DYNAMIC BEHAVIOR OF REACTIVE DISTILLATION COLUMNS. EQUILIBRIUM SYSTEMS

This paper deals with the dynamic behavior of simultaneous reaction-separation systems which operate at or near the chemical equilibrium in the liquid phase. The process under study comprises a whole set of “instantaneous”, and very fast reversible reactions where the difference in volatilities favors both the progress of reaction and product separation. The main aim of our study is to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamic behavior of distillation columns by using a model that is simple and efficient, yet informative. This kind of model is outstanding for synthesis and design of control schemes which require a careful modelling and understanding of process response to different changes in the environment. We use a suitable transformation of variables (after Barbosa and Doherty, 1988b) in order to define a new set of state variables; as a result, the balance equations become identical to those for conventional distillation. Also, an efficient physicochemical algorithm that can handle both the original and new state variables is used. Thus, a composition-holdup dynamic model is simulated in the “transformed field” using a stage-by-stage approach. To further reduce computational time, the transformed problem has also been solved by means of a reduction procedure based on approximating by orthogonal polynomials the transformed composition and flow profiles in the column. The performance of the two proposed methods are compared by using the top section of a quaternary reactive column. The results obtained shown that reactive distillation dynamics has certain peculiarities derived from superimposing reaction and separation phenomena.     

反应精馏工艺流程的合成

反应精馏工艺是近年来倍受重视的研究领域之一,但反应精馏工艺流程的选择目前仍然靠人们的经验和实验探索．本文通过对传统化工工艺流程的理论分析,阐明了传统工艺流程与反应精馏工艺流程的相互关系,从而提出了一种反应精馏工艺流程的构成方法．     

SIMULATION OF STEADY DISTILLATION PROCESS ACCOMPANIED WITH MULTIPLE CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIUM REACTIONS BASING ON TRANSFORMED VARIABLES

The equations describing the steady state operation of distillation column with simultaneous equilibrium chemical reactions have been transformed into a new set or MESH equations by introducing transrormed composition, flow rate and enthalpy variables. The new set of equations are similar to equations describing traditional non-reactive distillation, and it is general when one or several reactions occur and inert components are present.

An algorithm combining relaxation method and modified Newton-Raphson method is proposed to solve the new equations, the relaxation method is used to estimate initial values, while the modified Newton-Raphson method is used to set solution. The reactive distillation processes of MTBE synthesis with n-butane and the separation of meta- and para-xylene are simulated as numerical examples     

反应精馏制苯甲酸苄酯的研究

研究开发了由对苯二甲酸二甲酯生产过程中副产物粗苯甲酸甲酯酯交换制备苯甲酸苄酯的反应精馏工艺。在酯过量情况下,通过正交实验,确定了最佳工艺条件,并考察了催化剂用量、酯醇比和反应温度三因素对苄酯收率的影响。与间歇釜式反应相比,反应精馏技术用于苯甲酸甲酯醇解制苯甲酸苄酯大大提高了酯过量下的反应收率。     

CLASSIFICATION OF REACTIVE DISTILLATION PROCESSES BY DIMENSIONLESS NUMBERS

In the present paper a comparative consideration is given for the physico-chemical phenomena involved in homogeneously and heterogeneously catalyzed reactive distillation processes (RDP). The processes are classified qualitatively by dimensionless parameter groups derived from the balances for vapor, liquid and solid phases according to the principles of irreversible thermodynamics. The groups are applied to analyze industrial processes and experimental data for esterification, etherification and alkylation regarding different catalysts, operating conditions and configurations of plants. The mathematical models published until today and the experimental results are contrasted taking the parameter groups as a basis. This gives a discrimination of the models and some recommendations for their applicability.     

DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STATE OBSERVERS IN REACTIVE DISTILLATION

This study demonstrates that state observers can be developed and applied to infer the composition profiles of reactive distillation columns from noise-contaminated temperature measurements. The design and implementation of a Kalman filter (KF) and a Luenberger observer (LO) are carried out, and their performances are quantitatively assessed. The reliability, accuracy, and robustness of the two designs method are examined and compared quantitatively. The design and implementation of a Luenberger observer are simpler and easier to carry out than those of a Kalman filter. On the other hand, a Kalman filter is found to be more robust to a noisy measurements, erroneous initial estimates, and model uncertainties. A Luenberger observer could be used for composition estimation of reactive distillation when an ideal model of the system can reasonably approximate the real system; otherwise, a Kalman filter is recommended to be applied in more practical situations.     

DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STATE OBSERVERS IN REACTIVE DISTILLATION

This study demonstrates that state observers can be developed and applied to infer the composition profiles of reactive distillation columns from noise-contaminated temperature measurements. The design and implementation of a Kalman filter (KF) and a Luenberger observer (LO) are carried out, and their performances are quantitatively assessed. The reliability, accuracy, and robustness of the two designs method are examined and compared quantitatively. The design and implementation of a Luenberger observer are simpler and easier to carry out than those of a Kalman filter. On the other hand, a Kalman filter is found to be more robust to a noisy measurements, erroneous initial estimates, and model uncertainties. A Luenberger observer could be used for composition estimation of reactive distillation when an ideal model of the system can reasonably approximate the real system; otherwise, a Kalman filter is recommended to be applied in more practical situations.     

A REACTIVE DISTILLATION PROCESS FOR AN AZEOTROPIC REACTION SYSTEM: TRANSESTERIFICATION OF ETHYLENE CARBONATE WITH METHANOL

A reactive distillation process is proposed for manufacturing dimethyl carbonate (DMC) through the transesterification reaction of ethylene carbonate (EC) with methanol. Modeling and simulation of the reactive distillation column have been carried out to study the effects of operating conditions, such as the reflux ratio, the number of theoretical plates, the feed ratio, the top effluent, the liquid holdup, and the feed location, on EC conversion and product composition at the top of the reactive distillation column. The calculated results show that a complete EC conversion can be achieved. The model reliability is analyzed under different Murphree tray efficiencies, showing no considerable difference between the equilibrium and nonequilibrium models for this system. And the calculated results are verified by experimental data and commercial operation of a dimethyl carbonate plant of 10,000 tons per year.     

A REACTIVE DISTILLATION PROCESS FOR AN AZEOTROPIC REACTION SYSTEM: TRANSESTERIFICATION OF ETHYLENE CARBONATE WITH METHANOL

A reactive distillation process is proposed for manufacturing dimethyl carbonate (DMC) through the transesterification reaction of ethylene carbonate (EC) with methanol. Modeling and simulation of the reactive distillation column have been carried out to study the effects of operating conditions, such as the reflux ratio, the number of theoretical plates, the feed ratio, the top effluent, the liquid holdup, and the feed location, on EC conversion and product composition at the top of the reactive distillation column. The calculated results show that a complete EC conversion can be achieved. The model reliability is analyzed under different Murphree tray efficiencies, showing no considerable difference between the equilibrium and nonequilibrium models for this system. And the calculated results are verified by experimental data and commercial operation of a dimethyl carbonate plant of 10,000 tons per year.     

反应精馏与渗透蒸发膜分离耦合法合成乙基叔丁基醚

以乙醇和叔丁醇为原料 ,通过催化反应、精馏与渗透蒸发膜分离三单元耦合过程合成了乙基叔丁基醚(ETBE) ,建立了相关五元高度非理想体系的耦合过程数学模型 ,以改进的超松弛法对模型求解 ,并进行了模型校验和工艺操作参数的模拟寻优     

伴有多反应的精馏过程数学模拟

<正>在伴有多个反应的分离过程数学模拟中,反应量的存在使模型变量增多,非线性增强.文献[1～3]在普通精馏的基础上,提出了不同的算法来改进收敛性.他们对各种反应类型,均以动力学计算反应量,迭代变量多,算法也较复杂.Doherty针对平衡反应过程,提出了变换组成变量的概念计算反应相平衡.本文引入此概念,并对流率、焓等物理量进行了相应的变换,使变换后的反应精馏过程数学模型在形式上与普通精馏过程的模型完全一致.并以修正的Newton-Raphson法对对二甲苯和邻二甲苯的反应精馏过程进行了计算.     

