Design of an Intensified Reactive Distillation Configuration for 2-Methoxy-2-methylheptane

Abstract

The design of an intensified reactive distillation (RD) configuration for the production of 2-methoxy-2-methylheptane (MMH) was proposed. Conventionally, a high yield of MMH can be achieved by a large-sized reactor or by recycling 2-methyl-1-heptene (MH). Both strategies are associated with high capital and operating costs. This study proposed an innovative RD configuration that allows the production of MMH with significantly lower energy costs and total annual costs (TACs). The results demonstrate that the proposed RD configuration can reduce energy demands and total annual costs by up to 18.2, and 10.8%, respectively, compared to those for a conventional reactor column sequence for the desired MMH yield. In addition, different heat integration sequences were investigated to utilize the sensible heat to save energy and the subsequent TAC. One heat integration sequence for the proposed configuration further realized savings in energy and TAC by up to 36.7 and 21.8%, respectively.

Methoxy‐methylheptane as a cleaner fuel additive: An energy‐ and cost‐efficient enhancement for separation and purification units

“…41 The initial approximations of the DWC structural design can be easily executed by applying a conventional shortcut design method based on this structural similarity. 6 | OPTIMIZATION OF DWC…”

“…Economic analysis was carried out in terms of minimum TAC using Equation (1,6) after assuming a payback period of 3 years. The basis for design and equipment costing was sourced from Turton 60 and Douglas.…”

“…Luyben 5 investigated the conventional reactor-column configuration of the MMH process in terms of the minimum total annual cost (TAC) by optimizing the reactor volume and total recycle flow rate from downstream columns. Hussain, Minh 6 demonstrated process intensification through reactive distillation (RD) for the MMH process. More recently, Hussain and Lee 7 and Hussain, Riaz 8 proposed an optimal design with a side-reactor configuration (SRC) for the MMH process that can effectively overcome the design limitations of the RD column.…”

Process Design Alternatives for Producing Ultra-high-purity Electronic-Grade Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether Acetate

“…For a kinetically controlled reaction, the operating pressure has a significant effect on the net production rate. , For an endothermic reversible reaction, equilibrium conversion, and net production rate increase with increasing operating pressure owing to the temperature rise in the reactive trays. The operating pressure of the RD column was varied in order to observe its effects on the net reaction rate profile.…”

“…RD (Figure a) is a wise choice to overcome thermodynamic limitations in equilibrium-limited reactions. − Despite recent advances in the design and simulation of RD columns for various industrial processes, their design complexity, operational difficulties, and expensive equipment requirements restrict the introduction of new production processes based on RD technology. For PGMEA synthesis, in particular, the transesterification route is also hindered by some important equipment and operational constraints.…”