甲基氯硅烷精馏流程的模拟与优化

采用Aspen plus软件对工业七塔精馏过程进行全流程建模与模拟，优化工艺参数，研究了新的精馏节能工艺。对一甲塔等7个精馏塔采用双因素水平的灵敏度分析，考察了塔釜采出率、回流比、进料位置和塔顶压力对产品浓度和热负荷的影响，确定一甲塔最优的工艺参数：塔釜摩尔采出率为0.92，摩尔回流比为130，塔顶压力为0.18 MPa，总理论板数为400，在210块理论板位置进料。在此基础上，针对高能耗的脱高塔/脱低塔，模拟研究了双效精馏新工艺，新工艺可节省39.70%的年总成本；针对一甲塔模拟研究了热泵精馏新工艺，新工艺可降低41.42%的年总成本。     

Simulating the steam reforming of sunflower meal in Aspen Plus

Hydrogen is a clean energy carrier that has the potential to mitigate the environmentally hazardous effects of fossil fuels. Hydrogen is mainly produced through the steam reforming of natural gas however it is also possible to produce hydrogen through the thermochemical conversion of various biomasses. In this study, three Aspen plus simulation models were developed to obtain hydrogen-rich gas products from biomass through catalytic steam reforming. The results obtained in this modeling study were compared to the experimental data obtained by the steam reforming of the sunflower meal, which is a waste product of the seed oil industry. Out of all three models, model II, in which all of the reactions are assumed to occur simultaneously and all species except for biomass are assumed to undergo combustion reactions, was the most successful one at predicting close results (93% similar) to experimental findings. Using this model, the effect of water:biomass feed ratio on the product yields was tested and the highest possible H₂ yield (44.9 mol H₂/kg sunflower meal) was achieved with a 15:1 water:biomass feed ratio at the constant temperature of 800 °C and atmospheric pressure.     

三甘醇脱水填料塔计算方法适用性分析

塔径计算是进行三甘醇填料脱水塔设计的首要工作,为了选用准确适用的塔径计算方法,详细介绍了多种塔径计算方法。以两个实际项目的数据为计算案例,分别采用贝恩-霍根(Bain-Haugen)关联式、通用压降关联图法(GPDC)、塔负荷系数法、Aspen HYSYS软件等不同方法计算三甘醇填料脱水塔的塔径,并进行了计算结果偏差分析和计算方法适用性分析。结果分析表明,塔负荷系数法、通用压降关联图法(GPDC)、Aspen HYSYS软件计算结果相近,经圆整后的塔径一致。贝恩-霍根(Bain-Haugen)关联式算出的结果偏差较大,过于保守,分别为11.11%和8.73%。由于通用压降关联图法(GPDC)的计算结果受GPDC关联图内数据点影响准确度不易保证,建议选用塔负荷系数法和Aspen HYSYS软件进行三甘醇脱水填料塔塔径的计算。      

新型硫酸法C_4烷基化工艺的模拟

提出了一种新型硫酸法C4烷基化生产工艺,丁烯原料在气相状态下进入反应器,与液相异丁烷、浓硫酸混合后,部分丁烯溶于液相,在液相中进行反应;通过控制反应器的压力,部分液相吸收反应热而汽化,使反应温度基本稳定;经气液分离、酸烃分离及产品分馏后,气相丁烯、异丁烷、浓硫酸分别构成循环。采用Aspen Plus过程模拟软件对新工艺过程进行模拟计算的结果表明,在反应器进口压力0.2 MPa、压降4.5 k Pa的条件下,反应器进出口温度均在7.2℃左右,可通过调节反应器压力实现温度的控制;反应器进口液相中烷烯质量比为145∶1,可减少副反应的发生;与传统硫酸法C4烷基化工艺相比,新工艺耗电量可降低30%。     

Challenges and Opportunities of Modeling Biomass Gasification in Aspen Plus: A Review

Aspen Plus has become one of the most common process simulation tools for both academia and industrial applications. In the last decade, the number of the papers on Aspen Plus modeling of biomass gasification has significantly increased. This review focuses on recent developments and studies on modeling biomass gasification in Aspen Plus including key aspects such as tar formation and model validation. Accordingly, challenges in modeling due to specific assumptions and limitations will be highlighted to provide a useful basis for researchers and end-users for further process modeling of biomass gasification in Aspen Plus.     

