Equipment for handling easily polymerizable substances

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a handling device for easily polymerizable substances that is capable of suppressing the generation of polymerized substances in incidental equipment. [Solution] A handling device 10 for easily polymerizable substances includes: incidental equipment 30, which is provided to a body 20 that handles a polymerizable substance, and which does not have a temperature control mechanism 40 that can come into contact with a gas of the easily polymerizable substance; and the temperature adjustment mechanism 40, which adjusts the temperature of the incidental equipment 30 to a temperature lower than the boiling point of the easily polymerizable substance and to a temperature higher than the melting point of the easily polymerizable substance.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for handling an easily polymerizable substance. [Background technology]

[0002] Equipment that handles easily polymerizable substances such as (meth)acrylic acid and (meth)acrylic acid esters may be equipped with auxiliary equipment such as breather valves. The auxiliary equipment adjusts the internal pressure of the equipment, preventing deformation of the handling equipment.

[0003] It is well known that easily polymerizable substances are highly susceptible to polymerization, and that polymerization often occurs during the manufacturing process. In particular, when an easily polymerizable substance vaporizes from a liquid containing the easily polymerizable substance contained in an apparatus and accumulates in a condensed state in a vapor zone containing the vaporized easily polymerizable substance, it is likely to act as a nucleus and form a polymer. If the polymer adheres to the auxiliary equipment, it is necessary to remove the polymer to prevent the auxiliary equipment from interfering with its function of regulating the internal pressure.

[0004] In response to this, for example, Patent Document 1 describes providing a heating device in a pipe between a storage tank that stores a liquid containing an easily polymerizing substance and a breather valve, etc. The heating device heats the pipe to prevent the easily polymerizing substance from polymerizing, thereby preventing the easily polymerizing substance from condensing in the pipe. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-46794 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, if an insufficiently heated portion occurs in the device, the easily polymerizable substance may condense in the insufficiently heated portion. If the easily polymerizable substance condensed in the insufficiently heated portion comes into contact with a heated portion of the device, the condensed easily polymerizable substance may easily polymerize.

[0007] In view of the prior art related to the inhibition of polymerization of easily polymerizable substances, the present inventors have intensively investigated whether polymerization of easily polymerizable substances can be more suitably inhibited by other methods. The present inventors then came up with the idea that polymerization of the easily polymerizable substances in the auxiliary equipment could be inhibited by deliberately condensing the easily polymerizable substances in the auxiliary equipment and maintaining the temperature of the auxiliary equipment at a low temperature. However, maintaining the temperature of the auxiliary equipment at a low temperature could cause the easily polymerizable substances to solidify and cause blockage. Therefore, the present inventors focused on the need to maintain the temperature of the auxiliary equipment at or above its melting point, and completed the present invention.

[0008] That is, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for handling an easily polymerizing substance that can suppress the generation of polymers in associated facilities. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for handling an easily polymerizable substance, which is provided in a main body that handles the easily polymerizable substance, and which has an auxiliary equipment that does not have a temperature control mechanism and with which the gas of the easily polymerizable substance can come into contact, and a temperature control mechanism that adjusts the temperature of the auxiliary equipment to a temperature lower than the boiling point of the easily polymerizable substance and a temperature higher than the melting point of the easily polymerizable substance. The main body is at least one device for storing, separating, exchanging heat, and reacting the easily polymerizable substance. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the device for handling an easily polymerizing substance of the present invention, although the easily polymerizing substance in the auxiliary equipment condenses, the temperature is kept low by the temperature control mechanism, so that the polymerization reaction is suppressed, and therefore the generation of polymers in the auxiliary equipment can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a main body and auxiliary equipment constituting an easily polymerizable substance handling device according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description does not limit the technical scope or meaning of terms described in the claims. Furthermore, the dimensional proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for the convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a main body 20 and ancillary equipment 30 that constitute an easily polymerizable substance handling device 10 (hereinafter referred to as "handling device") according to this embodiment.

