columns in applications involving reactor product yield dis- tribution shifts. However, it is not a straightforward task to create a design basis for a case study when applying PPD in product yield distribution shifts without knowing the hydraulic capacity limits of each of the existing columns in the product recovery distillation train. On the other hand, a case study for a plant capacity expansion can be developed without any information about the hydraulic capacities of the existing columns. The case study that will be discussed in Part II of this article is based on the premise that a bottleneck exists at some point in the existing distillation train (or, more likely, throughout the entire distillation train) and that PPD can be employed to increase the throughput at the bottleneck. In the selected case study, the entire distillation train is debottlenecked using PPD concepts to demonstrate how PPD is imple- mented in large throughput expansions. Large and small throughput expansions In the upcoming Part II of this article, the development of a case study with process simulations will be presented to show the benefits obtained from debottlenecking distil - lation trains using PPD. The case study will examine the debottlenecking of the product recovery section of an ethyl- ene oligomerisation plant. A description of how the design basis and operating conditions for the process simulations were developed will be provided. Part II will provide the reader with approximate levels of ‘small’ and ‘large’ throughput expansions (expressed
as a percentage of existing capacity) that are obtainable through implementation of PPD. The number of new dis- tillation columns required for large throughput expansions will be discussed (earlier in this article, it was noted that many small throughput expansions can be achieved with the addition of a single new column). A comparison of the energy efficiency of a PPD scheme versus a parallel distilla - tion train configuration will also be provided. References 1 Lappin, G. R., Sauer, J. D., editors, Alpha Olefins Applications Hand - book , 1st ed, CRC Press, 1989. 2 Lappin, G. R., et al ., Olefins, Higher, Kirk and Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology , 3 (17), 716-721, 1983, Wiley, New York, US. 3 Petlyuk, F. B., Platonov V. M., Slavinskij D. M., Thermodynamically Optimal Method for Separating Multicomponent Mixtures, Int. Chem. Eng. 5(3), 555-561, 1965. 4 Lorenz, H. M., Staak, D., Grutzner, T., Repke, J. U., Divided Wall Col- umns: Usefulness and Challenges, Chemical Engineering Transactions, 69, 229-234, 2018. David Kockler is a Principal at Dividing Wall Distillation and Separa- tions Consulting, LLC. He specialises in the development and imple- mentation of advanced distillation processes for the chemicals and refining industries. He has over 30 years’ process design experience working in the chemicals and refining sectors and holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Northwestern University and a master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Vir- ginia. Email: dwc-separations-consulting@outlook.com
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