Absorption Cycle Steam Recovery from Polymerization Heat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Polyolefin production is an energy-intensive process that consumes significant amounts of electricity, steam, and fuel gas, leading to high energy costs and environmental impact due to heat discharge, with existing energy optimization methods requiring substantial mechanical/electrical energy input.
Innovation Solution
A process utilizing an absorption cycle to produce steam from polymerization reaction heat, where a cooling fluid thermally contacts the reaction, transferring heat to an absorption cycle to generate steam, using a binary working fluid to vaporize and absorbate, and then producing steam from condensate, which can be reused in the polymerization process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a gas compressor is used to recover energy from cooling water as described in WO 2009010514, then energy can be reused at a higher temperature, but substantial mechanical/electrical energy is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical compression system (gas compressor) with a thermal system (absorption heat transformer). The absorption cycle uses thermal energy from the polymerization reaction to drive the heat transformation, eliminating the need for mechanical compression and substantially reducing electrical energy consumption while still achieving high-temperature energy reuse
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters by using an absorption cycle with specific absorbate-absorbent pairs and operating at pressures below atmospheric pressure in the evaporator. This allows thermal energy to be effectively converted and reused at higher temperatures without requiring mechanical compression
2Ease of manufacture
If heat from polymerization reaction is discharged into the atmosphere, then the process is simple, but energy is lost and air pollution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful waste heat discharge into a beneficial resource by using the exothermic heat from polymerization reaction as the energy source for the absorption heat transformer. This heat would otherwise be wasted and cause pollution, but now it drives the absorption cycle to produce useful steam and cooling, turning a environmental problem into a energy solution
Solution Approach 2:
The absorption heat transformer performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides cooling to the polymerization reactor, generates steam for process use, and recovers energy that would otherwise be wasted. This multi-functionality maintains operational simplicity while eliminating energy loss and pollution
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces energy consumption, improves plant efficiency, and recovers wasted energy resources, achieving a higher coefficient of performance compared to previous methods by predominantly utilizing thermal energy with minimal mechanical/electrical power input.
Implementation Method 1
thermally contacting said polymerization reaction with a cooling fluid such that the cooling fluid removes heat from said reaction
Implementation Method 2
vaporizing a condensed absorbate using heat from said cooling fluid, thereby generating absorbate vapor
Implementation Method 3
exposing the absorbate vapor to the absorbent solution such that absorbate vapor is absorbed by the absorbent solution
Implementation Method 4
condensing the absorbate vapor to form a condensed absorbate
Implementation Method 5
using heat from the cooling fluid to heat the diluted absorbent solution to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the absorbate to produce an absorbate vapor and a concentrated absorbent solution
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for producing steam using heat recovered from a polymerization reaction. In particular, the present invention relates to a process for producing steam using heat recovered from a polymerization reaction for producing polyolefin, comprising the steps of: thermally contacting said polymerization reaction with a cooling fluid such that the cooling fluid removes heat from said reaction, thermally contacting at least part of said cooling fluid with at least one absorption cycle thereby transferring heat from the cooling fluid to said absorption cycle, using said absorption cycle to produce steam from a condensate, wherein the cooling fluid is used as a hot source for heating at least one evaporator and at least one generator comprised in said at least one absorption cycle. The present invention also relates to a process for cooling a polymerization reaction using a process as described herein. Said invention also relates to a polyolefin producing unit.