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PROBLEM STATEMENT
There are thousands uses of compressor in the industry including to boost up the
pressure of process gas or air, blowing air into burners of furnace and also for cooling
liquefied natural gas.
You are required to explain the application of compressors in petroleum refining,
petrochemical and natural gas plant. You have to include the two (2) examples of
plant and use of the compressor for the particular plants.
2.1
PETROLEUM REFINING
2.1.1
Hydrodesulphurization Reforming
2.1.2
The figure 2 shows the PFD of hydrocarbon reforming for the production of synthesis
326 and 328 through line 350 and 352; and another input from ammonia refrigerant 355.
The function of this compressor is to draw the ammonia gas from the chiller (heat
exchanger) and be discharged to refrigerant condenser before fed to the refrigerant
2.2
NATURAL GAS
2.2.1
Gas Pipelines
Natural gas today is transported in a very large quantities over thousands of kilometers
stations may have multiple compressor units depending on the needs of the pipeline.
A compressor (102) is powered by the turbine (100) to turn the centrifugal compressor
and is powered by the natural gas from the pipeline itself.
2.2.2
In this processing plant, liquefied natural gas is used to act as refrigerant to cool the high
2.3
PETROCHEMICAL
2.3.1
Methanol Production
The process in methanol production involves of synthesis gas which contains carbon
monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen with copper as the catalyst at pressures below
150 atmospheres.
The process flow diagram shows that a compressor (circulating) 12 is used to pump
make up gas containing CO2, CO, H2 and CH4 at stream 10 together with recycle gas
2.3.2
The production scheme is very interesting because they using three piston-cylinder gas
from 60 to 70 psi
The second (bottom) piston-cylinder gas compressor pressurize hydrogen gas at 30 to
40 psi.
While the third (center) compressor doing a huge compression with a pressure about
2,800 psi and operate at temperature of 450 to 500oC. At this temperature, ammonia is
produced in the presence of catalyst. The catalyst may be selected from iron, titanium,
stelite, platinum and carbon steel. Also to mention that this compressor has three inlets.
The gas load into the compressor is in batch (intermitten).
REFERENCES
http://www.hitachi.com/businesses/infrastructure/product_site/compressor/classification.html