Methanol (MeOH) Recovery System

An American specialty chemical producer came to Koch Modular for a modular system designed to recover methanol and isopropanol from two strong and weak aqueous feed streams containing varying amounts of methanol, isopropyl alcohol, water, and dissolved salts.

The project more specifically consisted of providing replacement columns and the supporting ancillary equipment for the client’s two existing distillation columns which were experiencing chloride stress corrosion cracking and had to be shut down often to weld on repair patches.

The columns provided by Koch Modular were fabricated from Duplex alloy 2205 materials resistant to stress corrosion cracking, and overall greatly improved the recovery system’s energy efficiency and provided 40% higher capacity as compared to the existing columns.

PROBLEM

The client’s original alcohol recovery system was a repurposed distillation unit designed in the mid 1900s and the existing columns were no longer performing well. Chloride stress corrosion cracking was leading to leaks and unsafe process safety conditions, in addition to frequent system shutdowns for welding. The existing columns also didn’t have enough stages to achieve the desired separation, requiring an increased reflux ratio and resulting in poor energy efficiency and higher energy consumption.

SOLUTION

The replacement columns provided by Koch Modular consist of an alcohol stripping column and a methanol
recovery column. The alcohol stripping column is a 66” ID trayed column and the methanol recovery column is a 87” ID packed column and is designed as free standing per the site wind & seismic values provided. The alcohol stripping column was operated under pressure and its vapors were used to reboiler the methanol recovery column, significantly reducing the energy consumption of the overall process.

Specialized materials were utilized to improve general corrosion and chloride pitting resistance, and provides higher creep, stress-to-rupture, and tensile strength at elevated temperatures. Material testing was performed on these materials to verify their appropriateness to the client’s process and ensure no chloride stress corrosion cracking takes place.

The replacement columns provided also had an increased number of stages, optimal packing, reduced column pressure, and excess reflux eliminated such that the energy consumption was reduced. The modifications introduced to the system by Koch Modular engineers also resulted in 40% higher capacity as compared to the existing columns.

RESULTS

The system is composed of three process modules containing a distillation column, reflux tanks, pumps and heat exchangers. A large diameter distillation column free stands alongside the modules where it is accessed via outrigger platforms. Access to each floor is provided by an adjacent Stair Tower. Working in conjunction with the client, this system replaced and expanded the capacity of their existing distillation units.

The installation of the modules was successfully completed and the system has been running since with no issues.