This contest problem is open to all students attending NPS 14 and teams are to be made up

of one or two students. The main report shall not exceed 8 pages in length and is to cover the
following topics:
1. Executive Summary (Short, non-technical summary)
2. Introduction (Technical summary)
3. PFD, Process description, Mass Balance
4. Operating Cost analysis
5. Materials Compatibility Statement
6. Preliminary Equipment Sizings
7. Conclusion (why this it the best option)
8. References
In addition to the 8 page main report an additional appendix can include further supporting
documents such as calculations. The main report and appendix, in pdf format, and any other
fle (spreadsheet, simulation etc.), should be packed (zip format) and sent to NPS organizati-
on in electronic form as e-mail attachment to info@nps14.nl. The jury will select the best 3
technical solutions to present their design at NPS14 where the winner will be chosen. The best
technical solution is considered to have the optimal mix of operating cost, capital investment
and risk.
Entries to be submitted on the 17th of Oct 2014 and the shortlist will be available on
the 24th of Oct 2014.
Introduction
You are working as part of the engineering team in the conceptual phase of a major investment.
A recent sustainability study has identifed the MDI separation step to be very energy intensive.
The Project manager has given you an action to investigate one option to reduce energy con-
sumption in this area of the plant. He is risk adverse and has emphasized that the technology
must be well proven.
The Technology manager is also involved in the project and sees this as an opportunity to try
something completely different. He wants you to make use of modern separation techniques to
make a step change in energy consumption.
It is your challenge to keep everyone happy by coming up with a design that is energy effcient
but with suffcient evidence to demonstrate that the technology is available for implementation.
Huntsman Annual Design Challenge 2014
NPS 14
fundamentally innovative
1st Prize 1,000
2nd Prize 350
3rd Prize 150
Problem
You are required to separate a 4 component system. The product is MDI (methylene diphenyl
diisocyanate) with a specifcation of < 10 ppm MCB (mono chloro benzene) and < 1 ppm phos-
gene. In addition at least 90% of the MCB needs to be <10 ppm MDI and <10 ppm phosgene,
to be used as clean recycle.
The feed conditions are ...
Pressure 5 barg
Temperature 100degC
Flow 100,000 kg/h
MDI 25 wt%
MCB 71 wt%
Phosgene 3.5 wt%
HCl 0.5 wt%
Utilities
Steam
You currently have 2 grades of steam available to you in the project. The value is the same
for both consumption and production of steam. It is not currently envisaged to have any other
steam grades available.

HP Steam 20 barg @ 20 euro/t
LP Steam 2.5 barg @ 15 euro/t
Electricity The cost of electricity is 0.1 euro / kWh
Nitrogen Nitrogen is available on site at 7barg at a cost of 0.05 euro/kg
Others The above utilities are currently known to be available in the project.
If you require something else then include it making a reasonable estimate of the cost.
Physical Properties
For modelling the physical properties Wilson RK should be used. If another method set is used
then this needs to be justifed in the appendix to the report.
Points of Interest
One design is allowed per entry but no limit to the number of entries.
This is a challenge in conceptual thinking and requires only enough work to prove that
the concept works.
Detailed design will be carried out at a later stage so shortcut sizing methods are
acceptable for the preliminary sizing.
It is advisable to use a process simulator to model the separation.
The jury will consist of the technology manager, project manager and 2 independent
experts.
A target value of 60 million euro can be taken for Installed Equipment Cost + 6 times
Variable cost.
fundamentally innovative