTail Endâ acetylene hydrogenation, weigh potential causes of thermal runway in such units, share industrial experience of a runway event and present best practices to mitigate risk of run-away.
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Individuals
2020 Virtual Spring Meeting and 16th GCPS
AIChE Pro Members | $150.00 |
Employees of CCPS Member Companies | $150.00 |
AIChE Graduate Student Members | Free |
AIChE Undergraduate Student Members | Free |
AIChE Explorer Members | $225.00 |
Non-Members | $225.00 |
The 32nd Ethylene Producers Conference only
AIChE Pro Members | $100.00 |
Fuels and Petrochemicals Division Members | Free |
AIChE Graduate Student Members | Free |
AIChE Undergraduate Student Members | Free |
AIChE Explorer Members | $150.00 |
Non-Members | $150.00 |