Controlling energy generation and use by adjustment of distillation columns
A process for distillation includes distilling a hydrocarbon feed to produce a top hydrocarbon fraction and a bottom hydrocarbon fraction in a column within a distillation unit comprising the column, a reboiler, and a control system. The process may include feeding steam from a cogeneration unit to the reboiler and controlling power generated by the cogeneration unit with a power controller. A system includes a distillation unit with a column, a reboiler, and a control system, where the distillation unit is configured to distill a hydrocarbon feed to produce a top hydrocarbon fraction and a bottom hydrocarbon fraction. The system may also include a cogeneration unit configured to feed steam to the distillation unit. The control system may be configured to control a power generated by and maintain a steam demand from the cogeneration unit.
1. A process for distillation, the process comprising:
distilling a hydrocarbon feed to produce a top hydrocarbon fraction and a bottom hydrocarbon fraction in a column within a distillation unit comprising the column, a reboiler, and a control system;
feeding steam from a cogeneration unit to the reboiler at a steam demand maintained by the control system; and
controlling power generated by the cogeneration unit with a power controller within the control system, wherein controlling the power comprises decreasing or increasing a column pressure of the cogeneration unit via a pressure controller according to a ratio of an operational load to a pre-set maximum allowable load.
2. The process of claim 1 , comprising measuring a bottom temperature of the column via a temperature sensor.
3. The process of claim 2 , comprising controlling the bottom temperature via a temperature controller within the control system.
4. The process of claim 1 , comprising measuring a column pressure via a pressure sensor.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein maintaining the steam demand comprises controlling the column pressure.
6. The process of claim 1 , comprising decreasing the column pressure when the cogeneration unit is fully loaded.
7. The process of claim 1 , comprising increasing the column pressure when the cogeneration unit is not fully loaded.
8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon feed comprises natural gas.
9. The process of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon feed comprises C1-C8 hydrocarbons.
10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the distillation unit and the cogeneration unit are each part of a natural gas liquids fractionation facility.
11. The process of claim 10 , wherein the distillation unit is a deethanizer, a depropanizer, or a debutanizer.
12. A system for distillation, the system comprising:
a distillation unit comprising a column, a reboiler, and a control system, wherein the distillation unit is configured to distill a hydrocarbon feed to produce a top hydrocarbon fraction and a bottom hydrocarbon fraction;
a cogeneration unit configured to feed steam to the distillation unit; and
a pressure controller,
wherein the control system is configured to control a power generated by the cogeneration unit and to maintain a steam demand from the cogeneration unit via the pressure controller according to a ratio of an operational load to a pre-set maximum allowable load.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the control system comprises a power controller.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the reboiler is a kettle-type reboiler.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the distillation unit is a deethanizer, a depropanizer, or a debutanizer.
16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the distillation unit is selected from a plurality of distillation units in a natural gas liquids fractionation facility.
17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the cogeneration unit is selected from a plurality of cogeneration units in a natural gas liquids fractionation facility.