Interactions Between Process Conditions, Yields, and Equipment

For reactors, insufficient catalyst volume is the major limitation in revamp. Increasing space velocity could be effective but at the compromise of a shorter cycle length. The alternative solutions are to replace the existing reactor or install a new reactor, but they are expensive. Changing reactor internals could be effective to resolve the issue. Flow maldistribution is another common constraint that could be resolved by alternating loadings. The third constraint is increased pressure drop due to new catalyst or increased flow rate. In this case, reducing pressure drop upstream could help relax this constraint. 

9 INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PROCESS CONDITIONS, YIELDS, AND EQUIPMENT 

In operation, the operator can keep the plant running optimally by taking complex interactions into consideration under constantly changing conditions such as changes in feed quality, the product slate, process heat recovery heat exchanger performance, 

In revamps, we could do the same by exploiting these parameters and interactions to reduce the capital investment required for new equipment and retrofitting existing equipment. The following are some of the examples  

Discovering these opportunities requires a good understanding of these interactions and the technical skills to exploit them for meaningfiil use. The skills come from experience and creativity. 

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