Optimal Structure of Reactive and Non-reactive Stages in Reactive Distillation Processes

DOMANCICH A.O; BRIGNOLE N.B; HOCH P.M.

Italia, Napoles

Congreso; PRES 07; 2007

We present a model for a reactive column, based on models by Taylor and Krishna (2000) and Almeida-Rivera (2005), shown in detail in Domancich et al (2006). It consists in pure separation stages combined with a reactive distillation sector, where both reaction and separation take place at the same time. For this study, we used a rigorous modeling of the column, with an equilibrium model for the reactive sector. An example showing the performance of a reactive distillation unit used for the production of MTBE is presented. The economic optimization of the reactive distillation process is performed using a MINLP algorithm and the cost of the resulting scheme is compared to the cost of the conventional process considering that reaction and separation take place in different equipment.et al (2006). It consists in pure separation stages combined with a reactive distillation sector, where both reaction and separation take place at the same time. For this study, we used a rigorous modeling of the column, with an equilibrium model for the reactive sector. An example showing the performance of a reactive distillation unit used for the production of MTBE is presented. The economic optimization of the reactive distillation process is performed using a MINLP algorithm and the cost of the resulting scheme is compared to the cost of the conventional process considering that reaction and separation take place in different equipment.