The facility disposes of waste off-gas streams from the two aromatics units for paraxylene (PX) production and generates fuels, for example for heating purposes within the plant. However, sometimes the fuel generated exceeds the refinery’s requirements, resulting in either fuel loss or the need to reduce the load of the two aromatics plants, leading to a reduced PX capacity that would affect revenue.
The global manufacturer of chemical and energy products wanted to improve the profitability of this train and reduce surplus fuel or its loss, minimising the quantity of off-gas directed to the system without limiting its PX production. HTC contacted Sulzer Chemtech in order to identify a suitable solution that would achieve this goal. The company’s process specialists suggested that a considerable reduction of the streams headed to the off-gas flare system while maintaining PX peak performance could be achieved by extracting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) components.
These include key resources such as propane (C3), butane (C4), isobutane (iC4), pentane (C5) and condensates (C5+). In effect, waste off-gas could become a byproduct, with C3 that could be used as feedstock for the plant’s cracker unit, while the other hydrocarbons could support downstream activities by chemical processors. As a result, HTC could recover valuable chemicals and expand its product portfolio, increasing profitability.
Sulzer Chemtech’s GT-LPG Max is designed to recover LPG from off-gas mixtures and separate three or more streams to obtain multiple valuable chemical components. Even more, this takes place within a single dividing wall column, which can act simultaneously as a deethanizer and depropanizer tower.
As a result, this installation features a compact footprint as well as minimising capital expenses (CAPEX) and operational expenditure. The savings are optimised further when considering that the setup can achieve high recovery rates at lower operating temperatures and pressures compared to traditional trains using separate deethanizer and depropaniser units.
Sulzer Chemtech’s experts developed a custom design of the GT-LPG Max licensed solution to match HTC’s requirements. This was specified to process 29’000 kg/h of off-gases from two aromatic units, recovering high volumes of 88% of C3 with a purity of 94.0 mol%. In addition, to support the chemical processor, Sulzer Chemtech’s specialists equipped the technology with built-in absorption functions to recover the heavier components, offering unique and unprecedented capabilities to the tower.
The basic engineering package for the customised GT-LPG Max technology was completed in only 12 weeks to help HTC increase its profitability and expand its market reach. Following the installation of the recovery system, Sulzer Chemtech’s teams supported the commissioning and startup activities, setting up the processes to suit the real-world conditions and feedstock properties, such as chemical composition.
As a consequence, the resulting outcomes were even better than the initial specifications. In effect, it is possible for HTC to reach high recovery rates of C3 present in the off-gas streams and reach purities above 98 mol%.
Expanding HTC’s chemical product portfolio increased profitability. In addition, Sulzer Chemtech’s GT-LPG Max is supporting the decarbonisation of the Daesan complex, as valuable chemicals are extracted and utilised rather than burned as fuels for heating applications.
Matthew Viergutz head of GTC technology at Sulzer Chemtech, said: “Our GT-LPG Max is a key technology for new and existing refineries as well as petrochemical complexes. It enables them to truly get the most out of their feedstock while requiring limited CAPEX and space investments. We are delighted to support companies in the sector, such as HTC, with our licensed solutions, futureproofing their operations, and look forward to engaging in similar projects in the near future.”