Economic Comparison of a High Pressure Crystallization Process with a Distillation Process.
Abstract
A process capable of a 99+% purity was desired. There exists distillation technology capable of this separation. But, the heat added and removed in a distillation process is very high for a high purity operation and is very expensive. A more energy efficient process is desired by using a high pressure crystallization process. Crystallization of many systems may result in a complete separation and at theoretical yields. There were two designs examined for high pressure crystallization. The designs differed in the pressurization of a batch charge. The first was pressurized by an inert gas. The gas was compressed and fed to the charged crystallizer. The second was hydraulically pressurized. This crystallizer was a double sided piston and cylinder arrangement. The low pressure end had a large area and the high pressure end has a smaller area. The pressure difference being therratio of the areas. It was found that the hydraulic process was least costly, $171,300, to build and operate on a 10 year basis. The gas pressurization was next at $180,795. The distillation process, as expected, was most costly at $196,200. The gas pressurization process may have more premise to further reduce operating costs. The inert gas could be replaced with air and a diaphragm could be used to separate it from the liquid charge. This would result in a savings of $6,600 in capital expense. The gas pressurization process is also the process on which a patent would most probably be obtained.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 07, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA166718
Entities
People
- James E. Dietz