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Modification of an Industrial Ethane Recovery Plant Using Mixed Integer Optimization and Shuffled Frog Leaping Algorithm

  • Research Article - Special Issue - Mechanical Engineering
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Abstract

A currently in operation ethane recovery plant was simulated and compared with the real one. The objective of this process is to separate C1–C2 and \({{\rm C}_{3}^{+}}\) at the minimum utility cost. Then, optimal operating parameters were determined, in which the objective function is based on the plant profit. Shuffled frog leaping algorithm was applied for the optimization of this plant. The algorithm parameters were adjusted for improving the performance of the algorithm through optimization of the problem. The results show that at the optimum point the profit increased by 2.4% and utility costs decreased by 5%. In the next part, the potential of the plant for modification of the process configuration was considered. The analysis showed that it is possible to improve the process and refrigeration cycle configurations to the more efficient one. In the optimum point the profit increased by 8% towards the base case and operating cost decreased by 12.8%.

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Abbreviations

A-1:

Air cooler

C-1:

Demethaniser

C-2:

Deethaniser

D-1:

Feed flash KO drum

D-2:

Deethaniser reflux drum

D-3:

Refrigeration cycle separator

D-4:

Refrigeration cycle separator

D-5:

Refrigeration cycle separator

D-6:

Refrigeration cycle separator

D-7:

Refrigeration cycle separator

E-1:

Heat exchanger

E-2:

Demethaniser exchanger

E-3:

Deethaniser reboiler

E-4:

Heat exchanger

E-5:

Heat exchanger

E-6:

Demethaniser reboiler

E-7:

Deethaniser condenser

K-1:

Compressor

K-2:

Refrigeration cycle compressor

LNG-1:

Multi-stream heat exchanger

LNG-2:

Multi-stream heat exchanger as a condenser for the deethanizer

LNG-3:

Multi-stream heat exchanger as a reboiler for the demethanizer

V-1:

Expansion valve

V-2:

Expansion valve

V-3:

Expansion valve

V-4:

Expansion valve

X-1:

Feed gas expander

C 1 :

Methane

C 2 :

Ethane

\({{\rm C}\,_{3}^+}\) :

Propane plus

NGL:

Natural gas liquids

HHV:

Higher heating value

SL:

Saturated line

CL:

Condensed line

AS:

Added stream to the configuration

ES:

External stream (belonging to other plant)

PRSV:

Peng–Robinson–Stryjek–Vera

RS:

Refrigeration cycle stream

S:

Process stream

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box: 11365-4563, Tehran, Iran

    Ali Vatani

  2. Renewable Energies and Environmental Department, Faculty of New Science and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Mehdi Mehrpooya

  3. Saman Energy Giti Co. Tehran, P.O. Box: 33316-19636, Tehran, Iran

    Hallas Pakravesh

Authors
  1. Ali Vatani
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  2. Mehdi Mehrpooya
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  3. Hallas Pakravesh
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Correspondence to Mehdi Mehrpooya.

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Vatani, A., Mehrpooya, M. & Pakravesh, H. Modification of an Industrial Ethane Recovery Plant Using Mixed Integer Optimization and Shuffled Frog Leaping Algorithm. Arab J Sci Eng 38, 439–455 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-012-0433-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-012-0433-9

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