This article explains how dividing wall column (DWC) technology was used to revamp a refinery gasoline unit in Southeast Asia and overcome capacity and product-quality limitations. Distillation columns consume significant energy in refineries, and DWC technology offers a way to reduce energy use, improve separation efficiency, increase throughput, and enhance product specifications. The refinery originally used two naphtha splitter columns in series; as feed rose from 125 t/h to 185 t/h and later 255 t/h, the system became a bottleneck.
38%Capacity increase
$3MRetrofit vs $15M new
255 t/hFeed rate reached
PTQReprinted, Q1 2020
Case study · Southeast Asia refinery
Highlights
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Two naphtha splitters in series became a bottleneck as feed rose from 125 to 185 to 255 t/h
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One splitter converted into a middle dividing wall column for parallel operation and reduced overlap between cuts
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Selected because it needed no additional plot space and minimized capital expenditure
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Delivered a 38% capacity increase, improved product quality, and higher downstream yields
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The revamp
Converting one splitter into a middle dividing wall column enabled parallel operation and reduced cut overlap — a 38% capacity increase with improved product quality and higher downstream yields, at $3 million versus $15 million for a new column and no extra plot space.
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Challenges with carbon disulfide removal in petrochemical naphtha→DWC revamp boosts octane and throughput : PTQ→Optimize Naphtha Processing using Dividing Wall Technology : CEP→Maximize margins in a light naphtha isomerization unit by producing C6 products : Hydrocarbon Processing→Introduction to Dividing Wall Columns : CEP→
