AM-94-28 Start-up of World’s Largest lsobutane Dehydrogenation Plant for MTBE Production

Description:

Ibn Zahr’s second CATOFIN@ dehydrogenation unit started on schedule with an exceptionally smooth and fast start-up. The success of the start-up can be attributed to many factors, including: . Competent and experienced commissioning and operations teams from both the owner and licenser (ABB Lummus Crest). . Well proven CATOFIN technology. . Vendor representation on site. All process guarantees were met in a test run completed three weeks after the start-up. Ibn Zahr chose the CATOFIN process to produce isobutylene feed for both of their MTBE plants located in the Al Jubail Industrial City in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The first CATOFIN plant came on stream in 1988 producing 320,000 MTA of isobutylene. The second CATOFIN plant is the largest dehydrogenation unit the world, producing 452,O MTA of isobutylene. It came on stream in October, 1993. With the two CATOFIN plants, Ibn Zahr has a combined MTBE production of 1,200,OOO MTA (equivalent to 30,000 BPSD). This paper describes the successful start-up of Ibn Zahr’s second CATOFIN plant.