What could be the reasons for poor separation performance in a solvent recovery tower? Please advise
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Our unit’s 200,000-ton benzene extraction plant underwent major maintenance in August and September this year. Since it resumed operation, the separation efficiency of the solvent recovery tower has been poor. The current processing capacity is 19 t/h, with a solvent ratio of 4; the flow rate of the lean solvent is 76 t/h, the flow rate of water in the gas stream is 1 t/h, the top pressure is -0.045 MPa, and the temperature is maintained at around 173 degrees. The separation efficiency is low, with the hydrocarbon content in the lean solvent exceeding 3000 PPM. The mixed aromatics contain trace amounts of solvent, typically 10–30 PPM, and they also contain trace amounts of water, which causes the mixture to become turbid. Please help analyze these issues and suggest ways to resolve them
“\"The separation efficiency of the solvent recovery tower is poor after operation begins\" – is this a design issue from the beginning? A design firm should step in to handle it.
We are starting a major overhaul, not the initial construction
For such problems, it is best to check the valves, especially whether the opening degrees of the remote-controlled valves are synchronized. Such equipment after major repairs often experiences more problems resulting from the valve opening degrees. It mainly depends on the opening degree of the original production operation. For reference.