Abstract��
A novel reactive distillation process with side feed added to side reactors for methylal production was proposed, in which a certain proportion of feed methanol was added directly to side reactors. The process simulation and optimization of major operation parameters were carried out by using software Aspen Plus, distillation column was simulated by using the strictly computational model RADFRAC and reactors were simulated by using NRTL equation. The effect of feeding mode and the feeding rate of methanol were investigated. The simulation results show that the mass ratio of methylal and the conversion of formaldehyde can reach 0.977 and 99.4% respectively when methanol is added only to the side reactor closest to the top of the column and the feed rate of methanol is 1.25% of the total amount of fed methanol. Compared with the ordinary method, the purity of methylal increased by 1.2% and the conversion of formaldehyde increased by 1.3%. Also, the energy consumption of the condenser and the reboiler decreased by 2.2% and 3.1% respectively.
HUANG Li-Li, BAI Peng, ZHAO Huan-Huan, ZHANG Jin-Wei.Simulation of Methylal Production by Reactive Distillation with Side Reactors Fed with Methanol[J]. Chemcial Industry and Engineering, 2011,28(6): 54-58
2011, Vol. 28 
