A note on an extended short-cut method for the design of multicomponent reactive distillation columns

Process Intensification

“…It is important to highlight that preliminary designs of reactive columns (i.e., number of stages, feed stage, reflux ratio) were obtained using the methodology proposed by Carrera-Rodríguez et al [8]. Tables 1 and 2 show the molar compositions of the components for the production of MTBE and TAME for each of the thermal conditions of the feed analyzed in this multiplicity study.…”

“…For purposes of this study, non-hybrid columns were considered for the systems analyzed as cases of study. Configuration of reactive distillation columns used in the analysis of multiple steady states was obtained from a previous design, which has been determined using the methodology proposed by Carrera-Rodríguez et al [8]. In particular, this design method is based on the use of distillation lines where the solution strategy is carried out stage by stage in order to determine the minimum reflux ratio, the location of the feed plate and the minimum number of plates in the column.…”

“…Tables 1 and 2 show the molar compositions of the components for the production of MTBE and TAME for each of the thermal conditions of the feed analyzed in this multiplicity study. Table 3 provides information on the configuration of the reactive columns derived from the methodology of CarreraRodríguez et al [8]. Once defined the configurations of the reactive columns, they were simulated in Aspen Plus to detect the presence of multiple steady states following the approach described by Cardenas-Guerra et al [16].…”

“…Reactive distillation has been employed in industry for decades, but it has received renewed attention in recent years. Because of the potential advantages of this technology including its improvements in terms of capital, productivity and selectivity, reduced energy use, and reduction or elimination of solvents; the study of this separation scheme has increased significantly and several techniques for designing reactive distillation columns have been proposed in the past decade (e.g., [3][4][5][6][7][8]). Overall, the design of reactive distillation columns is more complex than its nonreactive counterpart due to the nonlinear behavior of process models and the simultaneous presence of physical and chemical equilibrium.…”

Modelling, Simulation and Sensitivity Analysis of a Fatty Acid Methyl Ester Reactive Distillation Process Using Aspen Plus

“…Since then, many researchers have tried to put more efforts in understanding the phenomena of this process with the aid of process simulators and/or pilot plants. Carrera-Rodríguez et al [26] presented a short method for the design of a reactive distillation column using the method of distillation lines and tray-by-tray calculations. The method was easy to implement and provided a quick pre-design (providing operating parameters as a starting point) for a rigorous design method as opposed to the preliminary trial and error method to obtain operating parameters.…”