(583d) Towards a Systematic Process Intensification Framework for Advanced Distillation Systems

Towards
a Systematic Process Intensification Framework for Advanced Distillation Systems

Yuhe
Tian^a,b,c, M. Sam Mannan^a,b,c, and Efstratios N.
Pistikopoulos^a,b                                        

^a Artie McFerrin Department of
Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

^b Texas A&M Energy Institute,
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

^c Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety
Center, Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College
Station, TX

Process Intensification (PI) offers the potential to
drastically reduce the energy consumption and processing cost by utilizing
multifunctional phenomena at different time and spatial scales. Distillation, the
most widely utilized but highly energy-intensive separation technology,
accounts for over 40% of the energy used in the chemical process industry and
over 95% of that in separation industry [1]. Various advanced distillation
technologies (e.g., heat-integrated distillation, reactive distillation,
extractive distillation, and membrane distillation) have been developed based
on PI principles to maximize synergy effects and can achieve around 30% energy
savings [2]. Despite recent advances [3-6], systematic synthesis methods and
software prototypes to explore phenomena-based process optimization and
intensification for advanced distillation design are still lacking.

To address this challenge, in this work, we propose a
systematic process intensification and synthesis framework based on recent
extensions of the phenomenological Generalized Modular Representation Framework
[7-9]. Herein, distillation systems are represented as aggregated
multifunctional mass/heat exchange modules based on which intensification
possibilities can be revealed without a pre-postulation of equipment or
flowsheet configurations. Process driving forces, described by Gibbs free
energy changes, are optimized to enhance fundamental transport and reaction
performances. The derived intensified designs can then be analyzed by detailed
steady-state simulation and design optimization. The capabilities of the
proposed framework to deliver advanced distillation systems with improved
energy efficiency are demonstrated with three case studies: (i) heat-integrated
distillation, (ii) extractive distillation, and (iii) reactive distillation.
Extensions of the framework to include process safety and dynamic operability
assessment will also be discussed [10].

Reference

1. Kiss, A. A. (2014). Distillation
technology–still young and full of breakthrough opportunities. Journal
of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, 89(4), 479-498.

2. Olujić, Ž., Jödecke, M., Shilkin, A.,
Schuch, G., & Kaibel, B. (2009). Equipment improvement trends in
distillation. Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process
Intensification, 48(6), 1089-1104.

3. Tian, Y., Demirel, S. E., Hasan,
M. M. F., & Pistikopoulos, E. N. An Overview of Process Systems
Engineering Approaches for Process Intensification: State of the Art. Chemical
Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification, Submitted.

4. Tula, A. K., Babi, D. K., Bottlaender, J.,
Eden, M. R., & Gani, R. (2017). A computer-aided software-tool for
sustainable process synthesis-intensification. Computers & Chemical
Engineering, 105, 74-95.

5. Pichardo, P., & Manousiouthakis, V. I.
(2017). Infinite DimEnsionAl State-space as a systematic process
intensification tool: Energetic intensification of hydrogen production. Chemical
Engineering Research and Design, 120, 372-395.

6. Demirel, S. E., Li, J., & Hasan, M. F.
(2017). Systematic process intensification using building blocks. Computers
& Chemical Engineering, 105, 2-38.

7. Papalexandri, K. P., & Pistikopoulos, E.
N. (1996). Generalized modular representation framework for process
synthesis. AIChE Journal, 42(4), 1010-1032.

8. Ismail, S. R., Proios, P. and Pistikopoulos, E. N. 2001. Modular
synthesis framework for combined separation/reaction systems. AIChE Journal, 47(3), 629-649.

9. Proios, P., Goula, N. F., &
Pistikopoulos, E. N. (2005). Generalized modular framework for the synthesis of
heat integrated distillation column sequences. Chemical engineering
science, 60(17), 4678-4701.

10. SYNOPSIS – Synthesis of Operable Process
Intensification Systems. Awarded project [DOE RAPID Manufacturing Institute].