Abstract
The Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) generator sets operated on the low-temperature waste heat device of an aromatics complex is the first demonstration set in the chinese petrochemical industry. By taking this set as an example, the paper introduced the circulation processes of the heating medium water and the ORC working medium in the low-temperature waste heat device. The author also summarized the process and equipment issues during the operation of the sets: in terms of process, improper design of bypass valves in the flow paths of hot water, control authority of the set is not available in DCS, and unstable generator loads under the influence of ambient temperature, etc.; in the field of equipment, bad equipment maintenance & repair as well as operability, manufacturing fault of KE710 generator, screw expander vibration, and loud running noise, etc. Exploring and solving the problems found in one cycle of the set operation are beneficial to the operation optimization of the ORC generator sets in the future. Therefore, the author proposed such solutions as redesigning the working medium circulating pump and using the latest and optimized screw expander, which resolved part of the problems as well as improved the reliability, maintainability and operability of the ORC generator sets. Through comparison between the calibration data and the operational data of the generator set under the same heat resources, it was found that the set’s operating load became less than its calibration load as the heat exchanger started to scale and the screw expander started to wear.
Highlights
In the petroleum refining process, immense heat at the top of distillation columns needs to be cooled down through water or air coolers due to operational requirements of the production process
In theories and practices three methods are used to reuse the heat discharged at the top of distillation columns in the petroleum refining process: heat exchange between thermal insulation materials and demineralized water is utilized to produce hot water at a certain temperature when the temperature at the tower top is between 80°C and 150°C, and to generate thermoelectricity through Kalina cycle or Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology; a waste heat boiler is used when the temperature at the tower top is between 150°C and 200°C, which produces 0.4~0.5 MPa low-pressure steam to impel the steam turbine generator unit for electricity [3]
The Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) generator sets operated on the low-temperature waste heat device of an aromatics complex is the world's first demonstration set in the global petrochemical industry
Summary
In the petroleum refining process, immense heat at the top of distillation columns needs to be cooled down through water or air coolers due to operational requirements of the production process. The Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) generator sets operated on the low-temperature waste heat device of an aromatics complex is the world's first demonstration set in the global petrochemical industry. By taking this set as an example, the International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Engineering 2018; 6(4): 67-73 author investigated the existing problems of the set and proposed corresponding solutions [1,2,3]
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