Vinyl Chloride Production from Ethylene and Chlorine - Cost Analysis - VCM E41A

Book excerpt: This report presents a cost analysis of Vinyl Chloride production from ethylene and chlorine via a balanced process. This typical balanced process combines two ethylene dichloride (EDC) production routes, direct chlorination and oxychlorination, for the production of Vinyl Chloride. By doing so, hydrogen chloride byproduct, produced in the thermal cracking unit, is used as raw material in the oxychlorination unit for additional production of EDC from ethylene. This report examines one-time costs associated with the construction of a United States-based plant and the continuing costs associated with the daily operation of such a plant. More specifically, it discusses: * Capital Investment, broken down by: - Total fixed capital required, divided in production unit (ISBL); infrastructure (OSBL) and contingency - Alternative perspective on the total fixed capital, divided in direct costs, indirect costs and contingency - Working capital and costs incurred during industrial plant commissioning and start-up * Production cost, broken down by: - Manufacturing variable costs (raw materials, utilities) - Manufacturing fixed costs (maintenance costs, operating charges, plant overhead, local taxes and insurance) - Depreciation and corporate overhead costs * Raw materials consumption, products generation and labor requirements * Process block flow diagram and description of industrial site installations (production unit and infrastructure) This report was developed based essentially on the following reference(s): (1) US Patent 7767869, issued to Vinnolit in 2010; (2) US Patent 6235953, issued to Vinnolit in 2001 Keywords: Chloroethene, 1,2-Dichloroethane, Hydrochlorination, INEOS, Vinnolit, Balanced Process