SCI和EI收录∣中国化工学会会刊

Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering ›› 2021, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (12): 141-148.DOI: 10.1016/j.cjche.2020.12.021

• Process Systems Engineering and Process Safety • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Coupling pinch analysis and rigorous process simulation for hydrogen networks with light hydrocarbon recovery

Minbo Yang1, Xiao Feng1, Liang Zhao2   

  1. 1. Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Energy Chemical Process Intensification, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, 710049, China;
    2. Key Laboratory of Advanced Control and Optimization for Chemical Processes, East China University of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200237, China
  • Received:2020-10-09 Revised:2020-12-02 Online:2022-01-14 Published:2021-12-28
  • Contact: Xiao Feng,E-mail:xfeng@mail.xjtu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2020ACOCP04).

Coupling pinch analysis and rigorous process simulation for hydrogen networks with light hydrocarbon recovery

Minbo Yang1, Xiao Feng1, Liang Zhao2   

  1. 1. Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Energy Chemical Process Intensification, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, 710049, China;
    2. Key Laboratory of Advanced Control and Optimization for Chemical Processes, East China University of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200237, China
  • 通讯作者: Xiao Feng,E-mail:xfeng@mail.xjtu.edu.cn
  • 基金资助:
    This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2020ACOCP04).

Abstract: In refineries, some hydrogen-rich streams contain considerable light hydrocarbons that are important raw materials for the chemical industry. Integrating hydrogen networks with light hydrocarbon recovery can enhance the reuse of both hydrogen and light hydrocarbons. This work proposes an automated method for targeting hydrogen networks with light hydrocarbon recovery. A pinch-based algebraic method is improved to determine the minimum fresh hydrogen consumption and hydrogen sources fed into the light hydrocarbon recovery unit automatically. Rigorous process simulation is conducted to determine the mass and energy balances of the light hydrocarbon recovery process. The targeting procedures are developed through combination of the improved pinch method and rigorous process simulation. This hybrid method is realized by coupling the Matlab and Aspen HYSYS platforms. A refinery hydrogen network is analyzed to illustrate application of the proposed method. The integration of hydrogen network with light hydrocarbon recovery further reduces fresh hydrogen requirement by 463.0 m3·h-1 and recovers liquefied petroleum gas and gasoline of 1711.5 kg·h-1 and 643 kg·h-1, respectively. A payback period of 9.2 months indicates that investment in light hydrocarbon recovery is economically attractive.

Key words: Hydrogen, Light hydrocarbon recovery, Pinch technology, Simulation, Systems engineering

摘要: In refineries, some hydrogen-rich streams contain considerable light hydrocarbons that are important raw materials for the chemical industry. Integrating hydrogen networks with light hydrocarbon recovery can enhance the reuse of both hydrogen and light hydrocarbons. This work proposes an automated method for targeting hydrogen networks with light hydrocarbon recovery. A pinch-based algebraic method is improved to determine the minimum fresh hydrogen consumption and hydrogen sources fed into the light hydrocarbon recovery unit automatically. Rigorous process simulation is conducted to determine the mass and energy balances of the light hydrocarbon recovery process. The targeting procedures are developed through combination of the improved pinch method and rigorous process simulation. This hybrid method is realized by coupling the Matlab and Aspen HYSYS platforms. A refinery hydrogen network is analyzed to illustrate application of the proposed method. The integration of hydrogen network with light hydrocarbon recovery further reduces fresh hydrogen requirement by 463.0 m3·h-1 and recovers liquefied petroleum gas and gasoline of 1711.5 kg·h-1 and 643 kg·h-1, respectively. A payback period of 9.2 months indicates that investment in light hydrocarbon recovery is economically attractive.

关键词: Hydrogen, Light hydrocarbon recovery, Pinch technology, Simulation, Systems engineering