Dehydration Column History: Operation and Fouling Problems Maria Molina CEPSA4998 AKZO-AAT METHYLAMINES SEMINAR Slide N°1: Summary of items Slide N°2: Current situation vs. future situation Dehydration Column (E-103) bottoms are currently trough away through Wastewater Treatment Plant, besides, condensate is used as extraction water in TMA Column (E- 402) ERTISA plans to recover part of the Dehydration Column bottoms as extract water. This project brings the need of deeply study operation problems in order to avoid the extension of these problems to TMA Column. Slide N°3: Corrosion problems Since 1985 corrosion has been detected in the upper part of the column. Both CS A- 285-C and SS AISI-314 are severely corroded while AISI-321 (trays) is intact. In 1985 most severe corrosion appeared between tray n°7 and tray n°15. As the time went by and specifications for pure product were tighter the corrosion band dropped. Thus, in 1995 most severe corrosion was observed between tray n°14 and tray n°20. Corrosion always appeared over the feed tray. Finally, in 1997 the entire column over the feed tray had to be replaced. Slide N°4 to N°9: Dirt problems Dirt problems in the column seem to be caused by two different issues: corrosion residue and catalyst debris. During the last catalyst charge Dehydration Column presented severe fooling problems. This charge of catalyst had been very much longer used than design prescriptions and the reactor temperatures had been 430°C and reached 440°C. It is believed that there is a relationship between this catalyst overuse and Dehydration Column fooling problems. Slide N°5: Description of problems in E-103, actions taken Slide N°6: Analysis results, increasing AP in reactor Slide N°7: Conclusions Slide N°8-9: Operating conditions before and after cleaning, opening points for cleaning Slide N°10: Actions to take to implement Dehydration Column bottoms recovery Dehydration Column History: Operation And Fouling Problems Maria MolinaSUOISNJOUOD - ysfjeye9 uadsuaAo pue UOISO1109 Jo BDUaNbasuoOd e se sWa|qoud YI - $Wa|qoid UOISOII09 - uoHenys ainjny SA UOHeNpS JUALIN - usd255&