FACULTY OF CHEMICAL & NATURAL RESOURCES ENGINEERING

Project
Material & Energy Balance (BKF2343)

Project Objective:

The aim of this project is to produce 5000 metric ton per annum of ethylene oxide (EO). Your
main objective in this work is to generate a process flow diagram (PFD) and conduct the material
and energy balances for the production of ethylene oxide.

Project Description:

The major reaction for ethylene oxide production is:

1
Main reaction: 𝐶2 𝐻4 + 𝑂 → 𝐶2 𝐻4 𝑂
2 2

The side reaction that competing the main reaction is the production of carbon dioxide and water:

𝐶2 𝐻4 + 3𝑂2 → 2𝐶𝑂2 + 2𝐻2 𝑂

Ethylene (acc. to IUPAC: Ethene) and oxygen are mixed with a recycle gas and fed into a
multitubular reactor. There, ethylene oxide (EO) is selectively produced utilizing a silver-based
catalyst at 200 to 300 °C and 10-20 bar. Along with the ethylene oxide (80-85 %), CO2, H2O and
heat are generated. Reaction heat is recovered by boiling water at elevated pressure on the reactors
shell side. EO contained in the reactor product gas enters an EO absorber column where EO is
scrubbed from the gas by water. The EO-containing water is concentrated by a stripper cloumn,
producing a crude EO. When pure EO is the desired final product, the crude EO is fed to a
purification column. The gas leaving the absorber is fed to a CO2 removal column, where CO2 (a
by-product of the EO reaction) is recovered. Some of the CO2 remains in the recycle gas and
returns to the EO reactor.
Project Instruction:
1) Draw a process flow diagram (PFD) for the ethylene oxide production.
2) Include appropriate compressor/pump and heater/cooler in your system.
3) State any assumption for your calculations.
4) Provide references for process variables (temperature, pressure, conversion, selectivity,
composition) used in your calculations.
5) Perform the material balance for every process unit involved.
6) Conduct the energy balance to evaluate amount of heat Q and/or W required/removed for
reactor, heater/cooler and separator available in the process.

Project Assessments:

This project will be evaluated based on the following distribution:

Report – 70%
Interview – 20%
Peer Evaluation – 10%

Report format:

Report should contain the following:

Part 1 Introduction

 Introduction of the product.

 Application of the product.
 Market survey – Supply and demand of the product worldwide, major producers, prices.
 Screening of synthesis route – describe at least 2 possible synthesis routes for producing
the product. Discuss the feasibility of the route based on several factors: such as availability
of raw materials, complexity of the process, effectiveness/efficiency of the process,
preliminary safety and environmental issues.

Part 2: Material Balance and Energy Balance Calculations (Manual & Excel)

 Draw the process flow diagram with all streams numbered.

 Do the material and energy balances and show clearly all the manual calculations. State
any assumption you have made in your calculations.
 Conduct the material and energy balance in MS Excel. Make sure that the calculations are
flexible for any value of basis.
 Summarized all stream compositions in tables.
 Reminder: A softcopy for MS Excel calculation must be submitted together with this
report.

Project due dates:

The final report to be submitted on the 13th week.
The interview session will be conducted in the 14th week (will be decided later)