Integração energética e análise de viabilidade econômica em uma planta de dimetil éter

Abstract

Focusing in the cost reduction in a dimethyl ether production plant through Methanol, in the reduction of utilities consumption, in the preservation of natural sources as water, and in the reduction of pollutants from fuel combustion to generate steam, the present work intended the implementation of the Pinch analysis to accomplish the energy integration in the process, along with the economic feasibility analysis, as well the evaluation of four minimum temperature variation (ΔTmin). After performing the simulation of the process in COCO open source software, the conventional steps for this method were proceeded, the energy cascades were prepared, curves were composed for each temperature studied. By these results it was possible to accomplish the economic feasibility analysis. By the analysis of the full cost related to ΔTmin, it was concluded that the best ΔTmin for the plant in study is the 10K, therefore the network of heat exchangers was elaborated. The obtained reductions in the calculations represent 55,31% in the utilities cost compared to the plant without the integration, with an investment of US$ 76.904 (R$ 299.925,6) in heat exchangers. Upon the construction of the heat exchangers it was also possible to elaborate a new Layout for the plant.