Abstract: This article briefly introduces the development of butane isomerization process and the typical process flow of isomerization. The integrated utilization of energy and the design optimization of key heat exchangers was carried out by simulation with Aspen Plus. The energy and cost savings were analyzed and compared. In product separation section, the stabilizer and isobutane column were thermally coupled to save the consumption of low pressure steam, and better energy-saving effect was achieved by appropriately increasing the stabilizer pressure. In isomerization section, the heat transfer of reaction feed and effluent was optimized. The heat duty of low-temperature feed-effluent heat exchanger was increased by using a spiral wounded heat exchanger, which saved the consumption of high pressure steam and had obvious advantages compared with ordinary shell and tube heat exchangers.

Key words: butane isomerization, energy, optimization