Assessment $2$: Process Flowsheet Synthesis

In this assessment, you are to synthesize a process flowsheet and determine process

conditions by utilizing appropriate chemical engineering principles, methods, and

tools.

Production of Monoethanolamine $($MEA$)$

A new facility to produce Monoethanolamine $($MEA$)$ is being considered due to an

increase in demand. Therefore, you have been requested to design a plant to produce

$10,000$ metric tons per annum of MEA $($at $99\mathrm{.}5\%$ purity$).$ The plant is to be located in

Richards Bay, South Africa.

The following feed streams are available:

$$ Ammonia feed is available at $10$ atm and $50\backslash$deg C from an adjacent plant.

Ammonia is available as an aqueous solution of $55$ wt$.\%$ of ammonia and $45$

wt$.\%$ water.

$$ Ethylene Oxide $(99\mathrm{.}99\%$ pure$)$ is available at $5$ atm and $40\backslash$deg C$.$

$$ A reaction temperature of $150$ oC is maintained in the reactor, and a pressure

of $160$ atmospheres to avoid the evaporation of ammonia.

$$ Under specified conditions of reaction, only MEA is produced when the feed

ratio of Ammonia $/$Ethylene oxide is $10.$

$$ The plant should operate for $330$ days a year to allow for shutdown and

maintenance.

You need to consider alternative design decisions.

$1.$ Decide whether the process is batch or continuous.

$2.$ Conduct material balances to determine the target feed requirements.

$3.$ Consider whether a recycling system is required.

$4.$ Consider different conversion rates to determine how this will affect the feed

requirements and process flowsheet.

$5.$ Determine the amount of heat to be added or removed from the system by

conducting an energy balance.

$6.$ Determine the thermodynamic favourability of the reaction at standard

conditions and reaction conditions.

$7.$ Determine process conditions for the separation units.

$8.$ Determine the effect of the inerts on the system.

$9.$ Determine the effect of pressure on compression work.

$10.$Provide a process and instrumentation diagram with a table containing the

flowrates, compositions, temperature, and pressures of all the process streams.

$11.$ You must use excel in all your calculations.

$$ You must compile your findings in an appropriate technical report. Please refer to

Learning Unit $3$ of your workbook for information regarding how the report should

be structured. Please follow the style of a technical report. Include an executive

summary, introduction, conclusion, references, etc. for every report. Your

workbook contains valuable information about what content is required in the report

and how to structure the report. Give references for all information. Substantiate

all assumptions.