Abstract
The application of reactive distillation in the chemical process industry promises significant benefits, such as boosting energy efficiency and reducing the overall cost. However, assessing and designing a reactive distillation process is still challenging as these tasks usually demand time-consuming procedures. To overcome this problem, the present work proposes a quick approach to determine the design parameters for a kinetically-controlled reactive distillation process according to the ratio between the Damköhler (Da) number and the chemical equilibrium constant ( K eq ) – thus relating reaction kinetics and chemical equilibrium. This study employs a mapping method featuring an applicability graph that conveniently plots the reflux ratio vs. the number of theoretical stages and extends it to account for kinetically-controlled reactions. The method is demonstrated using the map for a generic quaternary reaction system, described as A + B ⇌ C + D, considering constant relative volatilities ( α AB = 2 and α CD = 6) and various reaction equilibrium constants ( K eq = 0.01, 0.1, 1). For validation purposes, the applicability of reactive distillation is examined in two case studies -hydrolysis of methyl lactate and synthesis of methyl acetate. Modelling of both the generic and real systems suggests that, with a ratio Da/ K eq of 5 or more, the generic map can provide initial values for the design parameters of a reactive distillation column. Ultimately, the insights gained save time in effectively assessing the feasibility of reactive distillation at the conceptual design stage.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call