Resumen

VARELA V, A.E  y  CALLEJA P, F. Simulación y análisis termodinámico de un proceso de purificación de HF en una planta de alquilbencenos linealesSIMULATION AND THERMODYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF AN HF-PURIFICATION PROCESS IN A LINEAR ALKYLBENZENE PLANT. Rev. Fac. Ing. UCV [online]. 2006, vol.21, n.1, pp.71-81. ISSN 0798-4065.

In the present work, the simulation of the HF-purification section in a linear alkylbenzene plant is used to determine the operational conditions for the reduction of acid loss and the increase of alkylates (tar) in the bottom stream. A three component system is supposed (HF-tar-water) and its thermodynamic properties were obtained from experimental data of composition at the feed, top, and bottom column, along with the use of the HYSIM software. The HF content in the feedand top were found by titration with a Ca(NO₃)₂ solution, and using an electrode selective to fluorineions, while the bottom tar content was determined by evaporation. Tar mass fractions in the feed and top, as well as water mass fractions in the feed and bottom, were found using mass balances. The HYSYM software was employed to: 1) estimate thermodynamic properties of tar fromdata of ASTM-2887 distillation tests, 2) determine parameters of the Wilson model for activitycoefficients, and 3) simulate the purificationsystem. Simulation results were close to the experimental values, and allowed the determination of operational conditions for reducing HF loss through the bottom stream of the distillation column.

Palabras clave : Simulation; Wilson model; HF purification; alkylbenzenes.