The Computer-Aided Simulation of Chemical Plants A Case Study of the Synthesis of Cumene

摘要

A computer executive-aided simulation that analyzes and solves large and complex Chemical process problems in the search for plant improvements, design and optimization has been developed. The important stages observed are; definition of the questions to be answered, selection of criteria to judge when the questions have been answered, choice of the variables, and collection of information, formulation of models or units on the information flow diagram, and simulation of sections of the plant, and simulation of the complete plant. A computer-aided method for the calculation of the material balance, energy balance, and equipment specification of the processes with recycle streams has been presented. The procedure used for the material balance calculation is the Initial Zero Recycle Method. The process used to illustrate the method is the industrial synthesis of cumene (isopropylbenzene) from benzene and propylene at 623K. (350℃) and 30 atm. The results demonstrate that for large and complex processes involving several recycle streams, computer-aided calculation is imperative and the iterative solution of the material balance converged in four iteration cycles. The models correctly respond to the range of conditions to be studied and accurately predict how the key components in the stream lists are affected. It was equally shown how digital computer may be used to simulate a cumene plant and to improve the performance of existing plants, leading to increased profits, and to a greater knowledge of the process.