[0014] In this specification, the easily polymerizable substance is not particularly limited as long as it is a substance that is easily polymerizable, and examples thereof include polymerizable vinyl compounds. Here, examples of the polymerizable vinyl compounds include (meth)acrolein; (meth)acrylic acid; (meth)acrylates such as hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, glycidyl (meth)acrylate, methyl (meth)acrylate, ethyl (meth)acrylate, butyl (meth)acrylate, and 2-ethylhexyl (meth)acrylate; and mixtures thereof.

[0015] <Handling equipment> The handling device 10 can include a main body 20 that is at least one of equipment such as a tank for temporarily storing a liquid containing an easily polymerizable substance in a manufacturing process or purification process of the easily polymerizable substance, equipment for separation (a distillation tower, an absorption tower, an extraction tower, a crystallizer, a filter, etc.), equipment for heat exchange (a heat exchanger, etc.), and equipment for reaction (a reactor, etc., excluding gas-phase reactors), and among these, equipment for storage is preferred.

[0016] The specific configuration of the handling device 10 will be described below, taking as an example a case where the handling device 10 is a storage device that temporarily stores a liquid containing an easily polymerizable substance during production or purification. As shown in Fig. 1, the handling device 10 has a main body 20 that stores the liquid containing the easily polymerizable substance, ancillary equipment 30 attached to the main body 20, and a temperature adjustment mechanism 40 that adjusts the temperature of the ancillary equipment 30 so as to promote condensation of the easily polymerizable substance. Each part will be described in detail below.

[0017] <Main body> The main body 20 is not particularly limited as long as it can store a liquid containing an easily polymerizable substance, and can be configured, for example, by a gas-sealed storage tank. The main body 20 may be a pressurized tank or a normal pressure tank.

[0018] The main body 20 may be fitted with a pipe 11 for supplying a liquid containing an easily polymerizable substance into the main body 20 from another device such as a reactor, a distillation column, or an evaporator.

[0019] The liquid containing the easily polymerizable substance supplied to the main body 20 may contain a polymerization inhibitor in advance, or the polymerization inhibitor may be supplied separately from a pipe or the like attached to the main body 20, for example.

[0020] The polymerization inhibitor is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include hydroquinone, hydroquinone monomethyl ether, phenothiazine, copper dibutyldithiocarbamate, etc. The content of the polymerization inhibitor is 1 ppm or more, preferably 10 ppm or more, and 1000 ppm or less, preferably 500 ppm or less.

[0021] The main body 20 may be equipped with a stirrer (not shown).

[0022] <Additional Facilities> The auxiliary equipment 30 is configured to adjust the internal pressure of the main body 20 .

[0023] The ancillary equipment 30 is preferably provided in a gas phase portion of the main body 20, which is above the main body 20 in the gravity direction G. The gas phase portion here refers to a space above the liquid surface in the main body 20 (a portion not immersed in the liquid surface). Therefore, the ancillary equipment 30 may come into contact with the gas of the easily polymerizable substance.

[0024] The auxiliary equipment 30 is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include instrumentation such as nozzles and pressure gauges, atmospheric vents, valves such as pressure regulating valves, and flashback prevention units, and may be combinations of these.

[0025] 1 is not particularly limited as long as it is capable of exhausting and / or suctioning air according to the internal pressure of the ancillary equipment 30 (and the main body 20 communicating with the ancillary equipment 30). Among these, a pressure regulating valve that exhausts and suctions air according to the internal pressure of the main body 20 is preferred, and examples thereof include a breather valve, an Atmos valve, a safety valve, a pressure reducing valve, and an automatic valve that opens and closes according to the set value of a pressure gauge.

[0026] The flashback prevention unit 32 is not particularly limited as long as it can prevent flashback of the main body 20, and can be configured, for example, by a flame arrester, a detonation flame arrester, or the like.

