PROCESS EQUIPMENTS

EI 307

Lalu Seban
Fractionating column

an essential item used in distillation of liquid mixtures.

to separate the mixture into its component parts, or fractions, based
on the differences in volatilities.
Effectiveness of separation is dependent upon
the height and diameter of the column,
the ratio of the column’s height to diameter, and
the material that comprises the distillation column itself.

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Fractionating column

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Fractionating column

Industrial distillation towers are usually operated at a continuous

steady state.
Unless disturbed by changes in feed, heat, ambient temperature, or
condensing, the amount of feed being added normally equals the
amount of product being removed.
The ”lightest” products with the lowest boiling points exit from the
top of the columns and the ”heaviest” products with the highest
boiling points exit from the bottom.
Industrial fractionating columns use external reflux to achieve better
separation of products.
Reflux refers to the portion of the condensed overhead liquid product
that returns to the upper part of the fractionating column.

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Fractionating column
Additional equipments

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Fractionating column
Additional equipments

Reflux drum
Condenser
Pump
Reboiler
Feed/bottom exchanger

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Vessels/Drum/Accumulators

Drum located in horizontal/vertical position with usually no internals

Horizontal vessels are used to collect the overhead product from a
fractionating tower.
The overhead product is condensed and is transmitted back to the
fractionation tower from which the fraction came. This liquid is
referred to as the reflux.

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Vessels/Drum/Accumulators

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Pumps

Pumps are the workhorse in an industry. Process Pumps are used to

move fluid in an industrial process.
Pumps need to work under extremely harsh conditions, especially
when liquids contain solids and fibrous material that make them
difficult to pump.
Liquid-gas mixtures need pumps that will handle them efficiently
without causing production stoppages or pump breakdowns.
Liquids containing large amounts of solid material require robust
pumps designed to withstand harsh conditions and to transport these
mixtures effectively.
Highly corrosive liquids like acids require the use of stainless steel in
pump construction.

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Pumps
Centrifugal pumps

most common type of pump used in the chemical industry.

highly efficient pumps, simple in design and operation, and generally
less expensive than other types of pumps.
All centrifugal pumps draw liquid into the impeller by suction, causing
a vacuum.
the centrifugal pump also makes it prone to cavitation, especially with
low intake pressures.
A major disadvantage of the centrifugal pump: poor suction power
and needs to be primed to start pumping.

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Pumps
Centrifugal pumps

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Pumps
Positive displacement pumps

all types of rotary pumps and include gear, screw, rotary vane and
piston pumps.
more efficient than centrifugal pumps at moving high viscosity fluids
and can deliver high pump pressures.
Positive displacement pumps can also move low vapor pressure fluids,
which flow at lower speeds and create more resistance.

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Pumps
Positive displacement pumps

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Pumps
Positive displacement pumps

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Pumps
Diaphragm pumps

a type of positive displacement pump and move liquids or liquid-gas

mixtures via a reciprocating diaphragm.
They have a number of advantages over other types of positive
displacement pumps.
do not have any internal wear components, which reduces
maintenance considerably.
require no sealing or lubrication, which eliminates the risk of oil vapor
leakage and contamination of the process fluid.

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Pumps
Turbine pumps

have turbine-like impellers with radially oriented teeth to move the

liquid.
Turbine pumps combine the versatility of a centrifugal pump with the
high discharge pressures of positive displacement pumps.
not suitable for the transport of liquids with solid content.

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Pumps
Turbine pumps

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Reboiler

Reboiler is a heat exchanger or a fired heater, providing heat that is

needed for the distillation column to perform its function.
Heat is often provided through shell and tube heat exchangers that
are typically filled with steam or a thermal fluid (Hot Oil).

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Condenser

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Heat Exchanger

Heat exchanger is a device which transfers heat from one medium to

another.
Heat is transferred by conduction through the exchanger materials
which separate the mediums being used.

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Heat Exchanger
Classification of Heat Exchangers by Flow Configuration

Counter Flow
Cocurrent Flow
Crossflow
Hybrids such as Cross Counterflow and Multi Pass Flow

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Heat Exchanger
Classification of Heat Exchangers by Flow Configuration

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Heat Exchanger
Classification of Heat Exchangers by Flow Configuration

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Heat Exchanger
Classification of Heat Exchangers by Flow Configuration

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Heat Exchanger
Classification of Heat Exchangers by Flow Configuration

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Heat Exchanger

Regenerative heat exchangers: the flow path normally consists of a

matrix, which is heated when the hot fluid passes through it (this is
known as the ”hot blow”). This heat is then released to the cold fluid
when this flows through the matrix (the ”cold blow”).
Recuperative heat exchangers

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Heat Exchanger
Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger

Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers consist of a large number of small

tubes which are located within a cylindrical shell.
The tubes are positioned into the cylinder using a tube bundle.
Two fluids can exchange heat, one fluid flows over the outside of the
tubes while the second fluid flows through the tubes.
The fluids can flow in a parallel or a cross/counter flow arrangement.

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Heat Exchanger
Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger

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Heat Exchanger
Plate Heat Exchanger

consist of thin plates, often stainless steel, joined together, with a

small amount of space between each plate, typically maintained by a
small rubber gasket.
The surface area is large, and the corners of each rectangular plate
feature an opening through which fluid can flow between plates,
extracting heat from the plates as it flows.
The fluid channels themselves alternate hot and cold fluids, meaning
that heat exchangers can effectively cool as well as heat fluidthey are
often used in refrigeration applications.
Plate heat exchangers have such a large surface area, they are often
more effective than shell and tube heat exchangers.

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Heat Exchanger
Plate Heat Exchanger

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Heat Exchanger
Adiabatic Heat Exchanger

an intermediate fluid is used to store heat, which is then transferred

to the opposite side of the exchanger unit.

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Boilers

A closed vessel in which water or other liquid is heated,

steam or vapor is generated, steam is superheated, or any combination
thereof, under pressure or vacuum, for use external to itself,
by the direct application of energy from the combustion of fuels, from
electricity or nuclear energy

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Boilers
Boiler Feed Water System

Water that converts into steam by steam boilers system called Feed
water and system that regulates feed water called Feed water system.
Open feed System or Closed feed system
Condensed steam returned from the processes or Raw water arranged
from outside the boilers plant processes

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Boilers
Boiler Steam System

Steam System is kind of main controlling system of boilers process.

Steam Systems are responsible to collect and control all generated
steam in the process.
Steam systems send steam generated in the process to the point of
use through pipes ( piping system).
Throughout the process, steam pressure is controlled and regulated
with the help of boilers system parts such as valves, steam pressure
gauges etc.

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Boilers
Boilers Fuel System

Fueling is the heart of boilers process and fuel system consists of all
the necessary components and equipment to feed fuel to generate the
required heat.
The equipment required in the fuel system depends on the type of
fuel used in the system.
Wood, Coal, Pet Coke, Rice Husk
Furnace oil, Kerosene
LPG, LNG

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