See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/272092696

Simulation and Optimization of Cumene Plant using ASPEN PLUS

Conference Paper · December 2013

DOI: 10.13140/2.1.3716.1766

CITATIONS READS

0 5,360

4 authors, including:

Utkarsh Maheshwari Purva Goel

D. Y. Patil Institute of Engineering, Management & Research, Akurdi, Pune 10 PUBLICATIONS   69 CITATIONS   
79 PUBLICATIONS   322 CITATIONS   
SEE PROFILE
SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Modeling and Optimization View project

GENETIC PROGRAMMING BASED QSRR View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Utkarsh Maheshwari on 11 February 2015.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Simulation and Optimization of Cumene Plant using ASPEN PLUS
Utkarsh Maheshwari*1, Anindita Dutta2, Purva Goel 2 and Krunal Amin2
1
Lecturer; 2Student,
Department of Chemical Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Science,
Pilani-333 031, Rajasthan, India.
*Corresponding author email: utkarsh@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in

Abstract:
Cumene production process is gaining importance and so the process needs to be studied and
better ideas suggested that the production cost is reduced. With the advent of computers and
simulating software like ASPEN PLUS, it is possible to design and optimize a particular process.
Proper design can significantly reduce the production cost as well as provide make the process
safe and reduce environmental hazards. It has been identified from previous research papers that
the cost of the materials used is much higher than the cost of energy needed for the process.

In the present study, the materials, unit operations and processes involved are identified. Steady
state simulation is done in the present study. Each unit is taken into consideration and the various
variables are optimized. The units are sequentially optimized in the order in which they appear in
the rough flow sheet. Use of newer equipments in the process is also suggested.

The reactor system is optimized by an equilibrium based approach which gives the operating
temperature as 36oC and a benzene to propylene ratio in the feed should be 6. The distillation
columns were also optimized and the number of trays for benzene column was found to be 20 by
8 and that for cumene column to be 20 by 10. The reflux ratio values were found to be 0.5 and
0.8 respectively for the columns. The optimized temperature for flashing was identified as
92.5 oC. The modified flowsheet of the optimized process is prepared which gives the values of
all the optimized variables in details.

Keywords: Simulation, Optimization, Cumene, Benzene, Distillation, Reactor.

View publication stats