Unfavorable thermal integration of reactive dividing wall column for multiple esterification reactions

Abstract

Thermal integration in a reactive dividing wall column (RDWC) can dramatically reduce energy consumption. This study, however, addresses unfavorable energy integration of the concurrent esterification of butyl, amyl, and hexyl alcohols in the RDWC. The reaction kinetics and vapor-liquid-liquid equilibrium of reactive mixtures are utilized in order to assess the feasibility of energy integration in a multi-partitioned RDWC. The thermal integration effect of a RDWC is elucidated by comparing its energy efficiency with that of the direct sequential configuration of a reactive distillation column followed by a non-reactive distillation column. The unfavorable thermal integration in the RDWC originates from the large internal flow to satisfy the product purities. Therefore, a single RDWC sequence showed higher energy consumption and total annual cost than the direct RD sequence for the simultaneous triple esterification.