Section VII - The Oxo-Synthesis
The cost of the HP section of the plant is approximately 35.RM/1 yearly ton alcohol. This however does not include the gas preparation, compression plant and the utilities.
The labor requirement for a 15,000 ton/year unit were given as 50 men/shift (based on batch operation). This includes all operating and maintainance labor.
The Utilities are given below:
Basis: 15,000 ton/year alcohol from C11-C17 with 30% olefine content in feed.
|
Heating Requirement: |
|
|
Distillation |
320,000 kg cal/hr |
|
Gas preheater 1st stage |
13,500 kg cal/hr |
|
Gas preheater 2nd stage |
16,500 kg cal/hr |
|
Methanizer |
31,000 kg cal/hr |
|
Losses |
40,000 kg cal/hr |
|
421,000 kg cal/hr |
|
|
Cooling Requirement: |
|
|
Synthesis, 1st stage |
100,000 kg cal/hr |
|
Synthesis, 2nd stage |
52,500 kg cal/hr |
|
Product cooler, 1st stage |
120,000 kg cal/hr |
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Product cooler, 2nd stage |
150,00 kg cal/hr |
|
Final cooler |
90,000 kg cal/hr |
|
Gas cooler |
60,000 kg cal/hr |
|
572,500 kg cal/hr |
|
|
Power Requirement: |
100 Kwh |
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The operating cost was given based on 1 Kg. alcohol (for 15,000 ton/year plant). |
|
|
Power |
0.04 Rm/kg alcohol |
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Labor |
0.03 Rm/kg alcohol |
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Laboratory |
0.01 Rm/kg alcohol |
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Materials |
0.01 Rm/kg alcohol |
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Feedgas |
0.03 Rm/kg alcohol |
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Amortization |
0.06 Rm/kg alcohol |
|
0.18 Rm/kg alcohol |
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At Ruhrchemie the cost of the olefine in the feed was calculated at 0.43 RM/kg. Thus the price of the final product would be 0.60-0.65 RM/kg Alcohol.
7. Conclusions.
The oxo-synthesis is the second of three major different processes for the production of high boiling alcohols. The great effort put into its commercial realization is due to the shortage of all kinds of soaps and detergents in Germany. Another important use for the product would have been its application in lubricating esters.
The development of the process may lead to continuous operation and possibly better control of the synthesis, such as suppression or closely controlled shift of the double bond to give clearly defined a-substituted alcohols of predetermined branching.