Abstract
Design, economics, and plantwide control of a glycerol-tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) etherification plant are presented. The reaction takes place in liquid phase, in a plug flow reactor, using Amberlyst 15 as a catalyst. The products' separation is achieved by two distillation columns where high-purity ethers are obtained and a section involving extractive distillation with 1,4-butanediol as solvent, which separates TBA from the TBA/water azeotrope. Details of design performed in AspenPlus and an economic evaluation of the process are given. Three plantwide control structures are examined using a mass balance model of the plant. The preferred control structure fixes the fresh glycerol flow rate and the ratio glycerol + monoether: TBA at reactor-inlet. The stability and robustness in the operation are checked by rigorous dynamic simulation in AspenDynamics.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 180617 |
| Journal | The Scientific World Journal |
| Volume | 2012 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Environmental Science(all)
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Design and control of glycerol-tert-butyl alcohol etherification process. / Vlad, Elena; Bildea, Costin Sorin; Bozga, Grigore.
In: The Scientific World Journal, Vol. 2012, 180617, 2012.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Design and control of glycerol-tert-butyl alcohol etherification process
AU - Vlad, Elena
AU - Bildea, Costin Sorin
AU - Bozga, Grigore
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Design, economics, and plantwide control of a glycerol-tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) etherification plant are presented. The reaction takes place in liquid phase, in a plug flow reactor, using Amberlyst 15 as a catalyst. The products' separation is achieved by two distillation columns where high-purity ethers are obtained and a section involving extractive distillation with 1,4-butanediol as solvent, which separates TBA from the TBA/water azeotrope. Details of design performed in AspenPlus and an economic evaluation of the process are given. Three plantwide control structures are examined using a mass balance model of the plant. The preferred control structure fixes the fresh glycerol flow rate and the ratio glycerol + monoether: TBA at reactor-inlet. The stability and robustness in the operation are checked by rigorous dynamic simulation in AspenDynamics.
AB - Design, economics, and plantwide control of a glycerol-tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) etherification plant are presented. The reaction takes place in liquid phase, in a plug flow reactor, using Amberlyst 15 as a catalyst. The products' separation is achieved by two distillation columns where high-purity ethers are obtained and a section involving extractive distillation with 1,4-butanediol as solvent, which separates TBA from the TBA/water azeotrope. Details of design performed in AspenPlus and an economic evaluation of the process are given. Three plantwide control structures are examined using a mass balance model of the plant. The preferred control structure fixes the fresh glycerol flow rate and the ratio glycerol + monoether: TBA at reactor-inlet. The stability and robustness in the operation are checked by rigorous dynamic simulation in AspenDynamics.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84871848786&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1100/2012/180617
DO - 10.1100/2012/180617
M3 - Article
VL - 2012
JO - The Scientific World Journal
JF - The Scientific World Journal
SN - 2356-6140
M1 - 180617
ER -