PROP 6008

LEARNING OUTCOME
When you complete this module you will be able to...
Discuss complete fractionation systems comprised of one or more fractionation towers.
Learning Objectives
Here is what you will be able to do when you complete each objective.
a. Describe the components which make up a total fractionation system.
b. Discuss the most suitable methods of fractionating hydrocarbon streams to
minimize operational costs.
c. Describe the operational requirements of depropanizer, debutanizer and de-
ethanizer towers and discuss the general temperatures and pressures at which
these units operate.
INTRODUCTION
The installation of auxiliary equipment such as the feed heater, reboiler and condensing
equipment in conjunction with the tower is necessary for the fractionator to operate at
designed conditions and to provide a product to meet desired specifications. Such an
installation is called a fractionating system and may consist of one or more towers
depending on the components in the feed and the number of products desired.
A system producing one specific product from the bottom is shown in Figure 1. Although
not exactly a fractionator, it produces stabilized condensate as a bottom product and all
other unwanted products are driven overhead for further processing.

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 Figure 1
Single Tower Fractionation System

To simplify
the
discussion
of

fractionating, the abbreviations for the various components, as shown in Table 1, will be
used.
Table 1
Fractional Components
Component
Chemical Formula
Abbreviation

Methane
CH4
C1

Ethane
C2H6
C2

Propane
C3H8
C3

Butane
C4H10
C4

2
 Pentane-plus (condensate)
C5H12
C5+

Octane (absorbing oil)

C8H14
C8

A system that provides two desired products is shown in Figure 2. The depropanizer
receives a mixture of C3 and C4; the overhead product is propane and the bottom
product is butane. The major equipment in the depropanizer system consists of:
1. Fractionating tower.
2. Reboiler
3. Reflux condenser.
4. Reflux accumulator.
5. Reflux pump.
6. Feed exchanger.
In this system, the feed must be propane and butane only; any other components will
contaminate one or both products.
Figure 2
Reflux Condenser Water Control

Number of
Fractionating
Towers
Required
When a
system is
designed to
separate the
components
of a three
component
mixture, two
towers would
be required,
as shown in
Figure 3. In

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general, if there are several components to be separated, the towers required will be the
number of components minus 1.

Figure 3
Two Tower Fractionation System for Three Component Mixture

Assume
there is a
mixture of
C3, C4and
C5 as in
Figure
3(a). The
C3 is
removed
as the
overhead
product in
the first tower, the C4 is the overhead product from the second tower and C 5 is the
bottom product.
Another method of separating the three products is shown in Figure 3(b) where C 5 is the
bottom product from the first tower with the C 3 and C4 driven overhead. The C3 and C4
are separated in the second tower.
Some systems employ butane splitters, which split normal butane and isobutane into
two components. The methods used depend on the percent of each product in the feed
and the economics involved in the process.
Fractionators are named by the heaviest overhead component. The first tower in Figure
3(b) is called a debutanizer because the heaviest overhead product is butane.
Figure 4 is a sketch of a fractionating system used in a large sour gas plant.
The propane and butane must meet the specifications for commercial products. The
feed from the rich oil flash tank enters the de-ethanizer. The overhead products are
ethane and methane which are blended into the sales gas. The bottom components are
propane, butane, pentane-plus, absorbing oil (shown as C 8)and a trace of sulphur
compounds. This becomes the feed for the debutanizer.
The bottom products from the debutanizer, pentane-plus and absorbing oil, are directed
to the lean oil fractionator where the pentane-plus is driven overhead and blended into
the main condensate stream. The bottom product from the lean oil fractionator is
absorbing oil which returns to the process. The debutanizer overhead consists of
propane, butane and a trace of sulphur compounds which are directed to the product
treating process for removal of the sulphur compounds. In passing through the treaters
the sulphur compounds are left behind leaving only propane and butane.

