PE0390 : Distillation - Optimization & Troubleshooting

This practical and highly-interactive course includes various practical sessions and exercises. Theory learnt will be applied using our state-of-the-art simulators. The Distillation Process is used in many industries to separate mixtures into components. It is defined as a process in which a liquid or vapor mixture of two or more substances is separated into its component fractions of desired purity by the application and removal of heat. The application and removal of heat makes the distillation process energy intensive as it consuming up to 50 percent of a refinery’s operating costs due to intense heating and cooling cycles. Having accurate measurements to feed the control system is critical for energy efficient, safe and reliable operation. Improving distillation columns has always been challenging as problems can occur when operators and engineers have insufficient information about operating conditions. Failing to properly monitors and control process variables can result in decreased product quality and throughput, increased energy costs and unsafe operations that put employees and capital equipment at risk.
This course is designed to provide delegates with a detailed and up-to-date knowledge on the operation, design and troubleshooting of distillation process. It covers distillation technology; different distillation methods; and distillation process that involve normal operation of bubble plate, vapor velocity and velocity distribution.
The course will also discuss the factors influencing plate efficiency; the scope of distillation column including flash stages, process design basic and reflux ratio; how tray works; the various types and function of reboilers; features and use of condensers in the operation of distillation columns; instrumentation and control application; the importance of steam stripper and its efficiency; the purpose of pump around; as well as pump around heat removal, vapor flow and fractionation.
At the completion of the course, participants will be able to operate the vacuum system; explain the functional and structural efficiency of packed towers; employ distillation column packing as well as tray columns; recognize the guidelines and methods on how to determine the column diameter; and troubleshoot various distillation column problems.