Ethylene Compression
Ethylene Compression
(OP)
We are working on a cracker unit. Ethylene product at battery limits is approximately 650#. Client has indicated that the export pipeline will require pressures as high as 1300#.
Anyone with experience compressing ethylene to pressures this high? Are there any special considerations must be taken into account? Is it better to pump the fluid once it becomes critical?
Anyone with experience compressing ethylene to pressures this high? Are there any special considerations must be taken into account? Is it better to pump the fluid once it becomes critical?





RE: Ethylene Compression
We also had an ethylene refrigeration loop. Lowest suction pressure was just about atmospheric, discharge was likely 700 psig or so.
I'd talk to Elliott, you're only looking at a 2:1 compression ratio.
RE: Ethylene Compression
RE: Ethylene Compression
If your ethylene is a saturated liquid at 650 psig (at about 40F), I'd install a pump. A multistage one from bingham for example. If you want deluxe, try a ebara pump.
If the ethylene is a gas at 650 psig and 50F and above, a recip compressor will do just fine. All the chem plant operators laughed when I went this rout and said they'd install a chiller and condense the ethylene and then pump it. lets see, pumps, refrigerastion compressors, chillers, controls, yuck! If you want, you could use a centrifugal compressor, heck we used a bigham pump with modified inpellers raise the pressure on ethylene from 800 psig to 1650 psig in just 8 stages.