Optimization of an Integrated Natural Gas to Polypropylene Plant Using Sinus-Cosine Algorithm

Abstract

The main aim of this study is to simulate and optimize an integrated industrial natural gas (NG) to polypropylene (PP) plant (NGTPP). The optimization in this study aimed to increase the PP productivity as an objective function of the optimization problem. This plant consisted of four subunits: NG to synthesis gas, synthesis gas to methanol, MTP , and PTPP units. After sensitivity analysis of all possible effective parameters, reformer temperature(TRef.gas), methanol reactor temperature(TMeOH), methanol reactor pressure (PMeOH), hydrocarbon return flow ratio to methanol reactor (RHC), PP reactor temperature(TPPR), PP reactor pressure(PPPR), Ticl4(MTicl4) and TEA(MTEA) inlet flow to PP reactor have been selected. These parameters were optimized using the Sinus-Cosine Algorithm(SCA). Optimal obtained results showed that the TRef.gas, TMeOH, PMeOH, RHC, TPPR, PPPR, MTicl4, and MTEA equal 875.53 0C, 225.91 0C, 140.87 bar, 0.7, 55.19 0C, -1.96 bar, 107.97 kg/h, and 3.93 kg/h, consequently. Maximum PP productivity was 7058.85 kg/hr at the optimum point.