chemical engineering research and design 9 3 ( 2 0 1 5 ) 632639

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Chemical Engineering Research and Design

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/cherd

Integration of light hydrocarbons cryogenic

separation process in renery based on LNG cold
energy utilization

Yajun Li , Hao Luo

Key Lab of Heat Transfer Enhancement and Energy Conservation of the Ministry of Education, South China
University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510640, China

a b s t r a c t

China depends on naphtha (derived from oil) as the main feedstock for ethylene plants, resulting in margins that are
negatively co-related with the price of oil. Clearly, light hydrocarbons provide cost advantages over the conventional
naphtha feedstock. Consequently, the recovery of light hydrocarbons from renery gas has been gathering more and
more signicance. Nonetheless, the cryogenic separation needs low process temperatures, substantially increasing
the refrigeration load requirements and, attendantly, the compression requirements associated with the refrigera-
tion system. In this paper, the cold energy of liqueed natural gas (LNG) is applied to light hydrocarbons cryogenic
separation process to replace the compression refrigeration system on the basis of one China renery. The results
show that LNG can provide 14,373 kW cold energy for the separation process, resulting in a direct compression power
saving of 7973 kW and making the utilization rate of LNG cold energy as high as 71.9%.
2014 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords: LNG; Cold energy; Light hydrocarbons; Cryogenic separation; Compression refrigeration; HEN

1. Introduction naphtha as feedstock), and ethylene in turn produces the

Ethylene is one of the basic petrochemical raw materials, and
its production capacity can reect a countrys comprehen-
sive economic strength. Though Chinas ethylene industry has
been growing rapidly in recent years, some problems must not
be neglected. At present the domestic ethylene consumption
is mainly embodied in the downstream derivatives, of which
60% for polyethylene production. National Development and
Reform Commission report pointed out that in 2012 Chinas
ethylene equivalent consumption reached 3216 104 t/a and
the self-sufciency rate was about 46.2%. The market gap of
ethylene has to be compensated by massive imports (NDRC,
2012; Yu et al., 2010).
Furthermore, insufcient and inferior ethylene feedstock is
the key problem constraining the development of Chinas eth-
ylene industry. Because the cost of feedstock approximately
makes up 7075% of the production cost of ethylene (using
same dominant inuence on the production cost of down-
stream products, reduction in the production cost of ethylene
by optimization of ethylene feedstock can effectively improve
the plant competitiveness and overall efciency. In fact, the
heavier the feedstock is, the higher the production cost of eth-
ylene is. Unfortunately, Chinas ethylene feedstocks are heavy
and diverse owing to the fact that crude oil is heavy, the yield
of light hydrocarbons is low, the development and utilization
of NG started relatively late, and ethylene feedstocks over-rely
on domestic renery.
The China feedstock used in ethylene crackers is illustrated
in Fig. 1 (CECIC, 2013). For the most part, steam cracking is
dominated by naphtha as a feedstock with most of the rest
being hydrocracking bottom oil with minor contributions from
light hydrocarbons and C3 /C4 C5 . By contrast, the world eth-
ylene feedstocks mainly comprise light hydrocarbons (40%)
and naphtha (45%) (Hua et al., 2005). More specically, the

Corresponding author. Tel.: +86 020 87112044; fax: +86 20 87114677.
E-mail addresses: liyajun@scut.edu.cn, 939687668@qq.com (Y. Li).
Received 9 October 2013; Received in revised form 24 March 2014; Accepted 11 April 2014
Available online 26 April 2014
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cherd.2014.04.009
0263-8762/ 2014 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
 chemical engineering research and design 9 3 ( 2 0 1 5 ) 632639 633

parafns and impurities such as hydrogen sulde and carbon

Nomenclature dioxide. Reneries may recover light hydrocarbons from off-
gases and thus make more prot on these products instead
LNG liqueed natural gas of simply using them as fuel gas (Wang et al., 2008; Wu
CDU crude distillation unit and Sun, 2001). Commonly, C2C4 olens can be used as
DCU delayed coking unit raw material to produce other petrochemical products, while
HDT petrol and diesel hydrotreating unit C2C4 parafns can be used as feedstock for production of
C2 + ethane and heavier hydrocarbons ethylene by steam cracking process. The non-hydrocarbon
C4 + butane and heavier hydrocarbons impurities which are harmful to the process and applications
Tmin the minimum heat transfer temperature differ- must be removed before being processing. Depending on the
ence requirements the renery gas must be separated into differ-
TV throttle valve ent hydrocarbons or fraction (Malaty et al., 2012). Generally
m.C p product of heat capacity and mass ow by pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and cryogenic separa-
rate = mass ow rate average heat capacity. tion such high quality products can be recovered. Despite
NG natural gas widespread use in industry, PSA method suffers from a num-
FCC uid catalytic cracking ber of inherent disadvantages such as huge equipment and
HCU hydrocracking unit low light hydrocarbons recovery rate. While cryogenic sepa-
CCR continuous catalytic reforming ration through condensation and fractionation at cryogenic
C3 + propane and heavier hydrocarbons temperatures requires refrigeration over a wide temperature
C5 + pentane and heavier hydrocarbons range (171291 K), which results in high power consumption
E heat exchanger (Zhao et al., 2007).
HEN heat exchanger network LNG is known as green fuel due to its higher energy
density and environmentally friendly advantages. As a cryo-
genic liquid of about 111 K at atmospheric pressure, LNG
raw materials in Middle East and North America are abundant, should be vaporized for normal use at the receiving site, and
high-quality and cheap, which is an enormous advantage for a signicant quantity of cold energy is available during the
their ethylene industry. With the massive price increase of vaporization process (about 230 kWh/t), which can be utilized
world energy, this advantage will be more prominent. Cur- to recover energy and enhance economic performance. While
rently, the cash cost of ethylene production in Middle East light hydrocarbons cryogenic separation process requires a
and North America stands around $400 and $500 per tonne lot of compressor power associated with the refrigeration
respectively. Constrained by sources, China is at a distinct dis- system. If LNGs cold energy can be used effectively, its
advantage in the cost of ethylene feedstock, and the cash cost gasication would cost fewer and make environmental pol-
of ethylene production is well over $1000 per tonne (CECIC, lution less, additionally, light hydrocarbons can be separated
2013; Holmquist, 2010; True, 2010). from renery gas with low refrigeration compression require-
Consequently, high production cost is forcing China to ments. Therefore, with the rapid development of LNG project
broaden the ethylene feedstock sources on the basis of the construction in China, the research of light hydrocarbons cryo-
existing feedstock. Particularly, renery gas has received much genic separation process in renery based on LNG cold energy
attention as potential feedstock sources. utilization is becoming increasingly important (Shi and Che,
Renery gas is a mixture of gases generated during renery 2009; Kumar et al., 2011; Li et al., 2012; Gao et al., 2011).
processes which are used to process crude oil into vari- The LNG is mainly used to meet the needs for industrial
ous petroleum products which can be traded or sold. The fuel, renery and petrochemical plant feedstocks and city gas.
composition of renery gas varies, depending on the compo- Two sets of devices of light hydrocarbons cryogenic separa-
sition of the crude oil it originates from and the processes it tion in renery by LNG cold energy are under construction or
has been subjected to. Common components include hydro- being planned in China now. Firstly, the Qingdao LNG receiv-
gen, C1C4 parafns, C2C4 olens, a small amount of C5 ing terminal with the receiving capacity of 300 104 t/a will
be put into operation in October, 2014, and the project of light
hydrocarbons cryogenic separation based on LNG cold energy
utilization will start to work by then. Meanwhile, Hainan LNG
receiving terminal is planning and designing the project of
light hydrocarbons cryogenic separation in renery, too. The
integration of light hydrocarbons separation process by using
LNG cold energy on the basis of the Qingdao LNG receiving
terminal is presented in this paper.

2. Thermal load analysis of conventional

light hydrocarbons cryogenic separation
process in renery

2.1. Composition of light hydrocarbons

The light hydrocarbon gases produced in oil rening processes

are called renery gas which are primarily from the secondary
Fig. 1 Chinas ethylene feedstocks composition in 2011. processes such as crude distillation unit (CDU), uid catalytic
634 chemical engineering research and design 9 3 ( 2 0 1 5 ) 632639

Table 1 Source and composition (by volume) of renery gas.

