Abstract：A homogeneous catalytic distillation (CD) process for the synthesis of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (EGMEE) using ethylene oxide (EO) and ethanol as raw materials and sodium ethoxide as catalyst was proposed. Aspen Plus simulation platform and Cup-Tower hydraulics analysis software were used to study the influence of liquid holding capacity of the tray on the catalytic distillation process. An optimization approach for CD trays based on hydraulics feasibility was established. Simulation analysis showed that liquid holding capacity of the tray had an important influence on the CD process. Too small holding capacity led to the decrease of raw material conversion rate, while excess holding capacity resulted in the decrease of EGMEE selectivity. Moreover, the liquid holding capacity was restricted by the tower structure and the hydraulic conditions of the trays. With optimization of the CD tower diameters and overflow parameters. The optimized liquid holding capacity was almost 2.9 times higher than that of the conventional distillation tower. Under this condition, the corresponding EO mass concentration at the top of the tower was 0.8% and the selectivity of the target EGMEE was 90.4% which can meet the technical requirements of catalytic distillation process and the hydraulic conditions on of the tower.
An Ran 1,Lin Zixin 1,An Weizhong 1 et al. Influence of Liquid Holding Capacity on the Catalytic Distillation of Ethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether and Optimal Trays Design[J]. 化学反应工程与工艺, 2017, 33(6): 527-534.
