considered to simulate actual facility operating conditions.

This represented a total process mass

balance of more than 99.99%. Successful pilot plant tests confirmed the simulation results and this
design (Fig. 3) eliminated half of the equipment from the original process.


Another possible application for divided-wall technology is in the absorber. This section is
characterized by very complex thermodynamics. To apply divided-wall technology successfully to the
absorber section, the basic idea was to combine the rectifier and afterwasher. However, temperature
and pressure profiles on both divided-wall sides must fit together even with changing feedstock
composition. Extensive simulation led to a new solution (Fig. 4).


The mainwasher is shorter, since the rectifier takes over a part of the mainwasher's function. Rectifier
and afterwasher are combined into a divided-wall column. It is an unusual solution because the
dividing wall goes up to the column top so that two different gaseous streams leave the column at the
top, which are crude butadiene and a C4 mixture.

Technology benefits. The butadiene extraction process main units using divided-wall technology is
illustrated in Fig. 5. When compared to Fig. 1, two distillation towers have been eliminated. One is
located in the absorption section and the other in the distillation section. This design offers several
advantages over the classic process:


Fig. 3. Divided-wall technology applied to the
butadiene distillation section.

Fig. 4. Divided-wall technology applied to the
absorber section.

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04.07.2006 http://www.hydrocarbonprocessing.com/default.asp?Page=14&S=S&PUB=22&ISS=...