Device name CDU FCC DCU HCU HDT CCR
4
Scale (10 t/a) 1200 180 420 760 200 200
Flow (kg/h) 5429 7050 23,550 16,286 2071 26,667
H2 (V%) 1.95 10.15 12.82 32.00 55.31 73.12
CO 1.77 3.75 0 0.00 0.00 0.00
CO2 15.64 5.42 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00
H2 S 2.24 0.00 0.40 1.00 0.10 0.43
CH4 17.50 33.28 58.54 20.00 16.57 8.61
C2 H4 2.52 16.18 4.88 0.00 0.00 0.00
C2 H6 17.34 13.60 17.83 10.00 14.40 7.96
C3 H6 1.49 0.37 1.24 0.00 0.00 0.00
C3 H8 11.40 0.05 1.15 14.00 7.53 2.57
C4 H8 1.10 0.00 0.27 0.00 0.00 0.00
C4 H10 8.44 0.00 0.25 17.00 2.88 1.20
C5 H12 4.85 0.02 0.28 6.00 2.06 3.93
N2 13.08 14.3 2.04 0.00 1.15 1.98
O2 0.68 2.88 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.20

cracking (FCC), delayed coking unit (DCU), hydrocracking unit
(HCU), petrol and diesel hydrotreating unit (HDT), and con-
tinuous catalytic reforming (CCR). As shown in Table 1, a
stream of renery gas at a rate of 81.05 tonnes per hour (t/h)
(68 104 t/a) comprised of methane and signicant quanti-
ties of light hydrocarbons (C2C4 hydrocarbons) contaminated
by hydrogen, inert gases, acidic impurities such as H2 S or
CO2 , water and quantities of C5 and heavier hydrocarbons are
processed to recover light hydrocarbons.
The treatment methods of compression, caustic wash-
ing, purication and drying have been used to remove
non-hydrocarbons, impurities, and other constituents that
adversely affect the properties of nished products or reduce
the efciency of the conversion processes. Afterwards, as
shown in Table 2, the light hydrocarbons of 78.56 t/h, 288 K,
3.45 MPa can be obtained.
is introduced as top reux feed into the demethanizer
(D-301). The bottom product stream from demethanizer (D-
301) goes through deethanizer (D-401), ethylene fractionator
(D-402), depropanizer (D-403), and debutanizer (D-405) in
sequence to separate the heavier hydrocarbons, thereby com-
pleting the separation process (Li and Yin, 2009; Wang et al.,
1996).
2.3. The cold energy distribution
The light hydrocarbons cryogenic separation process is sim-
ulated by Aspen Plus engineering software. As shown in
Tables 3 and 4, the refrigerant system provides refrigeration
load for the heat exchangers by the vaporization of refrigerant
at different temperatures.

2.4. Analysis of compression power of refrigeration

2.2. Process description
system

Figs. 2 and 3 present a schematic diagram of light hydrocar-

bons separation process and refrigeration system respectively
(Wu and Wang, 2002). The predistillation tower (D-302) which
roughly separates the C1 components from C2 + is positioned
in front of the demethanizer (D-301). The bottom stream
from predistillation tower (D-302) enters deethanizer (D-
401), meanwhile, the overhead stream is divided into four
parts after going through refrigeration system, and then
the four streams enter demethanizer (D-301) from differ-
ent feed positions. The demethanizer (D-301) recovers the
ethylene and heavier components in the bottom stream.
The overhead gas is compressed to 3.9 MPa and condensed
to 165.7 K in cold box using the top product stream from
demethanizer (D-301) and heat exchanger E-326 using ethyl-
ene refrigerant. The condensed stream is ashed into vapor
stream and liquid stream after owing through a throt-
tle valve. The vapor stream could help to deeply cool light
hydrocarbons in refrigeration system, while liquid stream
Renery requires refrigeration to separate out light hydrocar-
bons from the renery gas. Typically, a C3 refrigerant, usually
propene, and a C2 refrigerant, typically ethylene, are used.
Particularly in this system using low pressure demethanizer
where lower temperatures are required, a separate methane
refrigeration system is also employed. Thus three separate
refrigeration systems are required, cascading from lowest
temperature to highest (Fabrega et al., 2010).
2.4.1. Ethylene refrigeration system
As shown in Fig. 4, ethylene refrigerant at a rate of 1596 kmol/h
is compressed to 1.83 MPa by compressor G-601, and then con-
densed to 238.0 K sequentially in heat exchanger E-601, E-602,
E-603, E-604 and E-605. Afterward, the temperature of ethylene
refrigerant drops to 211.0 K, 194.7 K and 171.7 K in sequence via
throttle valve. The compression power of ethylene refrigera-
tion system is 1869 kW.

