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Optimization of Vinyl Chloride Monomer(VCM)

production using ASPEN PLUS
Conference Paper December 2012
DOI: 10.13140/2.1.4068.4320

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4 authors, including:
Utkarsh Maheshwari

Amritendu Ghosh

Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pi

The Supreme Industries Ltd

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Retrieved on: 29 July 2016

Proceedings of 65th Annual Session of Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers

CHEMCON - 2012
International Conference on Sustainable Technologies for Energy and Environment in Process Industries
and Indo-US Joint International Conference on Energy and Environment
P-350
Optimization of Vinyl Chloride Monomer(VCM) production using ASPEN PLUS
Utkarsh Maheshwari*1, Saket A.Ingle2, Amritendu Ghosh2 and Manjunath S. Patil2
1
Lecturer; 2Student,
Department of Chemical Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Science,
Pilani-333 031, Rajasthan, India.
*Corresponding author email: utkarsh@bits-pilani.ac.in
Abstract:
Vinyl chloride is an organo-chloride with the formula H2C:CHCl. It is also called as Vinyl Chloride monomer (VCM) or
chloroethene. This colorless compound is an important industrial chemical chiefly used to produce the polymer Poly-Vinyl
Chloride (PVC). At ambient pressure and temperature, vinyl chloride is a gas with sickly sweet odor. It is highly toxic,
flammable and carcinogenic in nature.
VCM is used almost exclusively for the manufacture of polymers, primarily poly vinyl chloride and other co-polymers.
Occupational exposure of VCM is dependent upon the conditions under which VCM is used. VCM is normally manufactured
in closed systems. Using a closed process reduces environmental releases and lowers worker exposure to VCM. VCM is
extremely flammable and vapors may cause flash fire. Because it is often stored under pressure, contact during
depressurization may cause frostbite. Vapors may travel a long distance and all ignition sources should be removed.
The process for the production of VCM is simulated using ASPEN PLUS. Further in the present study various parameters are
optimized. The HCl column is optimized for 10 number of stages. The condensor and reboiler of the HCl column is optimized
at 20 and 22 atm pressure respectively. The VCM column is optimized for 10 number of stages. The condensor and reboiler of
the VCM column is optimized for 7.5 and 6 atm pressure respectively.
Keywords: Vinyl chloride, Poly-vinyl chloride, simulation, optimization, Aspen plus

Organized by
IIChE Doaba Regional Centre and Department of Chemical Engineering
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar-144011, Punjab (INDIA)