NGL Unit Debottlenecked with UOP Enhanced Capacity MD™ Trays and High Flux™ Tubing for Significant Production Expansion and Energy Optimization

UOP high performance distillation and heat transfer equipment have been used extensively in a wide variety of services in the petrochemical and refining industry for more than 40 years.  This paper will illustrate the optimization and expansion of Chevron Phillips Chemical’s NGL Unit 21 in Sweeny, Texas by coupling the design of new tower internals with new tubing in the associated stab-in reboiler and overhead condenser.  Revamping the bottlenecked deethanizer tower with ECMD Trays along with revamping the condenser and stab-in reboiler with High Flux tubes increased plant production rate more than 30 percent within the existing limitations of the available heating and cooling mediums and plant footprint.