酯交换反应精馏塔操作条件的统计调优

通过对酯交换反应精馏塔操作条件的分析,在现有生产工况下,采用统计调优操作法,建立了酯交换率及其影响因素的数学模型,该模型与生产实际相符.根据数学模型和实际操作经验,确定出了最优操作条件.按优化条件操作,酯交换率可达99.5%以上.     

基于化学热泵系统的叔丁醇脱水反应精馏过程

采用柱状阳离子交换树脂S-54作催化剂研究了叔丁醇脱水的反应精馏过程.在实验基础上建立了该过程的数学模型,采用超松弛法,并以动态方程逼近计算稳态过程对模型进行了求解,计算结果与实验结果吻合良好.在以上研究基础上考察了不同进料流量、进料组成、进料位置以及不同回流比等对反应转化率的影响,进行了上述工艺操作参数的模拟寻优,得到以下结论：反应精馏操作实现了水从反应体系中的有效移除,减小了水对反应的阻害作用,使叔丁醇接近完全分解;同时改变操作压力可以适用不同温度热源的热量回收要求.     

分批精馏模拟技术

综述了当前分批精馏模拟技术的研究进展。介绍了作为目前快捷（ｓｈｏｒｔｃｕｔ） 模型主流的ＦＵＧ快捷模型和ＩＳＣ 快捷模型。与严格模型相比,ＦＵＧ模型和ＩＳＣ 模型具有适应性强、计算量小、计算精度较高的独特优点。     

原油蒸馏塔的内外不可行路径优化方法

针对原油蒸馏塔的特点 ,将蒸馏塔模拟的内外法与优化的不可行路径法结合 ,提出原油蒸馏塔的内外不可行路径法 .对某原油蒸馏塔的优化计算表明该方法能提高计算速度 ,并取得较好的优化效果 .     

萃取精馏法分离焦化苯中微量正庚烷的精馏塔计算

根据基础数据研究,提出以DMF为溶剂从焦化苯中分离微量正庚烷的萃取精馏法,采用三对角矩阵-2N Newton-Raphson联合法对萃取精馏塔进行了模拟计算,通过优化计算得到萃取精馏塔、正庚烷回收塔及苯回收塔的操作条件,为分离焦化苯中微量正庚烷流程的建立提供依据。     

连续反应精馏合成正硅酸乙酯的研究

讨论了连续反应精馏合成乙酯的新工艺,将反应和精馏在一个设备中完成,考察了釜温、进料温度、进料速度、回流量及进料口位置对连续反应精馏的影响,筛选较佳的工艺条件。     

丙酸和甲醇酯化反应动力学及其化学反应相平衡的研究

以硫酸为催化剂,测定了丙酸和甲醇反应体系在不同温度下(313 K～343 K),不同催化剂含量下[0.5％～3％(w)]的常压液相反应动力学,得出了上述条件下的反应速率常数表达式.采用1％～2％(w)的硫酸为催化剂,测定了丙酸和甲醇酯化反应体系常压下化学反应相平衡数据.对所测得的相平衡数据用化学计量法进行了关联和推算,精度较好.     

MASS TRANSFER IN CROSS-FLOW PARALLEL-PLATE DIALYZER WITH INTERNAL RECYCLE FOR IMPROVED PERFORMANCE

This work presents a novel integrated reactive-separation design based on a dividing-wall column (DWC) applied to an industrial case study within AkzoNobel Chemicals. To the best of our knowledge this is one of the first reported industrial applications of a reactive DWC. Due to changing market conditions, one of the by-products in a plant became more economically attractive than the main product. However, the design of the existing plant does not allow an increase of the by-product production rate at the cost of the main product. To solve this problem we developed a novel integrated design that combines reaction and separation into a feasible reactive DWC that allows 35% savings in capital and 15% savings in energy costs. This article describes the novel reactive DWC design, presents the rigorous simulation results, and makes a comparison with the base case alternative.