You serve as a chemical engineer at the BP refinery, with responsibility for overseeing

operations involving the fractionating column. The column receives an equimolar mixture of

Benzene and Toluene and consists of $5$ plates, including a condenser and reboiler, with a total

condenser. This system maintains a constant volume and integrates a heating coil to warm the

crude oil, alongside a shaft for agitating the oil within the tank. Designed to yield a distillate of

$95\%$ purity with a $10\%$ waste in the bottoms, the column operates with a relative volatility of $3\mathrm{.}2$

and a reflux ratio of $3\mathrm{.}5.$ The feed remains in liquid state at its boiling point, and reflux is

reintroduced to the column at $100$ degrees Celsius. The maximum feed rate is set at $10,000$

kg$/$h$,$ with the minimum feed rate established at $70\%$ of this maximum. Sieve plates are employed

in the column.

Upon receiving notification from the refinery manager that the gas plant is non$-$operational, you

are tasked with troubleshooting the fractionating column. Subsequent inquiries with unit

operating personnel reveal that the pumparound circulating pump is malfunctioning. Whenever

the hot oil flow to the reboiler is increased, destabilization occurs within the gas plant. Reboiler

heat$-$duty and reflux rates become erratic, and the discharge pressure of the hot$-$oil circulating

pump exhibits significant fluctuations. The operating personnel suggest that a replacement pump

with reduced net positive suction head may be necessary.

As an engineer, your approach to solving this problem and restoring plant operation involves

thorough assessment of the pump malfunction and subsequent actions to address the issue.

This includes evaluating the pump's and column$$s performance, considering replacement

options, optimizing operating parameters, and collaborating closely with the operations team to

ensure effective resolution and sustained stability in plant operations. Develop a PowerPoint presentation you will give in the next

management giving an overview of how you solved the problem

$$the gas plant is non$-$operational. In your presentation, include

future recommendations to be considered.