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Hanggi Et Al. (1999) - Vapor Recompression. Distillation Without Steam
Hanggi Et Al. (1999) - Vapor Recompression. Distillation Without Steam
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Direct vapor recompression, heat pumps with released energy. This is compressed to the nec-
auxiliary circuits and steam ejectors are the essary pressure by means of the heat pump and
most frequently employed heat pump systems then condensed in the reboiler itself, whereby 10
in distillation plants. The direct vapor recom- the bottom product is caused to reboil at the 6
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pression saves the most energy, while the steam same time. 1
ejector entails the lowest investment costs. The steam ejector, driven by medium-pressure
With direct vapor recompression, the vapors steam or product vapors, compresses a part of 5
from the column head are compressed to such the head vapors from the column to the pressure
an extent that the resultant temperature is suf- necessary for heating the reboiler. The vapor
ficient to heat the reboiler. mixture is condensed in the reboiler itself and 12 9
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If the head product is not suitable for compres- the bottom product reboiled with the released
sion, e.g. by the styrene finishing column, heat energy. An auxiliary condenser liquefies the 4 Steam ejector
pump systems with an auxiliary circuit are residual head vapors.
employed. A condenser liquefies the top product
and reboils the auxiliary medium with the
reduce the pressure drop in the col- plants. They can be employed
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS umn and thus permit the employ- almost anywhere (see box, “Typical
ment of single- or two-stage radial applications”). Sulzer Chemtech
Heat pumps have already been Further applications:
employed successfully with: compressors. has many years’ experience in the
• 1-Butene • Butanol Experience shows that compres- engineering, supply and commis-
• Chlorobenzene • Chloronitrobenzene sors operate very reliably and only sioning of new as well as the retro-
• Dichloroethylene • Cumene require a minimum of mainte- fitting of existing installations. Ω
• Dimethyl formamide • Cyclohexan
nance. The addition of a heat pump
• Ethanol • Acetic acid
• Ethylene glycol • Methanol makes the distillation plant even
• Isobutane • Methylphenol (Cresol) more reliable. In contrast to a con- FOR MORE DETAILS
• Isopropanol • Phenol ventional unit, it makes no differ- Sulzer Chemtech AG
• Propylene • Xylene and others ence whether the correct steam Daniel Hänggi, 0600
• Silane
capacity or cooling water tempera- Postfach 65
• Styrene
• Hydrogen peroxide ture is assured at all times (see CH-8404 Winterthur
box, “Fields of application and Switzerland
selection criteria”). Telephone +41 (0)52-262 48 78
plants, it can mean financial sav- Heat pump systems can be de- Fax +41 (0)52-262 00 76
ings amounting to several million signed for new installations and E-mail daniel.haenggi
USD per year. The investment for also for retrofitting in existing @sulzer.ch
a heat pump system is paid back
after just a few years, in many
cases within a period of one year.
FIELDS OF APPLICATION AND SELECTION CRITERIA
COMPRESSOR:
RELIABLE AND LONG LASTING The following circumstances or requirements speak for the applica-
The heart of the heat pump system tion of Sulzer heat pump technology:
is the compressor. Depending on • energy-saving solution for new and existing plants
the separation task and the capac- • the lack or insufficiency of steam or cooling water capacity
ity of the plant compressors such • high cooling water temperatures
as, turboblowers, radial turbo com- • reliability
pressors, screw-type or axial com- • CO2 taxes and environmental management systems, e.g.
pressors are employed for this ISO 14 000
(Fig. 3■). The choice of the column
filling has a major influence on the Heat pumps are economical for plants with:
selection of the compressor. Appro- • thermal energy requirement of more than 2 MW
priate internals, e.g. structured • temperature differences of less than 40 °C between head and bot-
packings, random packings or, in tom products
some cases, also suitable trays,