The On-Line Simulation And Technolagy Alternations Of The Tower Separating Ethylbenzene/Styrene Of The System Equipments

The equipments that produces 60,000 tons of Styrene were regularly put into production in 1988. The tower separating Ethylbenzene / Styrene is the key equipment during the dehydrogenation of Ethylbenzene to refine the materials. The dehydrogenated liquid is transported into the tower, boiled off and condensed gradually, then Ethylbenzene and other light components vaporize from the top of the tower while Styrene and other heavy components come out from the bottom of the tower. This process realizes the separation of Ethylbenzene and Styrene which are the two most important components.The design goal of the tower is that the content of Styrene at the top of the tower is less than 3.4%wt, the content of Ethylbenzene at the bottom is less than 0.1%wt, and the content of Styrene at the bottom is more than 99.6% wt. Since the begin of full-load production, the tower cannot match the design goals for a long time: the content of Styrene is between 6 and 7 %wt and the content of Ethylbenzene at the bottom is between 0.2 and 0.3 %wt. Whether the separation effect of the tower is good or not directly influences the quality, quantity, energy consumption, and material consumption of Styrene. To improve the quantity and quality of Styrene, to stabilize production, to reduce consumption, and to improve the economical benefits, this thesis simulates on-line optimization which stabilizes and optimizes the process. However, this work could not match the goal yet. Through comprehensive analysis and computation, I found some shortcomings of the structure of the tower. So the tower needs some technology alternations for the inner structure and stuff. After these alternations and the further optimization of the production process, a good separation level could be easily reached.