Energy savings for a propane refrigerant compressor using simulation

Saudi Aramco’s Yanbu fractionation plant utilizes deethanizers, depropanizers, debutanizers and an RVP column. These distillation columns are equipped with overhead air fan coolers, except for the deethanizer columns, which have a propane refrigerant closed-loop system. The system essentially consists of a steam-operated compressor, an air cooler, expansion valves, a refrigerant flash drum and an evaporator. Propane refrigerant is highly compressed by the compressor, cooled by the air cooler and then flashed through the expansion valve in the refrigerant flash drum under medium pressure. Medium-pressure liquid propane is let down to further reduce pressure and is then vaporized in the evapo