Abstract
Multi-objective (energy–economic–safety) assessment of ethyl acetate production involving a heat pump is presented in this paper. The heat pump is designed to intensify ethyl acetate separation and to reduce the total operating cost. Two ethyl acetate production pathways are upgraded using a heat pump, conventional process and reactive distillation column with a separation unit. Detailed process models including the heat pump environment have been compiled and optimized in the Aspen Plus software. Both benefits and drawbacks of including the heat pump in the processes are evaluated using three different points of view: process energy, economics, and safety. As a result, using a heat pump is highly recommended in both conventional process and reactive distillation column with a separation unit. As a higher level of process integration is achieved using a heat pump, economic aspects are improved; however, safety aspects deteriorate. The final decision on the suitability of using a heat pump depends on whether it is proposed for an existing plant, or a completely new plant is designed. In a new plant, the concept of a thermally coupled process (reactive distillation column with a stripper column) has been proven to be the most promising.
Highlights
Gutiérrez and Gabriel Segovia-A substantial part of global chemical production is made of organic solvents, the production of esters being one of the key segments
The presence of an mechanical vapor recompression heat pump (MVRHP) can change the flows in the system and changing the column dimensions is sometimes necessary
MVRHP was designed in the conventional production process (Figure 4) and in an reactive distillation (RD) column with a separation unit (Figure 6)
Summary
A substantial part of global chemical production is made of organic solvents, the production of esters being one of the key segments. Reasonable price, low toxicity and suitable properties of ethyl acetate as a solvent are known [1,2]. The demand for ethyl acetate has steadily increased in recent years and its global consumption is expected to increase in the future. It is essential to boost ethyl acetate production. The approach to intensification of ethyl acetate production can be based on streamlining and improving existing processes or on designing an alternative, much more efficient, process compared to the conventionally used ones. Three main chemical paths of ethyl acetate industrial production based on ethylene acetylation, ethanol dehydrogenation and Fisher esterification are commonly used
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