CPE613 PROCESS SIMULATION LABORATORY

PROJECT: PRODUCTION OF PROPYLENE GLYCOL *This is group project (maximum 4 members per group).

Propylene glycol (C3H8O2) is a very common organic compound that is used in many applications. It is used as an oil dispersant, a solvent in pharmaceuticals, an antifreeze, and as a moisturizer, and any other applications. It is produced via the hydrolysis of propylene oxide which is usually accelerated by acid or base catalysis. Simulate the propylene glycol production process, including the reaction and separation processes. Assume a propylene oxide feed stream of 3952 kg/h and a water feed stream of 4990 kg/h. Both streams have temperature of 25oC and pressure of 1 bar. The goal is to produce a final product containing 99.5% propylene glycol. Assume a CSTR with a volume of 8,000 L and liquid volume of 85%. The outlet temperature of CSTR is 60oC. The simplified reaction kinetics are shown below.

3 6 2 3 8 2C H O H O C H O

13 175362

1.7 10 expfkJ kgmole

k hrRT

The distillation column have 10 stages with feed inlet at stage 5. Pressure of reboiler and condenser are 1 bar while reflux ratio is 1. Hints: 1. Use UNIQUAC fluid package. 2. Assume that the reaction takes place in both liquid phases of both reactants. 3. The kinetic data is based on excess of water, so the kinetics are first order in propylene oxide

only. 4. Use total condenser for distillation column. Questions: 1. What is the conversion of propylene glycol after reaction in CSTR? 2. What is the phase of the final product obtained? 3. What is the mole fraction for each component in the final product stream? 4. Is the purity of the final product 99.5%? If not, how to achieve the desired purity? Date of submission: 5th December 2014 before 6 pm via gofiledrop link. The title of the files should be PROJECT_GROUP LEADER. Please submit and zip the files into ONE folder only;

1) Report 2) HYSYS file