A method to refine the start-up scheme of compression and refrigeration systems in ethylene plants via dynamic simulation

• Published in: Chinese journal of chemical engineering 2016-08, Vol.24 (8), p.1007-1012
• Main Authors: Zhang, Shengfu, Zhao, Yongchen, Qiu, Tong, Song, Guang, Zhao, Jinsong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Compression system; Ethylene plant; gas; medium; Mixed; Mixed gas run; plant; Start-up; run; Compression; Start-up; Start-up working medium; Start-up; Ethylene; system; working
• ISSN: 1004-9541; 2210-321X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cjche.2016.04.042

Starting the cracking gas compressor and precooling the refrigeration system are keys to start-up of an ethylene plant and accounts for up to 50% of the total start-up time and plant flare emissions. Premature feeding of cracking furnaces can be avoided if the cracking gas compressor is started and the refrigeration system is precooled in advance using mixed gas as the start-up working medium(SWM). Start-up scenario with mixed gas as SWM could significantly reduce the emission loss and shorten the precooling time. Research shows that making appropriate start-up scheme is important not only to ensure operational safety and feasibility, but also to reduce energy consumption. In this paper, a method is proposed to select suitable start-up operational parameters of compression and refrigeration system with sufficient safe operating ranges and short precooling time. The complex interrelation among key parameters of start-up is analyzed. It is found that higher energy consumption, especially for super high-pressure steam(SS), can promote operational safety and shorten the precooling time during start-up.Based on steady-state and dynamic simulation, appropriate operating parameter ranges are determined with reasonable SS consumption. A real case study demonstrates that an appropriate start-up scheme will optimize the operation.