【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Equipment】2159–2019: Tianjin’s Innovative Three-Effect Methanol Distillation Process Package Technology
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This post was last edited by FishSwimmingInTheDesert on 2025-1-10 at 07:58. Let’s give a thumbs up and encouragement to the achievements made in China’s chemical technology and equipment industry. Your participation in the discussion is the greatest motivation for us! ********************** [Ten Years of Great Development in Chemical Equipment] This is a continuously updated summary thread; all are welcome to join the discussion: https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-3576046-1-1.html ***************** On September 12, 2019, the 650,000-ton methanol distillation system operated by Guohong Chemical Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Yankuang Group (hereinafter referred to as “Guohong Company”), became ready for operation. Production commenced that very night. After three days of system debugging, the entire installation was put into stable operation on the evening of September 15, producing qualified methanol! This project utilizes the methanol triple-effect distillation process package technology developed by Tianjin Chuangju Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Chuangju Company”). Technical introduction of the process package: The triple-effect distillation process for methanol is an extension of the traditional double-effect distillation technology. The main equipment consists of three columns – one under pressure, one at atmospheric pressure, and one under negative or high/medium pressure. The vapor from the top of one column serves as the heat source for the reboiler of the next column. This setup adds one more distillation stage compared to the traditional double-effect method, which allows for further energy savings; the steam consumption per ton of methanol can be reduced from 1.1–1.2 in the double-effect process to 0.8–0.9, while the quality of the product remains high. This process features technical reliability, high processing capacity, high product quality, and low methanol vapor consumption per ton.
Purpose and requirements for the renovation: The methanol distillation unit at Guohong Company uses a “3+1” tower configuration, with a designed production capacity of 1,500 tons; the actual production capacity is 2,100 tons. The ethanol content in the refined methanol is relatively high, at around 1,000 ppm, which does not meet the requirements of downstream customers. The unit consumes approximately 1.2 tons of steam per ton of methanol produced, resulting in high energy consumption. Due to the high ethanol content in the methanol in the recycle tank, it cannot be reused, resulting in a low recovery rate for the distillation unit. The existing plant is upgraded to improve quality and efficiency by utilizing the methanol triple-effect distillation process package technology from Chuangju Company. Achieve a daily methanol production of 2,300 tons, reduce the methanol and ethanol content in the product to below 100 ppm, and lower the steam consumption per ton of methanol to below 0.9 tons. The renovation plan involves adding high-pressure towers and recovery towers without making major changes to the existing process flow; thus, the previous \"3+1\" two-effect distillation system is replaced by a \"4+1\" three-effect distillation system, thereby achieving improved quality and efficiency. Driving performance indicators: Once this set of \"five towers and three effects\" methanol distillation units are operating properly, the performance parameters of the pure methanol achieve the following levels: ★ The ethanol content in the pure methanol is reduced compared to before the modification, meeting the requirements specified in the process design ； ★ The steam consumption per ton of alcohol produced in the distillation system (calculated based on the calorific value of steam at 1.0 MPa) is 0.85 tons or less ； ★ The daily production of p-xylene increased from 2,100 tons before the renovation to 2,300 tons ； ★ The methanol yield d d increases. Economic benefit analysis: Steam savings. Steam saved: (1.2–0.85)*2300*330 = 265,650 tons per year. At 100 yuan per ton of steam, the annual additional benefit amounts to approximately 26.565*100 = 26,565,200 yuan. The methanol recovery rate is high; after the modification of the recovery tower, this rate increases further, resulting in an additional 10 tons of methanol produced per day. The price difference between pure alcohol and mixed alcohol is 600 yuan, resulting in an annual benefit of 10*330*600 = 1.98 million yuan. The processing capacity of the unit has been enhanced; as a result of the upgrades, this capacity has increased from 21 million tons to 23 million tons. This results in an additional production of 2300–2100*330 = 66,000 tons of polyol per year. The benefit per ton of methanol produced is calculated at 100 yuan, resulting in an annual additional benefit of approximately 6.6*100 = 6.6 million yuan. Through this renovation, Guohong Company will see an annual increase in economic benefits of approximately 35.1452 million yuan, with the investment being recouped in less than 10 months. (The quality improvement benefit resulting from the decrease in dd value due to ethanol content is negligible).
Wow, it’s already 2019. . .