| Troubleshooting vacuum operation of an inter-after condenser unit in an olefin plant |
| کد مقاله : 1398-ISME2024 |
| نویسندگان |
|
مهدی یوسفی نژاد *1، فتح الله فرهادی2، بهاره اکبری3 1پتروشیمی 2دانشگاه شریف 3دانشگاه علم و صنعت |
| چکیده مقاله |
| A system of compressors powered by surface condensing steam turbines is inherent in the operation of a typical ethane cracker unit. These turbines run by extracting work from high-pressure steam, while a surface condenser condenses the turbine’s exhaust to both maximize compressor horsepower and recover valuable condensate. In the surface condenser, a vacuum is created by the condensing steam. This vacuum is maintained by exhausting non-condensable load from the surface condenser via steam ejectors and inter-after condensing units. Non-condensable gases, which must be purged from the system, can originate from a number of sources: carbon dioxide (CO 2) entrained in the steam and air leaking through shaft seals into the low-pressure area of the surface condenser are two examples. The technology for exhausting non-condensable gases to sustain vacuum has been in use for more than a century. While the systems tend to have a simple layout and are not overly complicated in terms of hardware, troubleshooting the loss of vacuum or underperformance of these units is not straightforward. A systematic approach is required to identify and rectify any issues that contribute to deteriorated performance. A process system operating with unstable and/ or low vacuum directly affects turbine performance, a turbine’s steam consumption and overall compressor efficiency. In an ethane cracking unit, a troubleshooting study was undertaken to investigate an inter-after condensing unit and vacuum instability in the surface condenser. The troubleshooting study, summarized here, consisted of field observations, equipment review, trial runs and data collection. |
| کلیدواژه ها |
| Steam turbine, inter-after condenser, vacuum, olefin plant |
| وضعیت: پذیرفته شده برای ارائه شفاهی |