[0027] The atmospheric vent is a nozzle (also called a pipe) for atmospheric purging. The atmospheric vent may be provided by extending from the nozzle 33, or may be provided by providing a connector such as a flange on each of the nozzle 33 and the atmospheric vent and connecting the connectors together. The shape of the atmospheric vent is not particularly limited. The atmospheric vent may have a curved portion such that the opening of the atmospheric vent faces downward to prevent rain or the like from entering the area being purged with the atmosphere.

[0028] The instrumentation equipment includes a pressure gauge, etc. Pressure gauges include not only those that measure the pressure in a system, but also, for example, pressure-type level gauges that measure the liquid level by measuring the pressure.

[0029] The accessory equipment 30 may be attached via an intervening member such as a nozzle 33 connected to the accessory equipment 30, or may be attached directly to the main body 20.

[0030] In addition, the ancillary equipment 30 may be attached to the wall surface of the main body 20 corresponding to the gas phase portion of the main body 20, but it is preferable to install a top plate in the gas phase portion and to install the ancillary equipment 30 above the top plate.

[0031] <Temperature adjustment mechanism> The temperature adjustment mechanism 40 is configured to adjust the temperature of the auxiliary equipment 30 so as to promote condensation of the easily polymerizable substance.

[0032] Even if a polymerization inhibitor is supplied to the main body 20, the supplied polymerization inhibitor is mainly present in the liquid phase of the main body 20 and is almost absent in the gas phase of the main body 20 and the ancillary equipment 30. Therefore, if the polymerization inhibitor condenses in the steam zone equipment 30 containing the easily polymerizing substance, almost no polymerization inhibitor is present in the condensed portion. Therefore, polymerization is more likely to occur in the gas phase of the ancillary equipment 30 than in the liquid phase of the main body 20. In contrast, in this embodiment, although the easily polymerizing substance in the ancillary equipment 30 condenses, the polymerization reaction is suppressed because the temperature is kept low by the temperature adjustment mechanism 40. Therefore, the generation of polymers in the ancillary equipment 30 can be suppressed, and the growth of polymers in the ancillary equipment 30, which would impair the function of the ancillary equipment 30, can be suppressed.

[0033] The temperature adjustment mechanism 40 is not particularly limited, but may be configured, for example, so that the temperature of the ancillary equipment 30 is in a temperature range from a temperature lower than the boiling point of the easily polymerizable substance (upper limit temperature) to a temperature higher than the melting point of the easily polymerizable substance (lower limit temperature).

[0034] The upper limit temperature of the auxiliary equipment 30 is set appropriately depending on the easily polymerizable substance being handled. The easily polymerizable substance handled in this embodiment is a substance that undergoes radical polymerization. Therefore, the upper limit temperature of the auxiliary equipment 30 can be set to 50°C or less, more preferably 45°C or less, even more preferably 40°C or less, and even more preferably 35°C or less.

[0035] The lower limit temperature of the auxiliary equipment 30 is appropriately set depending on the easily polymerizable substance to be handled, but can be set preferably to 15°C or higher, more preferably 20°C or higher, and even more preferably 25°C or higher.

[0036] The temperature adjustment mechanism 40 may be configured, for example, by a temperature adjustment unit 41 that can be wrapped around the incidental equipment 30. The configuration of the temperature adjustment mechanism 40 is not particularly limited as long as it can adjust the temperature of the incidental equipment 30 to promote condensation of the easily polymerizable substance. The temperature adjustment mechanism 40 can be configured to heat the incidental equipment 30 (e.g., in winter) or cool the incidental equipment 30 (e.g., in summer) depending on the season (depending on the outside air temperature). (Even if the set temperature is the same, it may be kept warm (heated) in winter and cooled in summer.) The temperature adjustment mechanism 40 is configured to maintain the temperature of the incidental equipment 30 when the temperature of the incidental equipment 30 is already within a temperature range that promotes condensation of the easily polymerizable substance. Furthermore, the temperature adjustment mechanism 40 can adjust the temperature to a condensation temperature while preventing solidification.

