Conceptual Design and Economic Feasibility of Valuable Substances Recovery Unit

Overview

This project presents a comprehensive conceptual design and economic feasibility study of a plant designed to recover valuable substances from two input streams. The streams contain a mixture of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane, methanol, ethanol, water, and nitrogen. Through innovative process design and optimization, the project achieves recovery of valuable substances with an economic potential (EP) of nearly 90% of the theoretical maximum.

The study encompasses several key phases:

1. Conceptual design of the recovery process
2. Detailed process simulation using Aspen HYSYS
3. Economic analysis to determine the feasibility and profitability of the plant
4. Optimization of the recovery process to maximize economic potential

The project demonstrates the application of advanced chemical engineering principles, process simulation techniques, and economic analysis in the field of resource recovery and utilization.

This project showcases advanced capabilities in process design, simulation, and economic analysis of complex chemical engineering systems, demonstrating proficiency in industry-standard tools and methodologies.

Project Highlights

• Conceptual design of a multi-component recovery unit
• Process simulation using Aspen HYSYS
• Achievement of ~90% of maximum Economic Potential (EP)
• Detailed economic feasibility analysis
• Optimization of recovery processes for various valuable substances

Repository Structure

This repository is organized into the following directories:

1. /DIG: Contains Conceptual Process Flow Diagrams (PFD)

   • Detailed visual representations of the recovery process
   • Conceptual diagrams illustrating key process concepts

2. /SIM: Houses all Aspen HYSYS simulation files

   • Simulation model of the recovery unit with compressor and cooling water
   • Simulation model of the recovery unit with cooling cycle and no compressor

3. /MISC: Additional files related to the project

   • Case studies
   • Condenser load vs Vapour fraction
   • Temperature vs Vapour fraction

4. /DOCS: Documentation and presentation materials

   • Comprehensive project report
   • Assignment details
   • Visualizations, diagrams, and tables

Key Skills Demonstrated

• Conceptual Process Design
• Process Simulation (Aspen HYSYS)
• Economic Feasibility Analysis
• Chemical Engineering Fundamentals
• Process Optimization
• Technical Report Writing
• Data Visualization (Microsoft Visio, Excel)

How to Use This Repository

1. Clone the repository to your local machine
2. Explore the /DIG folder for visual representations of the process
3. Open the Aspen HYSYS files in the /SIM folder to examine the simulation details
4. Refer to the /MISC folder for additional calculations and data
5. Review the comprehensive report and visualizations in the /DOCS folder

Future Work

• Investigation of additional recovery techniques for improved efficiency
• Integration of renewable energy sources in the recovery process
• Life cycle assessment (LCA) of the recovery unit
• Exploration of potential applications for the recovered substances

Contact

For any queries, feel free to reach out via email at [email protected] or through GitHub.

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