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The mixture of propane and butane is split in the depropanizer, the overhead product
being propane and the bottom product butane. This system must function right on
specification from beginning to end. If, for example, the de-ethanizer bottom contains
too much ethane, the propane product will be off specification because the ethane will
remain with the propane.
If the de-ethanizer is driven too hard, propane and butane will be driven overhead and
the products will be sold as sales gas at a much lower rate.

Figure 4
Fractionation System

Typical
pressures
and

temperatures of the system in Figure 4 are given in Table 2.

Table 2
Fractionation System Pressures and Temperatures
Tower
Pressure
kPag
Overhead
Temp C

Bottom
Temp. C
Feed
Temp. C

De-ethanizer
2760

5
 0
155
-7

Debutanizer
986
52
274
111

Lean Oil Frac.

117
89
204
177

Depropanizer
1586
41
201
57

Another fractionating system is shown in more detail in Figure 5. The overhead products
from the rich oil fractionator are collected in the fractionation feed drum. The mixed
product from the feed drum is heated by the condensate to storage stream before
becoming the feed to the depropanizer. The overhead product is propane, which goes
to storage and the bottom product is C4 and C5+ which is the feed for the debutanizer.
The debutanizer overhead product is butane and the bottom product is stabilized
condensate (C5+).
De-isobutanizer
The de-isobutanizer is employed in a few installations to split isobutane (i-C 4) from
normal butane (n-C4). Splitting butanes requires very close pressure and temperature
control. The tower is similar to other fractionators, but because the vapor pressures of
the two products are very close, the tower is usually much higher and contains up to 65
trays depending on the purity of the product required. The pressure in some installations
is maintained between 600 kPag and 800 kPag. The control of the tower is provided by
maintaining a temperature differential of 4 to 6C from the top to the bottom of the tower.
De-isobutanizing Direct Method
In Figure 5, the bottoms from the depropanizer are the feed to the de-isobutanizer. The
overhead product is isobutane and the bottom product becomes the feed to the
debutanizer. In the debutanizer, the overhead product is butane and the bottom product

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is C5+. The direct series is preferred where the i-C4 concentration is fairly high in the
bottom product from the depropanizer, probably in the range of 25 - 40% by volume.
Figure 5
Direct Series of Debutanizing Hydrocarbons

Indirect De-
isobutanizing
In this series, shown
in Figure 6, the
condensate (C5+) is
removed in the first
tower and all other
components are
driven overhead.
The overhead
product becomes the feed for the de-isobutanizer. The bottom product is normal butane
and the overhead product is propane and isobutane. The overhead product becomes
the feed for the depropanizer where the overhead product is propane and the bottom
product is isobutane. This series is preferred when the isobutane content is relatively
low.
Figure 6
Indirect Series of Debutanizing Hydrocarbon

Learning Module: 027-31-87-08 PROP 6008 Self-Test

[ Print Self-Test ]
Directions:
Answer the following questions.
Compare your answers to the enclosed answer key.

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 If you disagree with any of the answers, review learning activities and/or check
with your instructor.
If no problems arise, continue on to the next objective or next examination.
1. A fractionation system consists of the fractionation tower and all the
______________ equipment.
2. A fractionation tower which separates a mixture of propane and butane is called
a ______________________.
3. The overhead product from a depropanizer is _____________.
4. A butane splitter separates butanes into ____________ and _______________.
5. The excess overhead material not required as _______________ is the
overhead product.
Learning Module: 027-31-87-08 PROP 6008 Answer Guide
1. auxiliary
2. depropanizer
3. propane
4. normal butane, isobutane
5. reflux

Learning Module: 027-31-87-08 PROP 6008 Assignment

[ Print Assignment ]
1. Sketch and describe a system of fractionation for separating a mixture of
propane, butaneand pentrane-plus.
2. Why must all the ethane be moved in the de-ethanizer?
3. List the pressures and temperatures that may be expected throughout a
fractionation system.
4. Describe the direct system for separating isobutane from other hydrocarbons.
When is this series used?

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