[0037] Preferably, the temperature adjustment mechanism 40 is a device that cannot come into contact with the gaseous easily polymerizable substance and can be retrofitted to existing ancillary equipment 30. For this reason, the temperature adjustment mechanism 40 is provided on top of the main body 20 and does not include a condenser (vent condenser) that can come into contact with the gaseous easily polymerizable substance. A vent condenser provided in this manner is not preferable from the standpoint of the size of the device (when attached to existing ancillary equipment 30, it is physically difficult to attach it to a narrow space) and maintenance (cleaning, etc.).

[0038] The temperature adjustment mechanism 40 may be configured, for example, by a water-type temperature adjustment. In this case, the temperature adjustment mechanism 40 can be configured by circulating a heat medium (preferably water) through a temperature adjustment unit 41 made of copper pipes or the like (trace piping), and the temperature of the water circulating through the temperature adjustment unit 41 can be set appropriately according to the season (according to the outside air temperature). Note that the arrows in FIG. 1 indicate the flow of water.

[0039] The material of the temperature adjusting unit 41 is not limited to copper. The configuration of the temperature adjusting unit 41 is not limited to a trace pipe, and may be a double pipe or a sprinkler pipe.

[0040] Furthermore, the configuration of the temperature adjustment mechanism 40 is not particularly limited as long as it can adjust the temperature of the incidental equipment 30. For example, the temperature adjustment mechanism 40 may be configured with an electric heater type temperature adjustment or an air-cooling type temperature adjustment. When the temperature adjustment mechanism 40 is configured with an electric heater type temperature adjustment, the temperature adjustment mechanism 40 can heat the incidental equipment 30 (for example, in winter when the outside temperature is low). Furthermore, by heating in winter and not heating in summer, the temperature adjustment mechanism 40 can adjust the temperature to a condensation temperature while preventing solidification. In this case, it is preferable that the temperature adjustment mechanism 40 be configured with a ribbon heater or a silicone cord heater that can be wrapped around the incidental equipment 30, instead of the temperature adjustment unit 41.

[0041] Furthermore, the position (installation range) of the temperature adjustment mechanism 40 relative to the auxiliary equipment 30 is not particularly limited as long as it is possible to adjust the temperature of the auxiliary equipment 30 so as to promote condensation of the easily polymerizable substance.

[0042] The temperature adjustment mechanism 40 may be configured to adjust the temperature of the incidental equipment 30 to a predetermined temperature without using a temperature sensor or a temperature control unit. The temperature adjustment mechanism 40 can be operated by setting the temperature of the heat medium of the temperature adjustment mechanism 40 so that the temperature of the incidental equipment 30 falls within a set temperature range, rather than adjusting the temperature of the incidental equipment 30 while directly measuring the temperature of the incidental equipment 30.

[0043] As described above, the handling device 10 for easily polymerizing substances in this embodiment is provided in the main body 20 that handles the easily polymerizing substance, and has ancillary equipment 30 that does not have a temperature adjustment mechanism 40 with which the gas of the easily polymerizing substance can come into contact, and a temperature adjustment mechanism 40 that adjusts the temperature of the ancillary equipment 30 to a temperature lower than the boiling point of the easily polymerizing substance and a temperature higher than the melting point of the easily polymerizing substance.

[0044] According to the handling device 10 of this embodiment, although the easily polymerizable substance in the ancillary equipment 30 condenses, the polymerization reaction is suppressed because the temperature is kept low by the temperature adjustment mechanism 40. Therefore, according to the handling device 10 of this embodiment, the generation of polymers in the ancillary equipment 30 can be suppressed.

[0045] Furthermore, the temperature lower than the boiling point is 50° C. Although the easily polymerizable substance in the ancillary equipment 30 whose temperature is adjusted in this manner condenses, the polymerization reaction is suppressed because the temperature is kept low by the temperature adjustment mechanism 40. Therefore, the handling device 10 according to this embodiment can suppress the generation of polymers in the ancillary equipment 30.

