At a petrochemical facility in Louisiana, ethylene dichloride (EDC) is pumped onto vessels for transport. During this process, the equivalent vapor volume is vented to a downstream process unit. This plant, a long-standing partner of Aggreko, faced a significant challenge during the summer months when ambient conditions in the southern United States reached high temperatures. 

The vented vapor’s elevated temperature caused excessive inlet pressure and high absorber bed temperatures in the process unit’s carbon beds, which could lead to damaging the beds and the downstream unit. If left unresolved, this could reduce the amount of ethylene dichloride produced and sold. The plant needed a swift and accurate solution to maintain production efficiency and protect their equipment.

Recognizing the urgency, the facility reached out to Aggreko Process Services for support. In response, our team of subject matter experts was swiftly deployed to the site. After diagnosing the process bottleneck, we designed and implemented a temporary cooling solution that met the plant’s needs, all while ensuring safety and efficiency. 

Our engineered solution included a Shell & Tube Heat Exchanger, designed to cool 1,500 pounds per hour of EDC/N2 vapor from 115 °F to 45 °F, while maintaining minimal pressure drop across the system. To achieve this, we utilized a closed-loop air-cooled chiller system, supported by power generation equipment and auxiliaries. The package also came with a comprehensive engineering plan to assist the plant in navigating the Management of Change (MOC) process. 

Additionally, we provided remote monitoring to ensure that the system was performing optimally, alleviating a major concern of the plant’s by avoiding any potential pressure drops that could lead to unsustainable operational trips.

Thanks to the collaborative effort between Aggreko’s Process Services group and the plant’s operations and engineering teams, we successfully resolved the vapor discharge issue. The solution allowed the plant to meet its desired vapor specs, protecting the downstream process unit and carbon beds from damage. 

As a result, the Louisiana petrochemical facility continued its production and sale of ethylene dichloride without any delays or operational disruptions, safeguarding both their output and critical equipment. By addressing the overheating issue head-on, Aggreko once again demonstrated its capability to deliver rapid, reliable solutions that keep businesses moving forward.

• High vapor temperatures in the EDC process raised inlet pressure and absorber bed temperatures.
• Risk of damaging the carbon beds and downstream process units.
• Potential reduction in EDC production and sales, impacting revenue.
• Need for a rapid cooling solution to avoid production inefficiencies and protect equipment.

• Custom cooling package stabilized vapor temperatures, preventing high inlet pressure.
• Protected carbon beds and downstream equipment from potential damage.
• Continuous EDC production and sales, preserving revenue and preventing downtime.
• Reliable remote monitoring and a streamlined MOC process ensured operational efficiency.