Assignment

Subject Chemical Engineering Plant Design

Class Chemical Engineering (7th Semester)

Reg# 2016-CH-413

Submitted To: Dr. Azam Saeed

Submitted By: Muhammad Shehroz Anjum

University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore

 Problem#1:
A process for preparing acetaldehyde is by direct oxidation of ethylene. (This
process is described in Prob. 8 of Chap. 2.) Completely analyze the various
factor which should be considered in choosing a plant site for this process. With
this information, outline possible geographical locations for the plant, noting
the advantages and disadvantages of each site.
Solution:
Acetaldehyde occurs naturally in coffee, bread, and ripe fruit, and is produced by
plants. It is also produced by the partial oxidation of ethanol by the liver enzyme
alcohol dehydrogenase and is a contributing cause of hangover after alcohol
consumption.
The main factors that affect a plant location are as follows:
 Law and order situation,
 Availability of infrastructure facilities,
 Good industrial relations,
 Availability of skilled workforce,
 Social infrastructure,
 Investor friendly attitude,
 Nearness to market,
 Nearness to raw-materials source

Acetaldehyde was produced by the partial dehydrogenation of ethanol:

CH3CH2OH → CH3CHO + H2
In this endothermic process, ethanol vapor is passed at 260–290 °C over a copper-
based catalyst. The process was once attractive because of the value of the hydrogen
coproduct.
Geographical locations:
Acetaldehyde, the toxic product of ethanol metabolism in the liver, covalently
binds to a variety of proteins, thereby altering liver function and structure. This
immune response may contribute to the aggravation or perpetuation of alcohol-
induced liver damage. So the plant should be installed away from the housing
societies.
 Problem 2:
The trend in the fertilizer industry during the past few years has been toward
larger and larger fertilizer plants. In terms of plant location, what are the more
important factors that should be considered and which factors become even
more important as the size of the plant is increased? Are these factors of equal
importance regardless of the type of fertilizer produced? Analyze this situation
for ammonia, urea, and phosphate fertilizer process plants.
Solution:
The selection of a region or area in which fertilizer plant is to be installed requires
the consideration of the following:
 Availability of Raw Materials
 Proximity to Markets
 Transport Facilities
 Availability of Power, Fuel or Gas
 Water Supply
 Disposal Facility for Waste Products
 Climatic and Atmospheric Conditions

 Important factors if size of plant increased:

1. Fertilizer plant needs large amount of power and cooling water
2. Locate the Plant close to the markets
3. Adequate supply of natural gas would also become important with plant
size.

Analysis of this situation for ammonia, Urea phosphate fertilizer require a

knowledge of the raw materials needed and the most commonly used process for
each fertilizer.
For the production of Urea, ammonia is one of the principal raw materials required
for the process. The fertilizer markets are not as large as for the raw material, capital
consideration must be given to markets and the transportation necessary to reach
those markets.
Phosphate fertilizer is obtained from phosphate rock ore. Plant location is
determined by the location of the phosphate rock ore regardless of the plant size.