[0046] The temperature adjustment mechanism 40 adjusts the temperature using a heat medium. By configuring the incidental equipment 30 to be heated (for example, in winter) or cooled (for example, in summer) depending on the season (according to the outside air temperature), it is possible to effectively prevent polymerization of the easily polymerizable substance in the incidental equipment 30. Furthermore, by heating in winter and not heating in summer, the temperature adjustment mechanism 40 can adjust the temperature to a condensation temperature while preventing solidification.

[0047] Furthermore, the temperature adjustment mechanism 40 may adjust the temperature using an electric heater. In this configuration, the temperature adjustment mechanism 40 can be configured to heat the incidental equipment 30 in winter when the outside temperature is low, and not to heat the incidental equipment 30 in summer when the outside temperature is high. Therefore, the temperature adjustment mechanism 40 can prevent the easily polymerizable substance in the incidental equipment 30 from solidifying and effectively suppress polymerization by maintaining the temperature at a condensation temperature.

[0048] In addition, the ancillary equipment 30 has at least one of the nozzle 33, instrumentation (not shown), atmospheric vent (not shown), and valve (e.g., pressure regulating valve 31) directly connected to the main body 20, or at least one of the instrumentation (not shown), atmospheric vent (not shown), and valve connected to the main body 20 via the nozzle 33.

[0049] The auxiliary equipment 30 also includes a pressure adjusting valve 31 that exhausts and / or draws air depending on the internal pressure within the main body 20 .

[0050] Furthermore, the handling device 10 handles not only the easily polymerizable substance but also a polymerization inhibitor for preventing polymerization of the easily polymerizable substance, so that generation of polymerized substances within the handling device 10 can be suppressed.

[0051] The easily polymerizable substance may be (meth)acrylic acid or a (meth)acrylic acid ester. In this case, the generation of polymerized products in the auxiliary facility 30 can be suppressed when producing or purifying (meth)acrylic acid or a (meth)acrylic acid ester, which are easily polymerizable.

[0052] The main body 20 is at least one device for storing, separating, heat exchanging, and reacting the easily polymerizing substance. When configured in this manner, the handling device 10 can handle not only the easily polymerizing substance but also a polymerization inhibitor for preventing polymerization of the easily polymerizing substance.

[0053] The present embodiment is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0054] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-17646, filed on February 8, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 10 handling equipment, 20 main body, 30 Ancillary facilities, 40 Temperature adjustment mechanism, G Gravity direction.

Claims

1. an auxiliary facility that is provided in a main body that handles an easily polymerizable substance and that does not have a temperature control mechanism and that can come into contact with a gas of the easily polymerizable substance; a temperature adjusting mechanism for adjusting the temperature of the auxiliary equipment to a temperature lower than the boiling point of the easily polymerizable substance and a temperature higher than the melting point of the easily polymerizable substance; The device for handling an easily polymerizable substance, wherein the main body is at least one device for storing, separating, heat exchanging, and reacting the easily polymerizable substance.

2. 2. The device for handling an easily polymerizing substance according to claim 1, wherein the temperature lower than the boiling point is 50°C.

3. 3. The device for handling an easily polymerizable substance according to claim 1, wherein the temperature adjustment mechanism adjusts the temperature by a heat medium.

4. 3. The device for handling an easily polymerizable substance according to claim 1, wherein the temperature adjustment mechanism adjusts the temperature by an electric heater.

5. 3. The handling device for an easily polymerizable substance according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the auxiliary equipment, a nozzle, an instrumentation device, an atmospheric vent, and a valve, is directly connected to the main body, or at least one of the instrumentation device, the atmospheric vent, and the valve is connected to the main body via the nozzle.

6. 3. The device for handling an easily polymerizable substance according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary equipment includes a pressure regulating valve for exhausting and / or suctioning air in accordance with the internal pressure within the main body.

7. 3. The device for handling an easily polymerizing substance according to claim 1, wherein a polymerization inhibitor for preventing polymerization of the easily polymerizing substance is handled in addition to the easily polymerizing substance.

8. 3. The device for handling an easily polymerizable substance according to claim 1, wherein the easily polymerizable substance is (meth)acrylic acid or a (meth)acrylic acid ester.

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