Table 2 Composition of the total renery gas after pretreatment.

Composition (V%) Value Composition (V%) Value Composition (V%) Value

H2 46.89 CO 0.29 CH4 25.06

C2 H4 2.37 C2 H6 11.70 C3 H6 0.40
C3 H8 3.88 C4 H8 0.10 C4 H10 3.08
C5 H12 3.03 N2 2.89 O2 0.31
 chemical engineering research and design 9 3 ( 2 0 1 5 ) 632639 635

Fig. 2 Process ow diagram of light hydrocarbons cryogenic separation process.

Fig. 3 Process ow diagram of refrigeration system.

Table 3 Cold energy distribution provided by ethylene refrigeration system.

No. Cold-set user Temperature (K) Cooling load (kW) Percentage (%)

1 Predistillation tower overhead condenser E-351 211.0 1469 31.0

2 Demethanizer feed cooler E-311 211.0 412 8.7
3 Demethanizer feed cooler E-1311 194.7 1810 38.1
4 Demethanizer feed condenser E-313 171.7 507 10.7
5 Demethanizer feed condenser E-1313 171.7 69 1.4
6 Methane refrigerant condenser E-326 171.7 478 10.1
7 Total 4745 100
636 chemical engineering research and design 9 3 ( 2 0 1 5 ) 632639

Table 4 Cold energy distribution provided by propene refrigeration system.

No. Cold-set user Temperature (K) Cooling load (kW) Percentage (%)

1 Ethylene fractionator overhead condenser E-405 232.7 5622 37.7

2 Predistillation tower feed cooler E-307 232.7 436 2.9
3 Ethylene refrigerant condenser E-605 232.7 4838 31.6
4 Ethylene refrigerant cooler E-604 260.7 276 1.8
5 Predistillation tower feed cooler E-315 260.7 398 2.6
6 Deethanizer overhead condenser E-401 260.7 1987 13.0
7 Feed gas cooler E-220 273.3 1109 7.2
8 Ethylene refrigerant cooler E-603 273.3 392 2.6
9 Ethylene refrigerant cooler E-602 291.6 251 1.6
10 Total 15,309 100

2.4.2. Propene refrigeration system 3. Heat exchanger network (HEN) design

As shown in Fig. 5, propene refrigerant at a rate of 2186 kmol/h
is compressed to 1.86 MPa by compressor G-501, and then its 3.1. Parameters and conditions of HEN
temperature drops to 291.6 K, 273.3 K and 260.7 K sequentially
via throttle valve. In addition, the overhead gas from tower F- Commonly, LNG is transferred to shore-based terminals for
503, outlet streams from heat exchanger E-603 and E-220 and storage in tanks, and it should be vaporized before being
another outlet stream from compressor G-501 (765 kmol/h, delivered to the pipeline at the required pipeline pressure of
305.2 K, 0.57 MPa) mixes together, and then the temperature 78 MPa. The temperature of LNG is 123.2128.2 K when pres-
of the mixture drops to 232.7 K via throttle valve. The com- surized to 78 MPa, and then during the vaporization process,
pression power of propene refrigeration system is 5461 kW. it releases cold energy, approximately 180 kWh/t. According to
the analysis of cold energy distribution, the integration of light
hydrocarbons cryogenic separation based on LNG cold energy
2.4.3. Methane refrigeration system
utilization can be presented.
The separation process designed with low pressure demeth-
As shown in Table 5, LNG is the cold stream, and it replaces
anizer which operates in 0.61 MPa and with overhead
compression refrigeration system to provide cold energy for
temperatures of 138.6 K requires methane temperature levels
the hot streams. The ethylene and propene refrigeration sys-
of refrigeration to generate reux. The advantage of the low
tem can be replaced by LNG cold energy totally. Meanwhile, in
pressure demethanizer is the lower total power requirements
the methane refrigeration system, the pressure and tempera-
and lower total capital cost while the disadvantage is the lower
ture of demethanizer reux stream are 1.01 MPa and 144.9 K,
refrigeration temperature required. Ethylene refrigeration at
respectively, and the temperature of LNG is low enough; there-
approximately 171.7 K is typically used for chilling the over-
fore methane refrigerant can be condensed to 144.9 K by using
head condenser. However, the pressure and temperature of
LNG cold energy at a lower pressure of 1.05 MPa (considering
demethanizer reux stream are 1.01 MPa and 144.9 K respec-
the uid resistance loss of 0.04 MPa). In fact, the compres-
tively, and hence ethylene refrigeration cannot cool the reux
sor discharge is partially condensed to 149.1 K by the top
stream to 144.9 K directly. Accordingly, the methane refriger-
product stream from demethanizer (D-301) and then further
ant is compressed to 3.9 MPa and then condensed to 165.7 K by
condensed to 144.9 K by LNG cold energy. Compared with con-
the overhead gas from demethanizer and ethylene refrigerant,
ventional process, 643 kW compression power can be saved by
and then its temperature drops to 144.9 K via a throttle valve.
using LNG cold energy. As a consequence, a total compression
The compression power of methane refrigeration system is
power of 7973 kW can be saved.
851 kW.

