Book Description

This report presents a cost analysis of polymer grade (PG) Ethylene production from hydrous ethanol using a dehydration process. The process under analysis is similar to the processes developed by Chematur and Petron. In this process, the reaction system is composed of multiple reactors in series and a single furnace. The system uses ethanol as heating fluid, with no injection of additional steam. This report examines one-time costs associated with the construction of a United States-based plant and the continuing costs associated with the daily operation of such a plant. More specifically, it discusses: * Capital Investment, broken down by: - Total fixed capital required, divided in production unit (ISBL); infrastructure (OSBL) and contingency - Alternative perspective on the total fixed capital, divided in direct costs, indirect costs and contingency - Working capital and costs incurred during industrial plant commissioning and start-up * Production cost, broken down by: - Manufacturing variable costs (raw materials, utilities) - Manufacturing fixed costs (maintenance costs, operating charges, plant overhead, local taxes and insurance) - Depreciation and corporate overhead costs * Raw materials consumption, products generation and labor requirements * Process block flow diagram and description of industrial site installations (production unit and infrastructure) This report was developed based essentially on the following reference(s): US Patent 20130178674, issued to Petron in 2013 Keywords: Ethene, Ethyl Alcohol, Vapor-Phase Dehydration, Fixed-Bed Reactor, Renewable Feedstock, Green Ethylene