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Mathematical modeling of RDC column in extraction of base oil and computing of the energy saving
Author(s) -
FakhrHoseini Seyed Mousa,
Tavakkoli Touraj,
Hatamipour Mohammad Sadegh,
Mehrkesh Amir Hossein
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.3974
Subject(s) - furfural , solvent , extraction (chemistry) , process engineering , yield (engineering) , contactor , process (computing) , chromatography , process simulation , materials science , chemistry , thermodynamics , computer science , organic chemistry , engineering , catalysis , physics , power (physics) , metallurgy , operating system
Background A mathematical modeling approach was used to obtain a simulation model to predict the performance of an industrial rotating disc contactor ( RDC ) in the extraction of lubricating base oils by furfural. The field data of a lube‐oil producing plant was used to validate the model. This model can be used for the parametric study of the RDC column and to investigate the effect of operational data such as solvent and feed temperatures, solvent to feed ratio, and agitation rate on the yield of extraction and on the energy saving value of the extraction . Results The mathematical modeling of RDC shows good agreement with the plant data with an accuracy of 95% and the model was used to investigate the effect of adding a co‐solvent . Conclusion Results show that by using furfural with added 2,2,4 trimethylpentane it is possible to perform the extraction process at a lower process temperature, 363.15 K, compared with 393.15 K using furfural as solvent, and also at a lower 1.3 solvent/feed ratio, compared with 1.5 when furfural alone was used for as the solvent. This process modification leads to saving of 38% of the consumed energy per cubic meter of product in the extraction process.© 2012 Society of Chemical Industry