F-603
T=171.7 E-351
P=0.1169 F-601 TV1
E-326 E-1313 E-313 F-602
T=211.0
E-311
P=0.6977
T=194.7 T=194.7
P=0.3637 P=0.3637
TV3 TV2 T=222.4 T=222.4

T=211.0 T=194.7 T=203.8 T=203.8

T=171.7 TV4
P=0.6977 P=0.3637
P=0.1169
E-1311
P=1.83 E-314 L-314
T=238.0
P=1.83 Units:
G-601 E-601 E-602 E-603 E-604 E-605 Temperature T: K
Pressure P: MPa

Fig. 4 Refrigeration system with ethylene as refrigerant.

 chemical engineering research and design 9 3 ( 2 0 1 5 ) 632639 637

E-445 T=260.7
E-310 E-401
P=0.395
TV5
E-405 F-502 E-604
E-315
E-605 TV4 TV6
F-501 T=232.7 T=260.5
P=0.14 E-403 E-442
P=0.395
T=260.7
TV8
TV9 P=0.395
TV7 T=272.4
T=262.8
T=260.7 P=0.57
P=0.395 L/E-316

T=305.2 F-503
P=0.57
T=268.6
T=260.2 T=268.4 P=0.585
T=291.6
T=232.7 P=0.975 E-457 TV2
P=0.14 T=315.2
E-446 F-504

P=1.86 E-603
E-501 E-502 TV1
Units: G-501 E/L-321 E-602
Temperature T: K T=291.6
Pressure P: MPa T=292.1 P=0.975 T=273.3
TV3 E-220
P=0.585

Fig. 5 Refrigeration system with propene as refrigerant.

The total cold load that the hot streams in HEN need
is 14,373 kW. In order to meet the requirements, LNG of
110,000 kg/h, namely 92.4 104 t/a is needed, and it can
provide 19,978 kW cold energy. The components of LNG are:
88.77 mol% methane, 7.54 mol% ethane, 2.59 mol% propane,
0.45 mol% i-butane, 0.56 mol% n-butane, 0.09 mol% nitrogen.
Considering that the heat capacity of LNG varies greatly when
it is vaporized from 128.2 K to 273.2 K, LNG is divided into three
sections to estimate its heat capacity and cold load.
is to start where it is most constrained. If the problem has
pinch point, the problem is most constrained at the pinch. If
there is no pinch, the problem is called threshold problem that
needs either hot utility or cold utility but not both. As shown
in Fig. 6, it is a threshold problem with minimum heat trans-
fer temperature difference (Tmin ) 15.5 (in pseudo-pinch) that
needs just heat utility. The minimum requirement for hot util-
ity for this optimal value is 5605 kW and there is no need for
cold utility.

3.2. Analysis of composite curve of cold and hot

streams 3.3. Analysis of HEN

A HEN is a system of several heat exchangers connected
together. In the design of HEN, the pinch technology leads
towards obtaining the minimum values for several parame-
ters of the process such as utility types and levels, minimum
number of heat exchanger units and their areas, and operating
and capital costs. The philosophy in the pinch design method
The HEN enables several streams to exchange sufcient
amounts of thermal energy so that they can attain the
respective temperature values (targets) specied by process
requirements. As shown in Fig. 7, the grid diagram of com-
pleted design for optimal value of Tmin is obtained by Aspen
Plus and Aspen Pinch engineering software. Hot streams are

Table 5 Operation conditions of streams in heat exchanger network.

