Towards further internal heat integration in design of reactive distillation columns—Part III: Application to a MTBE reactive distillation column

According to the principle introduced in the first two papers of this series, seeking further internal heat integration between reaction operation and separation operation during the synthesis, design, and operation of a reactive distillation column synthesizing methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) from methanol and isobutylene is investigated. Although the MTBE reactive distillation column is characterized by complicated thermodynamic properties and multiple steady states, a substantial reduction of energy requirement and capital investment can still be achieved with the consideration of further internal heat integration between the reaction operation and the separation operation in the two existing steady states. Dynamics and operation of the resultant process designs are then examined in terms of static and dynamic analysis and sharp improvement in process dynamics and controllability is clearly identified through intensive comparison against the simple process design without the consideration of further internal heat integration between the reaction operation and the separation operation involved. It is demonstrated that the more synergistic relationship evolved during the reinforcement of internal heat integration should account for the dramatic improvement in process dynamics and controllability.