Letter of Transmittal

April 22, 2018

Dr. Peyton Richmond, Professor

The Dan F. Smith Department of Chemical Engineering
Lamar University
Beaumont, TX 77710

Sub: Letter of Transmittal

Dear Sir

As a response to the senior design project, we intend to write this letter to inform you that this report examines a
practical study of ethylene production in a facility. This report is written as a result of a case study conducted at
Lamar University by a group of undergraduate students as a senior design project using Aspen Plus simulation
software.

The objective is to produce the 1.5 million metric tons of ethylene per year as set by the project specifications,
simulating the cracking of a 70/30 volume % ethane and propane mix feed.

Thank you for your time in reading this letter. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach us out through
email.

Sincerely,

(Our Group)
Chemical Engineering Undergraduate
Lamar University

1|Page
Title Page

Case Study: Preliminary Design for Ethylene Production

By: PingPeng Fan, Jim Le, Julia Lin, Farwa Rizvi, Xin Wei,
Bryan Wright

Plant Design II

2|Page
Table of Content
Letter of Transmittal ........................................................................................................................................................ 1
Title Page ........................................................................................................................................................................ 2
Table of Content .............................................................................................................................................................. 3
1. ABSTRACT / EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................. 4
2. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................ 5
3. DESIGN BASIS .................................................................................................................................................. 5
3.1 Process Flow Diagram ........................................................................................................ 5
3.2 Physical Properties of Ethylene .......................................................................................... 6
3.3 Raw Materials ...................................................................................................................... 6
3.4 Equipment Description ........................................................................................................ 6
3.4 Stream Table ....................................................................................................................... 6
4. ECONOMIC EVALUATION ................................................................................................................................ 7
4.1 Equipment Cost ................................................................................................................... 7
4.1a Compressors ............................................................................................................................................... 7
4.1b Heat Exchangers ......................................................................................................................................... 7
4.1c Reactors ...................................................................................................................................................... 7
4.1d Towers ......................................................................................................................................................... 7
4.1e Vessels ........................................................................................................................................................ 7
4.2 Raw Materials Cost ............................................................................................................. 7
4.3 Utility Cost ........................................................................................................................... 7
4.4 Operating Labor .................................................................................................................. 7
5. DISCUSSION ..................................................................................................................................................... 8
6. CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................................... 8
7. RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................................................................................... 8
8. SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS ....................................................................................................... 8
8.1a Safety........................................................................................................................................................... 8
8.1b Environmental Issues .................................................................................................................................. 8
8.1c HAZOP Analysis .......................................................................................................................................... 8
8.1d Risks ............................................................................................................................................................ 8
10. REFFERENCE ................................................................................................................................................... 9
11. APPENDIX ....................................................................................................................................................... 10
11.1 Appendix A: Chemical MSDS Sheets ............................................................................... 10
12. Nomenclature ................................................................................................................................................... 10

3|Page
1. ABSTRACT / EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4|Page
2. INTRODUCTION

3. DESIGN BASIS

3.1 Process Flow Diagram

Figure 3.1: PFD for Ethylene Production

5|Page
3.2 Physical Properties of Ethylene

3.3 Raw Materials

3.4 Equipment Description

Table 3.1: Equipment Description

Equipment Name Equipment Type

C-101
C-102
C-103
C-104
E-101
E-102
E-103
E-104
E-105
E-106
E-107
E-108
H-101
H-102
R-101
R-102
T-101
T-102
T-103
T-104
T-105
T-106
T-107
V-101
V-102
V-103
V-104
V-105

3.4 Stream Table

Insert Final Stream Table

Figure 3.2: Stream Table for Ethylene Production

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4. ECONOMIC EVALUATION

While understanding that the economic evaluation is the most essential part of

designing a process, alongside with safety, below is an estimated breakdown of all

the necessary funding required for this project. This evaluation includes the cost of

designing the equipment, the operating cost, the cost of the raw materials and

utilities used, and the operating labor.

4.1 Equipment Cost

4.1a Compressors
4.1b Heat Exchangers

The costs of the heat exchangers were based on the type and size of the

exchanger, and the material used. The exchanger material was chosen carefully in

order to avoid corrosion in the pipes. The carbon steel pipes are generally less

resistant to corrosion compared to materials such as stainless steel, etc., which is

generally used for more corrosive parts of the process in general. With our operating

conditions specified, it is safe to go with carbon steel for this process.

4.1c Reactors
4.1d Towers
4.1e Vessels

4.2 Raw Materials Cost

4.3 Utility Cost

4.4 Operating Labor

7|Page
5. DISCUSSION

6. CONCLUSION

Cash Flow Analysis

7. RECOMMENDATIONS

8. SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

8.1a Safety
8.1b Environmental Issues
8.1c HAZOP Analysis
8.1d Risks

8|Page
10. REFFERENCE

9|Page
11. APPENDIX
11.1 Appendix A: Chemical MSDS Sheets

12. Nomenclature

10 | P a g e