Layout of Distillation Column 3

[dogtop]

Eng-tipers,

I am facing a distillation challenge. I need to know procedures, tips, rules-of-thumb, on how to layout a distillation column. Yes, I have seen Kister's books. Are there any other resources such as articles, papers, books, pamphlets on the subject?

TIA

 

[pennpiper]

DogTop,
Go here (

http://pipingdesigners.com/Training - section 2c1.htm)

and here (

http://pipingdesigners.com/Training - section 2c2.htm).

They might be of help to you.

Good luck.

prognosis: Lead or Lag

 

[MJCronin]

I guess I am becoming somewhat tired of these posts.....

Time after time we seem to see posts running something like:

"I have just been hired/promoted. I must know all there is to know about XXXXXX. Provide me with all procedures, tips, rules-of-thumb I kneed for this complex task."

My questions are these:

- Is there not an MBA on the face of the earth that sees an advantage in hiring experienced personnel ?

- Does every employer seem to feel that a brand new graduate is worth the same as an experienced, competent and trained engineer ? What happens when the project fails ? I can only assume that questions like the one above means that the responsibility for any project failure NEVER comes back to management !! Hire a newbie......fire the newbie.....lather, rinse, repeat.

- Doe everyone in the third world expect to be spoonfed ? Most of the posts on these fora (which used to be a unique and wonderful learning platform) are now requests for spoonfeeding....

The Original Poster could.....of course, purchase and read the fine book offered by JOP....

Anyone else out there feel the same way I do ??


MJCronin
Sr. Process Engineer
Venture Engineering & Construction

http://www.VentureEngr.com

 

[TD2K]

Good point MJ. I think when companies express concern over a shortage of engineers they are concerned that means that they might, gasp, have to pay more and to a large extent, they do think engineering is a commodity whose costs are to be minimized in order to maximize profits.

I don't think I'm paid bad but if you look at what a new chemical engineer starts out now and compare it to my salary, the return on more than 30 years experience isn't that great. Management though seems to have no problems recognizing the value they represent (/sarcasm off).

 

[LittleInch]

I agree MJC. I tend not to answer these on the basis that a little knowledge is a very dangerous thing and even offering locations for books, training materials etc is like someone asking how can I learn to drive by reading a book / playing GTA. Next to impossible without killing someone at some point or crashing at the first intersection. The problem is experience and quality cannot be easily measured unlike $ or £ /hr and time taken to complete a task, even if the results are not what you would expect. By that point they've all moved onto the next project....

My motto: Learn something new every day

Also: There's usually a good reason why everyone does it that way

 

[hacksaw]

in all fairness, I am afraid that the next generation of engineers are being tasked to perform by their management or they show them the "door"

we seem to have shipped all engineering work of the sort where young engineers can come to grips with the profession, to countries where the minimum wage is $30 a month....

I remember a conversation with a younger engineer in 1980 when I told him that it takes a good five years tust to come to gips with applied engineering and even longer to be able to manage a project effectively (okay I'm a slow learner), he was mortified, his management only allowed six months...

 

[sshep]

To the original question, check out:
Distillationgroup.com/technical.htm
For papers on distillation tower details.

Pretty general question. Remember: more information = better answer.

 

[dogtop]

MJCronin,

What would be the title, author, publisher, date of publication of the "fine book offered by JOP"?

Thanks in advance,

 

[MJCronin]

http://www.amazon.com/Piping-Engineering-Leadership-Process-Projects/dp/0884153479

This is another fine older book (from the 1970s)that contains distillation column layout rules and guidelines:

http://www.amazon.com/Process-Plant-Layout-Piping-Design/dp/0131386298/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y

dog,....

This type of experienced-based information and skills are dying along with the older engineers and designers of the western world.

Hell-driven MBAs feel that this type of experience is trivial.

They also assume this knowledge and experience is already present in every 20 year old third-world designer that they hire.

MJCronin
Sr. Process Engineer
Venture Engineering & Construction

http://www.VentureEngr.com

 

[silebi66]

dogtop

The distillation column layout issue should be the responsibility for the Plant design and piping group based on
some rules or logic. For example, piping group need to set column bottom tangent line elevation based on the pump NPSH calculation result done by process engineer.

Hope to help you out.