Energy efficiency improvement for natural gas liquids direct-splitter-direct sequence fractionation unit

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to present the study and analysis of the energy saving improvement for the NGLs Direct-Splitter-Direct fractionation plant sequence by using driving force method. To perform the study and analysis, the energy efficient distillation columns (EEDCs) methodology is developed. Basically, the methodology consists of four hierarchical steps; Step 1: Existing Sequence Energy Analysis, Step 2: Optimal Sequence Determination, Step 3: Optimal Sequence Energy Analysis, and Step 4: Energy Comparison. The capability of this methodology is tested in designing an optimal energy efficient splitter sequence of NGLs fractionation unit. The results show that the maximum of 10.62 % energy reduction was able to achieve by changing the sequence suggested by the driving force method. It can be concluded that, the sequence determined by the driving force method is able to reduce energy used for a NGLs fractionation. All of this findings show that the methodology is able to design energy efficient for NGLs fractionation sequence in an easy, practical and systematic manner.