Abstract: The cycle hydrogen compressors of the toluene disproportionation and C8 aromatics isomerization processes (referred to as disproportionation and isomerization cycle hydrogen compressor) are the imperative equipments in the aromatics complex. Steam driving is a means to ensure the stable operation of compressor. The steams with different pressure levels can be used to drive the two kinds of compressors, but with different energy consumption. The schemes were compared to optimize the steam network of the aromatics complex, resulting in full use of the steam inside the aromatics complex and reducing the low pressure steam discharge, thus lowering the energy consumption of the whole aromatics complex. The evaluation results showed that the intermediate pressure steam of 1.8 MPa（IPS）of the aromatics complex can drive isomerization cycle hydrogen compressor and disproportionation cycle hydrogen compressor, and the energy consumption of the unit was the lowest, and the utility cost of paraxylene product was the lowest.

Key words: aromatic complex, compressor, steam, energy consumption, utility, para-xylene