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Development of Optimal Integrated and Intensive Model of Energy Processing and Conversion

Avami, Akram | 2012

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  1. Type of Document: Ph.D. Dissertation
  2. Language: Farsi
  3. Document No: 42509 (08)
  4. University: Sharif University of Technology
  5. Department: Mechanical Engineering
  6. Advisor(s): Saboohi, Yadollah
  7. Abstract:
  8. In a single chemical plant, the operation of each unit operation is not independent of each other. In the other hand, the main operations are performed in reactors following by several separation steps including distillation and purification units. The total energy requirements are sullied by the heat exchanger networks. The performance of these systems is improved by integration and intensification of the reactor and distillation column in a single unit. The main objective of the present work is to provide an effective design approach to intensify the reactor and distillation column. In a reactive distillation column, the reaction and separation is done in a single unit. Increasing conversion, reducing the capital and operating costs and heat integration are the direct benefits and consequences of the present unit operation. Other benefits include improving selectivity, avoiding the excess use of auxiliary solvents, and separating the azeotropic mixtures. Phase and chemical equilibrium, vapor-liquid-liquid equilibrium, catalyst activity, reaction kinetics are some phenomena occurring in a reactive distillation column which extensively affect the optimization problem. Considering these effects are less studied simultaneously. Furthermore, interaction of reaction and separation in a single unit makes the analysis of design problem very complex. In this thesis, an effective design framework is proposed and the suitable solving technique is found and applied regarding performance, rate of convergence and the quality of the optimal point. In this framework, efficient methods for simultaneous phase identification and calculations, shortcut design, and rigorous optimization of reactive distillation in presented. These methods successfully and rigorously perform calculations regarding the designer necessities in each design stage. Several case studies are used to verify the methods. Biodiesel is studied specifically which is a green, safe, renewable, nontoxic, and biodegradable. With an overall positive life-cycle energy balance, it can be utilized in conventional diesel equipments in comparison to petrol diesel. Finally, several sensitivity analyses are done on the results for different operation conditions. Applying this approach on several case studies has provided significance improvement in the cost and efficiency of the process.
  9. Keywords:
  10. Reactive Distillation ; Process Intensification ; Short Cut Design Method ; Biodiesel ; Multiphase Simulation

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