| dc.description.abstract | For the AIChE student design competition, a study estimate for a fixed bed continuous catalytic reformer was completed for a small toppings refinery in Kurdistan. The goal of the design was to upgrade the heavier naphtha components of the feed into gasoline while providing benzene, toluene, and xylenes as lucrative byproducts. This design was completed for two feeds, K and TQ1, meeting the specification requirement of producing BTX isolated to 99% purity from either feed. This design considered inherently safer design concepts and implemented the concepts of minimization, substitution, moderation, and simplification. A process hazard analysis was also included, and management strategies were identified to decrease risk. Four scenarios needed to be analyzed with regards to economic feasibility: feed K under Iraqi tax control, feed K under Kurdish tax control, feed TQ1 under Iraqi tax control and feed TQ1 under Kurdish tax control. The Net Present Values (NPV) for the four scenarios are: $5,472,285,166; $7,362,227,493; $3,668,727,833; and $5,003,729,441, respectively. The project solution has a projected capital cost of $24,461,577. The projected operating costs for feeds K and TQ1 are $370,201,389 and $400,202,199, respectively. The DCFRORs for each scenario are 67.33%, 74.11%, 51.14%, and 56.44% with discounted project payback periods of 1.73 years, 1.56 years, 2.23 years, and 2.03 years, respectively. The economic factors that had the greatest impact on the economic analysis were production rates and operating costs. It can be seen that the project was found to be technically feasible and economically attractive. The recommendation for implementation of this project is positive. | |
