Internal Heat Integration and its Effect to Process Dynamics andControl― A MTBE Reactive Distillation Column

摘要

Seeking further internal heat integration between reaction operation and separation operation is investigatedin the study during the synthesis, design, and operation of a reactive distillation column synthesizing MTBE frommethanol and isobutylene. Although the MTBE reactive distillation column is characterized by complicatedthermodynamic properties and multiple steady states, a substantial reduction of energy consumption and capitalinvestment can still be achieved with the consideration of further internal heat integration between the reactionoperation and the separation operation in the two steady states existed. Dynamics and operation of the resultantprocess designs are then examined in terms of static and dynamic analysis and sharp improvement in processdynamics and controllability is clearly identified through intensive comparison against the simple process designwithout the consideration of further internal heat integration between the reaction operation and the separationoperation involved. It is demonstrated that the more synergistic relationship evolved during the reinforcement ofinternal heat integration should account for the dramatic improvement in process dynamics and controllability.