Analysis of the Design Features of Ethane-Ethylene Mixture Separation Columns at the Ethylene Plant of Kazan Organic Synthesis PJSC and the Possibilities of Their Modernization in Order to Increase Productivity

The paper presents an analysis of the structural features of two ethylene columns of the Ethylene plant of PJSC KAZAN ORGANIC SYNTHES. The principle of operation of contact devices in active ethylene columns is described. The paper highlights the advantages of contact devices in the upgraded ethylene column K-303 and the disadvantages of traditional strainer contact devices in the ethylene column K-14. The temperature profile of the K-14 ethylene column is shown and analyzed. The process of changing the ratio of a mixture of ethane and ethylene inside an ethylene column by adding a large amount of phlegm to the ethylene column is described. This process is also reflected graphically in the figure of the x-y dependence of the diagram. The paper shows that the theoretically large value of the driving force of ethylene transfer from liquid to steam is reduced when using existing plates with low mass transfer efficiency and a large splash-deposition. The paper suggests options for upgrading the K-14 ethylene column to increase its performance by changing the type and number of contact devices. According to the analysis of the design features of the ethylene column K-14 and the ethylene column K-303, it is proposed to create a separation space in the ethylene column K-14 by removing contact devices in certain zones in order to reduce splash-deposition, as well as replace the existing bubbling contact devices with vortex-type contact devices to increase the efficiency of mass transfer. It is also proposed to add steam columns to reduce the amount of phlegm entering the column and increase the capacity of the column and, accordingly, its productivity.