Journal of Petroleum & Environmental Biotechnology

Determining catalyst loading in reactive distillation column

2^nd International Conference on Petrochemistry and Chemical Engineering

March 06, 2023 | Webinar

Chang Shu, Xingang Li, Hong Li and Xin Gao

Tianjin University, China

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Pet Environ Biotechnol

Abstract:

The widespread industrial application of reactive distillation technology is inseparable from the development of catalytic packing. However, the systematic research on the heterogeneous catalyst loading in reactive distillation column is vacant, and existing studies about catalyst loading on each stage and their distribution ignore the physical structure of the reactive distillation column. In this work, the Modular Catalytic Structured Packing combines catalyst bags and structured packing sheets is applied in the modelling and optimization of reactive distillation processes. The catalyst loading on each stage is obtained from three parameters: the volume fraction of catalyst, diameter of catalytic distillation column, and the height of theoretical stage. Using the effective diffusivity method, a simplified non-equilibrium stage model is chosen to simulate the reactive distillation process, and the bubble-point method for solving the non-equilibrium stage model’s equation system is introduced. Both catalyst volume fraction and the number of theoretical stages in reactive section are optimized by the genetic algorithm. Case studies of methyl acetate esterification and ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) synthesis show that greater theoretical stages and enough reflux ratio will reduce the demand of catalysts. Redistribution of catalyst is implemented by dividing the reactive section into several. The non-uniform distribution of catalyst will reduce both energy consumption and catalyst amount for methyl acetate system, but insignificant for ETBE synthesis, due to different interactions of reaction and separation. Recent Publications: 1. Chang Shu, et al. (2022) Design and optimization of reactive distillation: a review. Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering 1-20. 2. Chang Shu, et al. (2022) Toward sustainable and eco-efficient novel catalytic distillation process for production of solketal using seepage catalytic packing internal. Catalysis Today 388: 92-108. 3. Chang Shu, et al. (2022) The transesterification of ethylene glycol and 1, 2-butanediol with dimethyl carbonate: reaction network and kinetic modeling. Reaction Chemistry & Engineering 7(12): 2636-2649. 4. Chang Shu, et al. (2021) Application of Dimethyl Carbonate Assisted Chemical Looping Technology in the Separation of the Ethylene Glycol and 1, 2-Butanediol Mixture and Coproduction of 1, 2-Butene Carbonate. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 60(5): 2249-2264. 5. Chang Shu, et al. (2018) Innovative reactive distillation process for the sustainable synthesis of natural benzaldehyde. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 6(11): 14114-14124.

Biography :

Chang Shu received his bachelor degree (2017) from Tianjin University in chemical engineering, and now is Ph.D student in the National Engineering Research Center of Distillation Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, supervised by Prof. Xingang Li. His research focuses on the research and application of reactive distillation.