Ethylene Industry ›› 2025, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (3): 35-37.

• INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Cause Analysis and Countermeasures for Short Operating Cycle of Reboilers in Butadiene Distillation Towers

Zhang Yan, Wang Jianfeng, Huang Chaobo, Heng Xinjiang, Qin Chaofeng   

  1. PetroChina Dushanzi Petrochemical Company, Dushanzi, Xinjiang, P.C. 833699
  • Received:2023-05-25 Revised:2024-12-17 Online:2025-09-25 Published:2025-09-28

Abstract:

Polymer blockage in reboilers of butadiene distillation towers can significantly reduce the heat transfer efficiency of reboilers, leading to increased energy consumption and insufficient product purity (such as 1,3-butadiene purity < 99.2%), and posing a threat to the long-term operation of the unit. Design defects cause the liquid phase lines of the reboilers in acetylene distillation tower and butadiene distillation tower to be at the lowest point of the entire tower, resulting in the accumulation of polymers and TBC inhibitors, which exacerbates the pipeline blockage and decreases the heat transfer efficiency. No rupture disc is installed upstream the safety valve, and the polymerization of high-concentration butadiene may block or swell the safety valve, posing a safety hazard. Insufficient bypass opening (below 2 turns) of the pressure regulating valve PV24006 results in poor medium fluidity and easy polymer formation in dead legs. In addition, TBC inhibitors need to be accurately added at the designated injection points (the overhead gas phase line and reflux line of acetylene/butadiene towers). Insufficient injection can cause polymerization at the bottom and shorten the operating cycle of reboilers. Excessive injection can lead to equipment blockage and increased costs. Uncontrolled oxygen content and tower pressure can directly trigger polymerization reactions, block the equipment, and force the system to shut down for cleaning.

Key words: butadiene distillation tower, reboiler blockage, polymerization inhibition, control measure