UNISIM in Process Design
Example 1 – Ammonia Process
Process Design Course 2017-18
by
Mordechai Shacham
UNISIM INSTRUCTIONS
WEB SITE:
ftp://ftp.bgu.ac.il/shacham/ProcDes17_18/
Example 1 – Problem Definition
In this example a mixture of ammonia and water in the vapor
phase, saturated at 250 psia and containing 80 wt% ammonia, is
passed through a condenser at a flow rate of 10,000 Ib/hr, where
heat is removed at the rate of 5.8 x 106 Btu/hr. Its effluent is
expanded to a pressure of 150 psia and fed into a flash vessel (V-
100). Neglecting the heat loss from the equipment to the
surroundings and the pressure drop in the condenser, it is desired to
determine the composition of the liquid stream leaving the
separator. Use SRK fluid package.
Selection of the Compounds Present in the Process
Selection of Property Package SRK
Simulation Basis Manager –> Fluid Package
Specification of the FEED stream
From “Simulation Basis Manager” -> “Enter Simulation Environ..”
“Flowsheet” dropdown menu -> Add Stream
Specification of the Cooler “CONDENSER”
“Flowsheet” dropdown menu -> Add “Operation”. Select “Cooler”
Note: +Q not -Q
Definition of the Expander Valve
Doublecklick on the “Valve” icon
Its effluent is expanded to a
pressure of 150 psia and fed
into a flash vessel (V-100)
Definition of the Flash Vessel V-100
Double Click on the Separator Icon
Ammonia Separation Process – Final PFD
Ammonia Separation Process – Final Worksheet
Example 2 –Toluene Production - Problem Definition
Toluene is produced from n-heptane by dehydrogenation over a
CrZO3 catalyst adsorbed on AlzO3:
n-heptane is heated from 65 to 800°F in a SUPERHEATER, and
then fed to a CATALYTIC REACTOR, which operates isothermally
and converts 15 mol % of the n-heptane to toluene. Its effluent is
cooled to 65°F and fed to a separator. Assuming that the feed flow
rate is 100 lbmol/hr and all of the units operate at atmospheric
pressure, use UNISIM to determine the species flow rates in every
stream. Use Peng-Robinson fluid package.
Selection of the Compounds Present in the Process
Selection of Property Package Peng-Robinson
Specification of the FEED stream
From simulation basis manager “Enter Simulation Environment”
“Flowsheet” dropdown menu -> Add Stream
Specification of the Heater “SUPERHEATER”
“Flowsheet” dropdown menu -> Add “Operation”. Select “Heater”
Definition of Reaction sets
“Flowsheet” dropdown menu -> “Reaction Package”
Definition of the “CATALYTIC REACTOR”
“Flowsheet” dropdown menu -> Add “Operation”.
Select “Conversion Reactor”
Definition of the Condenser C-1
Double Click on the Cooler Icon
Definition of the Flash Vessel V-1
Double Click on the Separator Icon
Toluene Process – Final PFD
Toluene Process – Final Worksheet
Example 3 – Production of Ethyl Chloride - Problem Definition
Ethyl chloride is produced by the gas-phase reaction of HCI with
ethylene over a copper chloride catalyst supported on silica:
C2H4 + HCI →C2H5CI
In the process shown in the Figure, the feed stream is composed of
50 mol% HCI, 48 mol% C2H4, and 2 mol% N2 at 100 kmol/hr,
25°C, and 1 atm. Since the reaction achieves only 90 mol%
conversion, the ethyl chloride product is separated from the un-
reacted reagents, and the latter are recycled. The separation is
achieved using a distillation column, where it is assumed that a
perfect separation is achievable. The process is operated at
atmospheric pressure, and pressure drops are ignored. To
prevent the accumulation of inerts in the system, 10% of the feed to
unit S-1 is withdrawn in a purge stream, Use Peng-Robinson fluid
package.
Example 3 – Problem Definition
C2H4 + HCI →C2H5CI
90 % mol conversion
S-1 – 10 % mol of S4 to W
S4
T=25 ˚C P = 1atm
Peng-Robinson fluid package D-1 – Perfect Separation
Selection of the Compounds and Property Package
S4
Specification of the FEED stream
From simulation basis manager “Enter Simulation Environment”
“Flowsheet” dropdown menu -> Add Stream
Specification of the Recycle (R*) stream
“Flowsheet” dropdown menu -> Add Stream
Specification of the Mixer “M-”1
Doubleclick on the “Mixer” Icon
Definition of Reaction sets
“Flowsheet” dropdown menu -> “Reaction Package”
Definition of the “CATALYTIC REACTOR”
“Flowsheet” dropdown menu -> Add “Operation”.
Select “Conversion Reactor”
Definition of the Component Splitter D-1
Flowsheet” dropdown menu -> Add “Operation”.
Select “Component Splitter”
S4
Definition of TEE S-1
Flowsheet” dropdown menu -> Add “Operation”. Select “Tee”
S4
Definition of Recycle Block R-1
Flowsheet” dropdown menu -> Add “Operation”. Select
“Recycle”
S4
Ethyl Chloride Process – Final PFD
Ethyl Chloride Process – Final Worksheet
