Thermal convertors network modification in maleic anhydride process

Optimizing energy consumption has been paid attention both from economic and shortage of energy sources attitudes. Rapid development of energy consuming industries causes concerns about energy resources shortage and emission of pollutants. In this paper, H-501 oven in maleic anhydride process has been optimized and a plan for reducing emission was purposed using pinch analysis concept and its application in thermal convertors network. First, the process is simulated in Aspen Plus software to achieve thermal data. Results of simulation shows that R- 501 reactor exerting flow has a temperature of 560 degrees centigrade to provide heat necessities of the process and maximum use of this energy may be obtained using a thermal convertor instead of current oven. Currently, H-501 oven is used to change phase of feed from liquid to vapor in maleic anhydride process whose fuel consumption is 2 million cubic feet (MMscfd) and pollutant gas emission is considerable. Based on the results of thermal convertors network modification in maleic anhydride, using exerting flow of reactor in order to change phase of feed and increase the temperature of this flow up to design amount, will lead to H-501 oven omission and recovering 2 million cubic feet of gas fuel and avoid a massive amount of greenhouse gases.

energy optimization, thermal convertor network modification, pinch analysis, oven