Optimization of the vinyl-monochloride recovery process for the reduction of costs and environmental impact Original scientific paper
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Abstract
Reducing environmental impacts in the production processes is the focus of large industries. In the PVC production process, the loss of vinyl monochloride (VCM) through an incineration stream of inert materials is a point of attention due to emission of greenhouse gases. VCM is lost as part of the stream of uncondensed gases from the VCM recovery unit. The optimization of the VCM recovery process was carried out by modelling the industrial system and running it using a process simulator. The unit model and simulation results have been verified through plant operating data. Sensitivity analyses were performed to identify which independent variables improved the VCM condensation rate. Based on plant operating experience, three independent variables were selected and their influence on the VCM recovery flow rate was verified: pressure, composition of the input stream and utility water flow rate. After the sensitivity analysis, the plant operating pressure was selected for optimization, resulting in the additional quarterly recovery of 7.5 tons of VCM and a reduction of more than 5 tons of natural gas fuel, that is, an annual reduction of 23 tons of fuel, which represents 53 tons of CO2eq. Overall, the annual savings amount to US$15,000, US$1,060 by reducing the consumption of fuel gas alone. Therefore, by ensuring greater VCM recovery, competitiveness improves by reducing production costs, and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced due to the decrease in gas incineration.
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