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GT-DWC: Flexible Deployment for Greenfield, Retrofit, and Expansion Projects

  • cemnar0
  • Jul 17
  • 2 min read
Plant flowsheet highlighting a GT-DWC column

Introduction


Every production site has its own challenges. Whether you’re designing a new plant, upgrading aging assets, or aiming to increase throughput, Sulzer’s GT-DWC (Dividing Wall Column) technology offers unmatched flexibility for integration. Harnessing advanced distillation in a single tower, GT-DWC® streamlines both new installations and upgrades—cutting costs, saving energy, and elevating product quality for refineries and chemical plants.


Deployment Options


1. Greenfield (New Build) Projects


  • Optimized Design from Day One: GT-DWC can be integrated into new plants, providing best-in-class energy savings, compact footprint, and minimized capital investment right from startup.

  • Full Customization: Design parameters, column internals, and layouts are tailored using advanced simulation and engineering to match each plant’s specific separation needs.

  • Enables Modern Sustainability Targets: Incorporates latest process intensification and heat integration standards.


2. Retrofit of Existing Columns


  • Replace Two or More Towers: GT-DWC enables replacement of dual or triple-column trains with a single, integrated unit significantly reducing equipment count and simplifying piping, instrumentation, and maintenance.

  • Minimized Downtime and Modifications: Retrofit projects are engineered for speed and minimal alterations to infrastructure, keeping outages short and costs low.

  • Proven Track Record: Plants worldwide have successfully revamped existing separation units using GT-DWC, resulting in immediate energy and operational savings.


3. Expansion and Debottlenecking


  • Increase Capacity Efficiently: GT-DWC can be adopted to increase plant throughput or upgrade product purity without requiring major new civil works.

  • Scalable Solution: The compact footprint and modular design of GT-DWC make expansion straightforward, even in space-constrained sites.


Versatility Across Applications


  • Handles a wide range of feeds, from BTX aromatics to various hydrocarbon streams.

  • Performs both heart-cutting and multi-component separations with superior sharpness and yield compared to conventional columns.

  • Quick adaptation to shifting process demands makes it ideal for dynamic operations or fluctuating market needs.


Key Advantages at a Glance

Deployment Type

GT-DWC Benefit

Greenfield

Energy savings, minimal footprint, optimal process design

Retrofit

Fast integration, immediate OPEX/CAPEX reductions

Expansion

Debottlenecking without major construction

Why Choose GT-DWC for Modern Projects?

  • Significant Capital & Operating Savings: Eliminate the need for extra columns and utilities, drastically reducing total investment and long-term expenses.

  • Short Payback: Real-world deployments demonstrate rapid ROI, especially where product quality upgrades, throughput boosts, or efficiency gains are required.

  • Engineering Support: Sulzer’s comprehensive service includes simulation, process design, and project management, ensuring a custom, risk-free deployment.

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