Hydrogen production potential from agricultural biomass in Punjab province of Pakistan

Depleting resources and popping environmental concerns instigate the development of sustainable and clean energy solutions. Amongst others, Hydrogen (H₂) is an imperious alternative due to the lowest emissions, higher calorific value, and usability. It has great relevance in Pakistan due to sequester Agricultural biomass potential that can be used as feedstock for H₂ production. So, this study estimates the H₂ production potential from agricultural biomass (rice, sugarcane, cotton, wheat, and maize) of Punjab, Pakistan. In doing so, simulations are performed using Aspen Plus under various conditions to derive an optimal value of H₂ output. The results indicate significant heterogeneity across districts and crop residues types. Therefore, the Geographic Information System (GIS) is used to draw the spatial distribution of optimal H₂ production across crops and districts. The simulated results reveal that Punjab province has the potential to produce 2619.90 × 10³ Metric tons (MT)/year H_2, and the highest potential derives from sugarcane trash (1012.77 × 10³ MT/year), followed by maize straw (433.67 × 10³ MT/year). The estimated H₂ potential (2.62 million MT/year) can be used in industries, transportation, and urea production as a sustainable alternative in Pakistan.     

Effect of different gasifying agents (steam,H2O2, oxygen,CO2, and air) on gasification parameters

Two sensitivity analyses were performed in an Aspen simulation of fluidized bed gasification for five different gasifying agents such as steam, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), pure oxygen (O₂), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and air. In the first sensitivity analysis, the modified equivalence ratio (MER) was varied (0.22-0.36). For the varied modified equivalence ratio (MER), %hydrogen, H₂/CO molar ratio, and hydrogen yield were the highest in steam-gasification, but %carbon monoxide, %methane, CO yield, and the lower heating values (LHV) were the highest in CO₂-gasification. In the second sensitivity analysis, the freeboard temperature was varied (500-900 °C). With increasing freeboard temperature, %hydrogen and %carbon monoxide increased while %carbon dioxide and %methane decreased for all the gasifying agents. Also, with increasing freeboard temperature, the LHV decreased and the hydrogen yield, CO yield, and the gas production rate increased for all the gasifying agents, but the H₂/CO molar ratio increased only in oxygen, air, and CO₂-gasification.     

Simulation of integrated novel PSA/EHP/C process for high-pressure hydrogen recovery from Coke Oven Gas

This paper introduces a novel Coke Oven Gas (COG) hydrogen purification/compression system based on the technologies of Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) and Electrochemical Hydrogen Purification and Compression (EHP/C). As the EHP/C tolerates O₂, N₂ and CH₄ impurities, PSA can be utilized solely for CO and CO₂ removal (other COG impurities were not considered in this work). A relaxation of PSA hydrogen purity could significantly enhance its recovery rate. In this study, the suitability of traditional hydrogen PSA as part of the hybrid PSA/EHP/C approach was investigated. Aspen Adsorption and Matlab were used to model the PSA and EHP/C systems, respectively. The effect of adsorption pressure, purge-to-feed-ratio (P/F-ratio) and adsorption time within cycle on PSA performance is reported. This study found that breakthrough of non-detrimental components is typically accompanied with poisonous CO. Hence, the CO removal with traditional H₂-PSA resulted into high purity product. In a two-bed PSA, 36.3% of hydrogen was recovered at 99.9988% purity and 0.18 ppm CO. Subsequently, as a result, the EHP/C purification capability was merely utilized, but polished this hydrogen to >99.999% purity. Simultaneously, hydrogen was isothermally compressed to 20 MPa, consuming a marginal 2.42 kWh/kg. Compared to mechanical compression, this is 31.6% more energy efficient. Recovering hydrogen from by-product COG was found to save 0.5 kg CO₂/kg H₂ compared to hydrogen produced from natural gas. Conventional hydrogen PSA, utilizing 70% Activated Carbon and 30% Molecular Sieve 5A, was found not to be effective to target the removal of CO specifically. To increase synergy between PSA and EHP/C, the PSA requires adequate design and operation using appropriate adsorbents and cycle steps to target elimination of CO. An increased EHP/C catalyst tolerance for CO also contributes to higher flexibility.     

Simulation of 12-bed vacuum pressure-swing adsorption for hydrogen separation from methanol-steam reforming off-gas

This study focuses on analysis of a 12-bed vacuum pressure-swing adsorption (VPSA) process capable of purifying hydrogen from a ternary mixture (H₂/CO₂/CO 75/24/1 mol%) derived from methanol-steam reforming. The process produces 9 kmol H₂/h with less than 2 ppm and 0.2 ppm of CO2 and CO, respectively, to supply a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. The process model is developed in Aspen Adsorption® using the “uni-bed” approach. A parametric study of H₂ purity and recovery with respect to adsorption pressure, adsorbent height, activated carbon:zeolite ratio, feed composition, and number of beds is performed. Results show 12-bed VPSA can meet the H₂ purity goals, with H₂ recovery as high as 75.75%. Adsorption occurs at 7 bar, the column height is 1.2 m, and the adsorbent ratio is 70%:30%. A 4-bed VPSA can achieve the same purity goals as the 12-bed process, but H₂ recovery decreases to 61.34%.