Ethylene, heavy HCs recovery and N2 purification in PE plant

Problem:

     The vent gas from resin degassing bin typically contains ethylene/ethane, heavy hydrocarbons (such as 1-butane, iso-butane, pentane and hexane etc.), hydrogen and huge amount of nitrogen in PE plant. The hydrocarbons and nitrogen losses in the vent gas are close to US$ 1.2 -2.0million/y (for a 300 KTA PE plant)

      Especially in Unipol or Innovene PE process, Eurofilm's unique "Mem-Cryo" patented technology (US 10,456,728 B2 issued in 2019), integrating gas separation membrane with expander-based cryogenic technology, recovers not only more than 98% heavy HCs and 60% N₂, but also more than 80% ethylene monomer. The payback time is normally less than 1-2 years based on long-term experience of tens of Mem-Cryo units installed.

Application in the following processes:

• Unipol of Univation (USA)

• Innovene of INEOS (UK)

• MarTECH® ADL of Chevron Phillips (USA)

• Hostalen of Basell (Swit)

Performance:

• Ethylene recovery: 80-90%

• Ethylene purities: up to 70 mol%

• Heavy HCs recovery: 90-99+%

• Heavy HCs purities: up to 99+ mol%

• N₂ recovery: 70-80%

• N₂ purities: 90-99+ mol%

Operating Characteristic:

• Min. operating temperature: lower to -120°C

• Max. operating pressure: up to 25 barg

Scope of supply:

• Compressor

• Condenser

• Refrigeratior (upon request)

• HCs membrane unit

• H₂ membrane unit

• Cryogenic (upon request)

Standards:

• Compressor: API 619

• Lubrication, Shaft-sealing and Oil-control Systems and Auxiliaries: API 614

• Machine Protection Systems: API 670

• Mechanical Seals and Supply Systems: API 682

• Pressure vessel: ASME, TEMA

• Electrical: IEC or NEC

• ISO 9001 certified process

• Hazardous (ATEX/Class Div2)

References:

Location: Japan

End user: Mitsubishi Chemical

Capacity of FDPE: 200,000 tons/year

Technology: Unipol/Univation

Ethylene recovery: ≥86%

N₂ purities: ≥98 mol%

N₂ recovery: ≥40%

 

Location: Republic of Korea

End user: GS Caltex

Capacity of HDPE: 500,000 tons/year

Technology: MarTECH ADL / Chevron Phillips Chemical

i-butane recovery: >99.9%

Ethylene recovery: >90%

N₂ purities: >98 mol%

N₂ recovery: >85%

 

Location: The Philippines

End user: JG summit

Capacity of HDPE: 250,000 tons/year

Technology: MarTECH ADL / Chevron Phillips Chemical

i-butane recovery: >99.9%

Ethylene recovery: >90%

N₂ purities: >98 mol%

N₂ recovery: >80%

 

Location: China

End user: Borolander Bassel

Capacity of LLDPE: 450,000 tons/year

Technology: Unipol/Univation

Ethylene recovery: 70%

i-pentane recovery: 97%

i-butylene recovery: 97%

N₂ purities: 95 mol%

N₂ recovery: 70%

 

Location: China

End user: Petrochina

Capacity of HDPE: 300,000 tons/year

Technology: Hostalen/Basell

Hexane content: <150 ppm

Nitrogen purities: >99.9 mol%

 

Location: China

End user: Sinopec-SK

Capacity of HDPE: 300,000 tons/year

Technology: Hostalen/Basell

Hexane content: <150 ppm

N₂ purities: >99.9 mol%

 

Location: Indonesia

End user: PT. Lotte Chemical

Capacity of LLDPE: 200,000 tons/year

Technology: Innovene/Ineos

Ethylene recovery: >92%

Butene-1 recovery: >96%