MODIFICATION OF CYCLONE AND SCRUBBER UNITS TO INCREASE POLYPROPYLENE RESIN PRODUCTION CAPACITY

• Main Author: Yoga Alfanio, Thomas
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/86985
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The polypropylene resin production process at PT XYZ utilizes Spheripol process technology licensed from LyondellBasell. When inaugurated in 1995, PT XYZ's production capacity was 12.5 tons per hour. Through debottlenecking processes, the current production capacity has increased to 34 tons per hour. During the nitrogen recovery process in the dryer, two issues disrupt operations: the excessive amount of polypropylene resin dust carried by the nitrogen cyclone output, and the moisture removal process in the nitrogen scrubber not performing as per the initial design basis. The aim of this study is to use a simulation model to evaluate the nitrogen cyclone and nitrogen scrubber to address these operational issues. Using the Aspen Plus version 14 simulation model, validated with actual operational data, options were identified to achieve optimal modification designs that could match the initial design conditions of 12.5 tons per hour. Once several optimal modification design options were obtained, an economic analysis was conducted using Microsoft Excel to determine the most profitable choice. The optimization of the cyclone unit involved adding a cyclone to enable separation in series with two cyclones. With this optimization, the polypropylene carryover was reduced from 4.7788 kg per hour to 0.8343 kg per hour. The benefit of cyclone optimization over 10 years is $229,664.62. The optimization of the scrubber unit involved increasing the water flow rate entering the scrubber and lowering the temperature of the incoming water stream. With this optimization, water carryover was reduced from 2,490.3 kg per hour to 556.2 kg per hour. The benefit of scrubber optimization over 10 years is $192,613.34.