OPTIMIZATION OF ENERGY RESOURCES

Dimethil thereftalate (DMT), Altamira, Tamps.

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PROJECT
Energetic optimization of a turbo compressor of air

DESCRIPTION
The process demands compressed air for the reaction system, supplied by a group of compressors that coupled to steam turbines with extraction at different energy levels.

PROBLEM
One energetic diagnosis allowed to determine that the process is self-sufficient to generate the steam requirements of low pressure. However one steam turbine had an extraction of 100,000 lb/hr of low pressure steam.

SOLUTION
A methodology was developed to characterize the users of steam thermally, including:
• Re-boilers of distillation towers
• Heaters
• Direct injection of steam to the process
The thermal characterization and the energetic diagnosis allow to determine the opportunity areas to reduce the consumption of steam.

IMPLEMENTATIONS
Optimization of operation conditions of steam users:
• Reflux reduction
• Reduction of sub-cooling in the reflux.
• Modification of the operation pressure in the distillation towers
• Elimination of not required super-heating.

BENEFITS
The extraction of the 100,000 lb/hr of low pressure steam was canceled in the expansion turbines coupled to the compressors which represented a reduction of 50,000 lb/hr in the demand of high pressure steam.
The savings were equivalent to reduce the energy costs in 2,000,000 USD/year.

Implementation: January 2000

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