(156e) Troubleshooting Cryogenic Distillation Columns

Shortfalls in observed column separation efficiency and the resulting troubleshootings are a topic that the distillation community is often confronted with. For cryogenic separations, however, there is an added layer of difficulty due to the insulation filled boxes (Coldbox) surrounding the columns, as the options for corrective measures are either limited or come at a higher cost. Further, even small deviations from the design specification can have notable impact on column performance. The necessity to push boundaries of technology, save transportation costs and reduce site work in high-cost countries leads to more shop packed columns and challenging shipping to site. Shop installation can improve quality, but in some cases, there may be a few learnings that are both difficult to discover and even more so to rectify.

This presentation outlines some of the lessons for Linde air separation columns including potential fabrication issues, alignment difficulties and long-distance road shipping. The journey from learning there is a shortfall, diagnosing the potential location that needs remediation, methods to access the columns, the extent of exploration and repair and the overall results will be presented.