This paper deals with the design of two new, intensified pressure-swing flowsheets for the separation of di-n-propyl ether and n-propanol based on direct heat integration and vapor recompression. Such alternatives are then compared with the conventional scheme regarding thermoeconomic performance and environmental impacts. The thermodynamic evaluation was based on the processes’ energy consumptions, exergetic efficiencies and exergy intensities. The economic analysis was performed by estimating their investment costs and production expenses (water, energy and wastewater treatment), whereas the environmental assessment was based on the CO2 emissions, water consumption and wastewater generation. The overall performances of said designs were compared through a joint evaluation index, showing that the proposed vapor-recompressed and heat-integrated alternatives are 89.90 % and 55.04 % more sustainable than the conventional process, respectively. More specifically, said intensified flowsheets showed to be, respectively, about 83.85 % and 64.14 % more thermodynamically efficient, 68.69 % and 39.54 % more economically attractive, and 99.96 % and 69.09 % more ecologically friendly than the conventional design. A sensitivity analysis is then carried out to assess how different design criteria (operating pressure and feed flow rate) and the location where the plants are installed affect the sustainability results.

本文讨论了两种用于分离di -n-的增强的变压流程图。丙醚和正丙醇基于直接热集成和蒸汽再压缩。然后将这些替代方案与关于热经济性能和环境影响的常规方案进行比较。热力学评估基于过程的能耗，能效和火能强度。通过估算其投资成本和生产费用（水，能源和废水处理）进行经济分析，而环境评估则基于CO2排放量，水消耗量和废水产生量。通过联合评估指标对上述设计的总体性能进行了比较，结果表明，拟议的蒸汽再压缩和热集成替代方案的可持续性分别比传统工艺高89.90％和55.04％。更具体地说，所述增强的流程显示出比常规设计分别热力学效率高约83.85％和64.14％，经济上更具吸引力，分别为68.69％和39.54％，以及生态友好性高99.96％和69.09％。然后进行敏感性分析，以评估不同的设计标准（工作压力和进料流速）以及工厂的安装位置如何影响可持续性结果。