Chemical condenser cooling load in Propanol Refining Unit

[brainrat82]

I'm working out the chilled water needs for the chemical condenser in our Propanol Refining Unit. Vapor undergoes partial condensation in the 1st condenser before recovery in the chemical condenser. With the vapor feed temperature, uncondensed propanol temperature and detailed design specs (tube size, length, shell measurements) can I calculate the vapor feed amount with accuracy?

 

[stoicism2025]

I'm working out the chilled water needs for the chemical condenser in our Propanol Refining Unit. Vapor undergoes partial condensation in the 1st condenser before recovery in the chemical condenser. With the vapor feed temperature, uncondensed propanol temperature and detailed design specs (tube size, length, shell measurements) can I calculate the vapor feed amount with accuracy?

You can get a decent estimate, but I think don't expect pinpoint accuracy without more info.

 

[brainrat82]

You can get a decent estimate, but I think don't expect pinpoint accuracy without more info.

Thanks for the reality check. I see what you mean. My partner and I ran the numbers using the available specs and while the results are helpful, we'll keep refining as we gather more details. It's a bit of a balancing act but we're on the right track.

 

[fluidphasepro1263]

Nice work! Keep tweaking the inputs and checking the heat transfer; your estimate will get better as the system gets dialed in.

 

[brainrat82]

Thanks for the follow up on my old post.

Accurate. We continued to refine our calculations through May and June as the unit came online.

The initial estimates established a proper baseline. Our model's accuracy improved significantly once we could incorporate operational data. It was an iterative process of adjustment, just as you mentioned.

 

[Bergamo32]

Thanks for the follow up on my old post.

Accurate. We continued to refine our calculations through May and June as the unit came online.

The initial estimates established a proper baseline. Our model's accuracy improved significantly once we could incorporate operational data. It was an iterative process of adjustment, just as you mentioned.

Try to just factor in the partial condensation and any efficiency losses, and you should get a reasonably accurate number.

 

[brainrat82]

Thanks for adding your thoughts to this older discussion. Your recommendation to factor in partial condensation and efficiency losses is sound and matches the initial feedback I received here. As I noted earlier, our team used that methodology to set a baseline for our cooling load calculations before the unit went into service. When we compared real operational data, our initial estimates proved accurate, which validated the calculation method. The input from everyone here was beneficial during the project's early phases.