LAB 4: AN ACYCLIC PROCESS

Objectives:
1. To install and converge a conversion reactor
2. To simulate a process involving reaction and separation
3. To simulate heat exchanger as cooler using different fluid package.

PART 1:

Process:
Toluene is produced from n-heptane by hydrogenation over a Cr2O3 catalyst adsorbed on Al2O3:

C7H16 → C7H8 + 4H2

n-heptane is heated from 65oF to 800oF in a heater at molar flowrate of 100 lbmole/hr and fed to a
catalytic reactor, which operates isothermally and converts 15% of n-heptane to toluene. The effluent is
cooled to 30o F and fed into flash separator to remove all the hydrogen from the liquid stream.

Then, use a separation equipment to separate toluene from excess n-heptane.

Hint:
1. Use Soave-Redlich-Kwong property package.
2. Use adjust operation in HYSYS to achieve the goal
3. Optimize the separation process in the first separator.

Questions:
1. What is the phase of n-heptane at the inlet and outlet of the heater?
2. What is the mole fraction for each component after conversion of 15% n-heptane?
3. What is the phase and temperature of the inlet of separator?
4. Determine the mole fraction for each component at the outlet of the separator.
5. Use a separation equipment to obtain a high purity toluene. Record toluene purity you

PART 2:

Change the cooler to heat exchanger operation, use the simple-weighted type design. Use cooling water
as the cooling medium.

Hint:
1. Use the standard specifications for cooling water.
2. Use separate component list and fluid package for this operation.

Questions:
1. What is the amount of cooling water need to cool the effluent to 30o F?
2. Similarly change the heater, into heat exchanger operation also using the simple-weighted type
design, but use the MP steam as the heating medium. Use ASME Steam package as the fluid
package. What is the amount of steam required to achieve the desired condition?