Name Operating condition of inlet and outlet Thermal load (kW)
streams in HEN

Initial tem- Flow (kg/h) Target tem- m.C p

perature perature (kW/K)
(K) (K)

Methane refrigerant Condenser E-326 149.1 6028 144.9 131.9 554

Demethanizer feed condenser E-1313 176.2 18,137 174.2 34.5 69
Demethanizer feed condenser E-313 188.2 18,137 174.2 36.2 507
Demethanizer feed cooler E-1311 213.9 48,233 196.4 103.4 1810
Demethanizer feed cooler E-311 218.2 48,233 213.9 95.8 412
Predistillation tower overhead condenser E-351 231.4 56,524 218.2 111.3 1469
Predistillation tower feed cooler E-307 239.7 60,734 234.7 87.2 436
Ethylene fractionator overhead condenser E-405 241.4 63,540 241.2 28,110.0 5622
Predistillation tower feed cooler E-315 267.9 60,734 262.7 76.5 398
Deethanizer overhead condenser E-401 269.0 43,628 268.4 3312 1987
Feed gas cooler E-220 288.2 78,233 277.2 100.8 1109
LNG 128.2 110,000 173.2 110.0 4619
LNG 173.2 110,000 223.2 180.0 7441
LNG 223.2 110,000 273.2 114.6 7918
638 chemical engineering research and design 9 3 ( 2 0 1 5 ) 632639

Fig. 6 Hot and cold composite curve at minimum heat transfer temperature difference of 15.5.

located in the upper side of the grid diagram and cold stream
is in the lower side.
As shown in Fig. 7, the hot streams are cooled to the tar-
get temperatures by LNG cold energy, and the cold utility is
not needed, resulting in a cold energy saving of 14,373 kW.
Meanwhile, LNG is heated from 128.2 K to 237.8 K, and the
heat utility is needed for the sake of providing 5605 kW load
to heat it from 237.8 K to 273.2 K which means about 5605 kW
cold energy has not been utilized in the total LNG cold energy
of 19,978 kW. Consequently, the utilization rate of LNG cold
energy is 71.9%.
Some heat transfer temperature difference being too large
leads to a relatively large HEN exergy loss. Calculation results
suggest that the total exergy loss associated with heat transfer
is 5766.4 kW (52.4 kWh/t), while the available cryogenic exergy
during the process of LNG changing from the initial state of
8 MPa, 128.2 K to the nal state of 7.5 MPa, 273.2 K is 92.3 kWh/t;
accordingly the exergy efciency of the HEN is only about
43.2%.
From the above analysis it is concluded that the LNG cold
energy cannot be utilized efciently with a single utilization
technology. Therefore by applying LNG cold energy in a cas-
cade using different temperature ranges, large energy savings
will be achieved. Meanwhile, the seasonal disparity in LNG
demand should also be taken into account. In fact, the amount
of cold energy differs depending highly on the time of the year.

5605kW

HPS 303.2K 288.2K

554kW
Methane refrigerant 144.9K
149.1K
69kW E-326
Demethanizer feed 174.2K
176.2K
507kW E-1313
Demethanizer feed 174.2K
188.2K

Demethanizer feed 1810kW E-313

196.4K
213.9K
E-1311
412kW
Demethanizer feed 213.9K
218.2K E-311
1469kW
Predistillation tower 218.2K
condenser 231.4K 436kW
E-351
Predistillation tower 234.7K
feed 239.7K
5622kW E-307
Ethylene fractionator 241.2K
condenser 241.4K 398kW
E-405
Predistillation tower 262.7K
feed 267.9K 1987kW E-315
Deethanizer condenser 268.4K
269.0K 1109kW E-401
Feed gas E-220
277.2K
288.2K
237.8K 230.8K 217.9K 215.3K 177.5K 174.6K 160.9K 156.8K 139.2K 140.3K 133.6K
273.2K 128.2K

E-HPS
139.1K

Fig. 7 Completed minimum energy requirement network design.

