AIChE 2018 Student Design Competition: Manufacture of dimethyl ether for transport

Abstract

A propylene splitter with a heat pump system was designed to produce both polymer-grade propylene and propane HD-5. The process was modeled, simulated, and optimized using Aspen HYSYS. Economic analyses were conducted based on 10-year MACRS depreciation with a 10-year project life beginning in 2020. The estimated net present value is $80,400,000 with discounted cash flow rate of return 85%. The fractionation system modification was determined to be economically attractive.