Optimizing methanol plant operations through minimal capital investments

摘要

In the constant search for improvement, Methanex has developed a state-of-the-art project to improve plant operation at its methanol production facility in Punta Arenas, Chile (FIG. l). The Chile 4 Standalone Operation project not only provided a solution to an operational constraint, but also enabled the plant to function independently and provide a low-cost solution to increase process efficiency and site reliability. This article provides the development process performed by Methanex, starting from the business context through an explanation of the original design and the proposed (now implemented) new design—and, finally, depicting the benefits derived from the project's implementation.