Energy, exergy analysis of conceptually designed monochloromethane production process from hydrochlorination of methanol

In this work, an integrated Exergetic evaluation was proposed to establish a better utilization of energy within the system and to achieve a sustainable environment. A simulation file was brought into being for the Synthesis of Monochloromethane (MCM) from hydrochlorination of methanol process with the ASPEN HYSYS simulator. An explorative analysis on thermodynamic derivatives like Energy and Exergy for the entire process subunits (and/or components) was carried out, which includes the quantity of Energy loss, exergy destruction and exergy efficiency among all process components. From the calculated figures in all of them, the reactor followed by the absorber has maximum exergy destruction of 138 MW and 29 MW respectively. Moreover, an observation found that exergy destruction of 266 MW was engaged with Heat Exchanger Network (HEN) i.e., 47.5 % of total MCM pant destruction. Retrofit design is the possible way to reduce the exergy destruction rate employed with HEN without any interruption to the properties of process streams. This retrofit design confines exergy destruction to 187 MW which is 38.8 % of total process destruction. The total energy, exergy efficiencies are 85.45 % and 93.9 % respectively. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

An integrated Exergetic evaluation method was proposed to improve energy utilization and achieve environmental sustainability. Analysis on thermodynamic derivatives revealed areas of high exergy destruction, with retrofit design identified as a possible solution to reduce exergy losses and improve process efficiency. The total energy and exergy efficiencies were calculated to be 85.45% and 93.9% respectively.