Modeling Polymer Recovery

In this simulation you will model a simplified polymer washing and drying process.

You will use:

•Component attribute GENANAL to characterize a nonconventional (NC) component

•The hydrocyclone model (HyCyc)

•The counter-current decanter model (CCD)

•The cyclone model (Cyclone)

Allow about 30 minutes to do this simulation.

Getting Started - Solids

Modeling Polymer Recovery • 5-1

Polymer Recovery Flowsheet

The process flow diagram and operating conditions for this simulation are shown in the following figure.

The feed stream FEED, a dilute slurry of polymer in acetone, is concentrated in a hydrocyclone. The concentrated slurry of polymer in acetone is then washed with water in a countercurrent decanter. The resulting slurry of polymer in water is dried with nitrogen. The gases from drying are separated from the solid polymer in a cyclone.

FEED

Pres = 16 psi Temp = 90 F

Acetone Flow = 1000 lb/hr Polymer Flow = 100 lb/hr

ACETONE

Eff = 0.95

for 100 microns

HCLONE

HYCYC

TO-CCD

WASH-OUT

WASH-H2O

Pres = 16 psi Temp = 200 F

H2O Flow = 400 lb/hr

CCD		Pres = 15 psi
		3 stages
CCD		Mixing eff = 0.9
		L/S ratio = 2.0
	SLURRY

HOT-N2	DRIER	TO-CYCL
Pres = 16 psi	MIXER
Temp = 350 F
N2 Flow = 3000 lb/hr	Pres = 15 psi

VENT

CYCLONE

CYCLONE

Eff = 0.999

5-2 • Modeling Polymer Recovery

Getting Started - Solids