Panel I - Innovative Process and its modalities
Paper N1.2 - Use of X-ray Imaging in the Innovative Development
of BP's LEAP Technology
Merion Evans, Hull Research and Technology Center BP Chemicals
Hull, UK
Abstract: In the mid 1990's, BP's restructuring of its European
Chemicals operation led to the requirement for a world scale vinyl
acetate monomer (VAM) manufacturing facility. The traditional fixed
bed process would require too much investment - new technology was
required to quickly unlock the next generation process.
BP focused its efforts into the development of alternative catalyst
and reactor technologies. LEAP fluidized bed technology had demonstrated
its potential at micro reactor scale, but the challenge was to take
this technology to full-scale operation by 2001.
Fluid bed processes are difficult to scale up, as the complex interactions
between process chemistry and fluid dynamics are difficult to establish
at actual operating conditions. Conventionally, such processes pass
through a 'demonstration' phase (a small scale commercial unit),
which in this case would have led to an additional cost of $20-30M
and an unacceptable delay of three to four years in commercial implementation.