Market and product
Utilizing Exhaust Gas from the 3,000 m³/h Line to Establish a Piping System for Purging the 1,500 m³/h Line
1. Current Technical Status of Production
According to the manufacturer’s regulations (Cosmodyne – USA), after one year of operation, the liquefied gas production line must undergo a complete purging of the distillation column in order to remove moisture and hydrocarbon impurities accumulated inside the column. These impurities can cause column blockage, adversely affecting production output and increasing the line’s electricity consumption. In such cases, the manufacturer requires the use of the line’s own air compressor to carry out the purging process.
2. Research Process and Proposed Solution
Given that the 3,000 m³/h line is located close to the 1,500 m³/h line and that, during operation, the 3,000 m³/h line continuously discharges nitrogen gas to the atmosphere, the research team investigated and proposed a solution to utilize this exhaust nitrogen gas. Specifically, nitrogen discharged from the outlet of the 3,000 m³/h line is collected and conveyed via a pipeline system to the inlet of the purging system of the 1,500 m³/h line.
With this configuration, the air compressor of the 1,500 m³/h line does not need to operate, while the required flow rate and purging duration specified by the manufacturer are still fully ensured.
To implement this solution, the research team carefully evaluated factors such as the flow rate and pressure requirements of the 1,500 m³/h line, as well as the output parameters of the 3,000 m³/h line, to ensure compliance with technical requirements for the purging process.
3. Achieved Efficiency and Benefits
As the air compressor is not required during the purging process, no electrical energy is consumed for purging the 1,500 m³/h line.
The average purging duration is approximately five days. Compared with the purging operation of the 1,500 m³/h line in February 2021, when electricity consumption for purging amounted to 65,860 kWh, this figure represents the direct benefit gained from utilizing exhaust gas from the 3,000 m³/h line. The estimated annual electricity cost savings are approximately VND 122 million.
