$7$PROJECT: Ethylbenzene Production Process Design Project

PDP$3702(2024)$

The economics information:

Useful information:

Process Design Project

PDP$3702(2024)$

Other assumption

Where further assumptions are necessary, these must be clearly stated and supported

in the design report.

The ethylbenzene market is expected to witness market growth at a rate of $3\mathrm{.}83\%$

in the forecast period from $2022$ to $2030$ and is expected to reach USD $4\mathrm{.}43$ billion

by $2030($Ethylbenzene Market Size. Value. Demand, & Revenue Analysis By $2030$

$($

databridgemarketresearch.com$)).$ As a process engineer you are hired to design a

chemical plant to produce $80,00$ metric tons per annum of ethylbenzene from

benzene and ethylene. Benzene $($assumed pure$)$ and Ethylene $($containing mole

fraction of $0\mathrm{.}93$ ethylene, $0\mathrm{.}07$ ethane$)$ feed are available at $\frac{20}{b}ar$ and $298K.$

Ethane is inert.

It may be assumed that the only reactions occurring are:

$C_6{H}_6{?}_{\text{b}\text{e}\text{n}\text{z}\text{e}\text{n}\text{e}}+\{\begin{array}{c}\text{:}[C_2{H}_4]\\ & \text{e}\text{t}\text{h}\text{y}\text{l}\text{e}\text{n}\text{e}& \end{array}\{\begin{array}{c}\text{:}[C_6{H}_5{C}_2{H}_5]\\ & \text{e}\text{t}\text{h}\text{y}\text{l}\text{b}\text{e}\text{n}\text{z}\text{e}\text{n}\text{e}& \end{array}$

The molar ratio of benzene to ethylene are approximated at $8$:$1,$ in order to minimize

yielding tri$-$ and higher ethyl benzene.

The plant should operate for $330$ days in a year, to allow for shutdown and

maintenance.

You are required to assess the feasibility of such a process by producing the

following:

A conceptual design of the process.

A detailed design of the REACTOR AND ONE other major piece of

equipment $($such as a heat exchanger, separator, or other equipment$).$

The economics information:

Useful information: