Solutions for Problem Sheet 1

1.

Tables bellow provide useful information for preliminary economic analysis.

Let us take reaction path 3 as an example for detailed calculation of gross profit analysis.

Using similar procedures, gross profit for reaction paths 1, 2, 4 and 5 can also be calculated and the results are summarised in the table bellow.

It is obvious from the table that reaction path 2 is not economical because of the high price of acetylene and can therefore be eliminated. Reaction paths 1 and 3 give the same result because the net reaction is the same in both cases. The literature makes it clear, however, that when chlorine and ethylene react, the product is almost entirely 1,2-dichloroetahne and not vinyl chloride. Thus reaction path 3 is chemically feasible, but reaction path 2 is not and can also be eliminated. Reaction paths 4 and 5 show economic potential although apparently less than indicated for reaction path 3. A major factor that makes reaction path 3 appears attractive is the high price of the byproduct HCl coupled with the low price of Cl2. Because HCl is a raw material in reaction path 4, its high price greatly affects the overall attractiveness of this path. Reaction path 5, which neither uses nor produces HCl, falls between reactions paths 3 and 4 in apparent economic potential. Since the relative prices of HCl and Cl2 profoundly affect the economics of reaction paths 3 and 5, these two reaction paths should be examined closely. If there is a large market for hydrogen chloride and this byproduct from reaction path 3 is saleable, reaction path 3 is the most attractive one. If HCl cannot be sold, hence reaction path 5 is more promising.

2. The block diagram of main equipments of this process is

If we want to have more representative block diagram including heat exchangers, diagram bellow will be more qualitatively informative.