Dividing wall column application for platformate splitter - A case study

This paper presents results of a simulation study indicating that a DWC would be a beneficial alternative to conventional two columns in series configuration for a platformate splitter application in a petroleum refinery. The DWC was designed using commercial software, complemented by a fundamentally sound shortcut method proposed by Halvorsen et al. [1-3] which allows generation of reliable initial values for rigorous simulations. Compared to actual, two-columns-in-series configuration, a DWC requires approximately 33.6% less energy to deliver three fractions at required product specifications.