Based on the knowledge regarding steady state design, optimization and controlobtained by using Aspen Plus and Aspen Dynamics process simulators, we havedesigned and implemented a reactive dividing wall distillation column (DWDC). Thecolumn can be used to carry out the equilibrium reaction between ethanol and aceticacid to produce ethyl acetate and water catalyzed by sulfuric acid. The reactive DWDCcontains three packed sections and the middle section is the key part in order tominimize the energy consumption. That section contains a wall that can be moved tothree positions to manipulate the split of the vapor stream, whereas the split of the liquidstream is achieved by using a side tank. The reactive DWDC contains a reflux valveused to control either the composition of the distillate or the temperature at some pointin the first packed section. Also, a reboiler was implemented in the lower section, andthe heat duty supplied to it is used to control either the composition of the bottomsproduct or the temperature in the reboiler. This design was proposed based on bothsteady and dynamic simulations. The minimum energy consumption was predicted inthe steady state simulation; the dynamic simulations indicated that the minimum energyconsumption can be achieved in practice by implementing two control loops oftemperature (or composition), as described.
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