Today, I would like to share with you my experience during my final year as a chemical engineering student.
Well, it was a very tough days but still its a happy and memorable.
This experience that taught me on how to live my life evenly but happily.
Now, without any due, I will tell you on how ho produced a chemical product starting from the process selection until the plant safety and layout.
The chemical product is called Triacetin. Triacetin has become a relatively important chemical in manufacturing as it is used in lots of industries including food, drug, polymer and many more.
For the process selection, we have three choice of process which are the Oxidation of Allyl Acetate in Presence of Acetic Acid, the Acetylation of Glycerol Catalyzed by Different Solid Acids and lastly the continuous production of Triacetin by Reaction of Glycerol with Acetic Acid and Acetic Anydride.We chose tyhe third process which are the continuous production of Triacetin by Reaction of Glycerol with Acetic Acid and Acetic Anydride.
Process 2: Acetylation of Glycerol Catalyzed by Different Solid Acids (Picture credit to owner)
The Original Process Flow of the continuous production of Triacetin by Reaction of Glycerol with Acetic Acid and Acetic Anydride (Picture credit to owner)
The Process Flow Diagram for the chosen process which is the continuous production of Triacetin by Reaction of Glycerol with Acetic Acid and Acetic Anydride
The process flow diagram above is design by a software named 'HYSYS', a software that is to estimate the condition of each equipment (pressure, temperature, heat capacity and etc.) etimated. The market analysis is done based on the demand of this product in the market. Since in Malaysia triacetin is imported from China, we decided to built our plant in Malaysia. Therefore the demand of triacetin for the company in Malaysia is studied and we decided to produced 20,000 metric tonne per year of Triacetin.
To draw back all the equipment and process without all the condition and capacity, a software named "Microsoft Visio" is used. This software is used to draw the equipments, pipelines, the process line and etc.
The Process Flow Diagram to Produced 20,000 metric tonne of Triacetin
Next, we do the calculation material and the energy balance for each equipment, pipelines, and etc. This will involved the used of utilities, raw materials, and etc. Then we continue with the design of the equipments. Each equipment has its own capacity, pressure and temperature, Therefore, the costing of materials used to built this equipment is estimated. The software used to draw this design is 'Sketch-up', the software used by an architect to design a house, etc.
The example of two-phase separator design with the details
Then, the detailed piping and instrumentation is done by where here, the type of pipelines is choose based on each process.
The complete diagram of piping and instrumentation of producing 20,00 metric tonne of Triacetin
Then we do the analysis on the heat integration process, environmental analysis and economic analysis.
The example of heat exchanger network diagram
The plant and safety layout is done by considered the safety of the workers, the coordinate of the equipment to be placed and the waste-water treatment place and etc.
The plant and layout of the factory
With of the overall step, the production of 20,000 metric tonnes in Malaysia will be proposed to the interested party. As for our last presentation, we made it in front of the engineers and the owner of the other chemical factories as well as our lectures. After giving all the comments and suggestions, they seems satisfied with our presentation.
At the end of the day, the best presenter group is announce and Alhamdulillah, our group is announced as the Best Presenter Group of our Triacetin products. A lot of appreciation is given to out supervisor, Miss Nor Faeqah for all his advice and guidance and all of my team mates, Syahal, Pika, Tiqaha and Aznor, for making our project comes true.
The picture of D-Day with the 3D-plant and our supervisors and team mates.
