Professur für Chemische und Thermische Verfahrenstechnik
Campus Straubing für Biotechnologie und Nachhaltigkeit
Technische Universität München
Anlagenprojektierung / Cooperative design project
The design of a chemical plant for the production of
benzene
Description
In the present project, a plant for the continuous production of benzene via the
hydrodealkylation of toluene must be designed. An overview for the complete process must
be carried out, as well as a detailed analysis for two process units, namely the reactor and
the distillation column.
Process description
Toluene and hydrogen are converted in a reactor to produce benzene and methane
according to the following reaction:
Toluene + Hydrogen → Benzene + Methane
The reaction does not go to completion, and excess toluene is required. The non-
condensable gases are separated and discharged. The benzene product and the unreacted
toluene are then separated by distillation. The toluene is then recycled back to the reactor
and the benzene is removed in the product stream. A block diagram of the process is
presented In Figure 1.
Figure 1: Block diagram for a process that produces benzene.
Professur für Chemische und Thermische Verfahrenstechnik
Campus Straubing für Biotechnologie und Nachhaltigkeit
Technische Universität München
Specifications
The production capacity of the plant is 5 tons of benzene per hour.
The annual operating time of the plant is 8000 hours.
Instructions
Design a benzene plant that produces 5 tons of benzene per hour. Distribute the different
tasks between the members of the team and make a Gantt chart for the project timeline.
Tasks
Draw a process flow diagram with a stream table.
Solve the material and energy balances.
Calculate the dimensions of the process units.
Estimate the mean residence time in the plug flow reactor.
Estimate the number of stages required in the distillation column.
Suggest a control scheme and draw a P&ID.
Calculate the capital and operating costs.
Complete an economic analysis for the plant.
Analyze the safety of the process.
Analyze the environmental effect of the process.
Questions serving the basic understanding:
Is the reaction exothermic or endothermic?
What is the use of recycle streams?
What temperature and pressure should be selected in the reactor?
How is the temperature range and pressure in the distillation column selected?
Can you suggest an idea for heat integration in the process?
What is the single-pass and what is the overall conversion of the process?
What is a purge stream?
Data
You can find all required data and methods in the following book:
Analysis, synthesis and design of chemical processes, 2018, Richard Turton et al.,
Pearson education.
Professur für Chemische und Thermische Verfahrenstechnik
Campus Straubing für Biotechnologie und Nachhaltigkeit
Technische Universität München
Suggested report contents
1. Cover with title, course of study, names, matriculation numbers, start date,
submission date, supervisor, and professorship.
2. Summary.
3. Table of contents.
4. Introduction
5. State of the art.
6. Raw material sources.
7. Process description.
8. Process unit dimensions.
9. Plug flow reactor.
10. Distillation column.
11. Control scheme and P&ID.
12. Economic analysis.
13. Safety analysis.
14. Environmental analysis.
15. Bibliography.
16. Appendix.
