Aggreko and DuPont bring temperature control to sulfuric alkylation market
Power generation and HVAC specialty rental company, Aggreko, and sulfuric acid alkylation technology licensor, DuPont, have teamed up to provide Aggreko temperature control, including chiller systems, to DuPont STRATCO sulfuric acid alkylation customers worldwide.
Chiller systems are used in two key areas within the alkylation process to control process temperature: the reaction zone and the refrigeration section. The ability to reduce temperatures in these areas allows for significant process benefits in the form of increased throughput, reduced acid consumption, reduced corrosion and/or improved alkylate quality. Refineries use the alkylation process to convert low value mixed butylene, propylene and/or amylene feed streams into a high value alkylate product.
An East Coast refinery test was conducted by Aggreko’s Process Services (APS) group and the DuPont Clean Technologies division where chiller systems were installed in the reactor feed section of the STRATCO alkylation unit. Initial test results demonstrated an increase in alkylate production of over 45%, going from an alkylate product yield of 6,800 bpd at a 63°F reactor operating temperature to a production rate of 9,900 bpd at 60°F and a decreased feed temperature from 57°F to 42°F.
The successful test led to an arrangement between Aggreko and DuPont to further explore and expand temperature control for the sulfuric acid alkylation market.
Aggreko’s APS group is the rental equipment industry’s only specialized, rapid response team of elite, licensed process engineers that provides customized solutions for turnaround, emergency, process improvement or debottlenecking purposes. The group supports Aggreko’s petrochemical and refining division which has been providing rental equipment to the industry for more than 25 years.
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