 chemical engineering research and design 9 3 ( 2 0 1 5 ) 632639
The demand for nature gas (NG) in the daytime and winter is
larger, and consequently LNG can provide more cold energy in
the vaporization process. While the demand for NG at night
and in the summer reduces, and hence the cold energy that
can be utilized also reduces.
4. Conclusions
Renery gas recovery process consumes a large amount of
compression power associated with the refrigeration system.
In respond to this problem, the cold energy of LNG is applied
to light hydrocarbons cryogenic separation process. Such tech-
nology described here will contribute greatly to the promotion
of energy conservation and improve operational efciency at
the renery. The research shows that LNG can provide cold
energy 14,373 kW for conventional separation process and
consequently 7973 kW power consumption of compression
refrigeration system can be saved. The utilization rate of LNG
cold energy in the separation process reaches 71.9%.
References
China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation (CECIC), 2013.
Available at: http://www.sinosure.com.cn/sinosure/
xwzx/rdzt/ckyj/ckdt/xyzt/qcxy/dzspyj/157067.html
China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation (CECIC), 2013.
Available at: http://www.sinosure.com.cn/
sinosure/xwzx/rdzt/ckyj/ckdt/xyzt/qcxy/dzspyj/159702.html
Fabrega, F.M., Rossi, J.S., dAngelo, J.V.H., 2010. Exergetic analysis
of the refrigeration system in ethylene and propylene
production process. Energy 35 (3), 12241231.
Gao, T., Lin, W.S., Gu, A.Z., 2011. Improved processes of light
hydrocarbon separation from LNG with its cryogenic energy
utilized. Energy Convers. Manage. 52 (6), 24012404.
Holmquist, K., 2010. Global ethylene surplus to last through 2011.
Oil Gas J. 108 (27), 4652.
639
Hua, B., Guo, H., Li, Y.J., Xiao, Z., 2005. Optimization of ethylene
feedstock in China by using more light hydrocarbon
resources. Petrochem. Technol. 34 (8), 705709.
Kumar, S., Kwon, H.T., Choi, K.H., et al., 2011. LNG: an
eco-friendly cryogenic fuel for sustainable development. Appl.
Energy 88 (12), 42644273.
Li, Y.J., Chen, X.S., Chein, M.H., 2012. Flexible and cost-effective
optimization of BOG (boil-off gas) recondensation process at
LNG receiving terminals. Chem. Eng. Res. Des. 90 (10),
15001505.
Li, Y.J., Yin, H., 2009. Utilization of cryogenic energy of LNG in
ethylene cryogenic separation process. J. South China Univ.
Technol. (Nat. Sci. Educ.) 37 (3), 6265.
Malaty, W., Mccue, R., Brown, D., Larson, W., Malaty, W. et al.,
2012. Producing olens by pyrolytic cracking of renery
off-gas. WIPO Patent 2012027554.
National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), 2012.
Available at:
http://www.sdpc.gov.cn/jjxsfx/t20130228 530239.htm
Shi, X.J., Che, D.F., 2009. A combined power cycle utilizing
low-temperature waste heat and LNG cold energy. Energy
Convers. Manage. 50 (3), 567575.
True, W.R., 2010. Global ethylene production continues advance
in 2009. Oil Gas J. 108 (27), 3438.
Wang, H.S., Zhou, P., Song, W.D., 1996. Optimization analysis of
low pressure demethanization process. J. Chem. Ind. Eng. 47
(3), 287292.
Wang, Y.F., Hua, B., Li, Y.J., 2008. Study on comprehensive
utilization of renery dry gas. Mod. Chem. Ind. 28 (2), 6974.
Wu, C.P., Sun, L., 2001. Separation and comprehensive utilization
of renery dry gas. Mod. Chem. Ind. 21 (5), 2023.
Wu, X.S., Wang, Z.W., 2002. Process improvement of chilling
separate system in ethylene plant. Chem. Ind. Eng. Prog. 21
(10), 763765.
Yu, J.N., Zhang, L.J., Li, J.C., 2010. Development status and its
prospect of PetroChinas ethylene industry. Petrochem.
Technol. Appl. 28 (3), 258263.
Zhao, X.P., Wu, L.J., Wang, L.G., 2007. Recovery of light olens
from renery dry-gas. CN Patent 1919975A.