Abstract

This paper presents the study of the optimal synthesis of energy efficient distillation columns (EEDCs) sequenceby using the driving force method. In order to perform the study and analysis, the EEDCs sequence methodologyhas been developed. Accordingly, the methodology consists of four hierarchical sequential steps; Step 1: ExistingSequence Energy Analysis, Step 2: Optimal Sequence Determination, Step 3: Optimal Sequence Energy Analysis,and Step 4: Energy Comparison. The capability of this methodology has been tested in designing minimumenergy distillation column sequence for hydrocarbon mixture separation process. The results show that themaximum of 39.6 % energy reduction was able to achieve by changing the sequence suggested by the drivingforce method. It can be concluded that, the sequence determined by the driving force method is able to reduceenergy requirement for hydrocarbon mixture separation process. All of this findings show that the methodologyis able to design minimum energy distillation column sequence for hydrocarbon mixture separation process in aneasy, practical and systematic manner.

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