R-134a, the new, environmentally-friendly refrigerant is manufactured from hydrogen fluoride and trichloroethylene. There are two major reaction paths currently used to manufacture R-134a. The one used by ICI is the method used in this design. The major product is R-134a and the byproduct produced is a mixture of R-134a/R143a/R125, for which there is also a market. There are unique features in the reaction section, as well as separation sequencing issues in separation of the byproducts. The process also includes two alternative waste treatment units which incinerate chlorinated and fluorinated wastes. One process produces neutralized salts which are deposited in a salt pond. The second produces hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acid for sale. Either of these waste units could also be used to process and neutralized recovered CFC refrigerants.
The entire project is very large and is probably more than one group could accomplish in one semester. However, just the manufacture of R-134a would be a good one-semester project. Design of either process to treat recovered CFCs would also be a good one-semester project. Material available on this project includes a project report, PFDs, economic optimization results and P&IDs. Instructors can obtain this information by contacting Professor Shaeiwitz.
CLICK HERE to obtain an Adobe Acrobat file about this project.
