Crystallization Refrigerator Temperature Control for Acrylic Acid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for producing (meth)acrylic acid by crystallization purification face inefficiencies due to unstable operation of refrigeration systems, particularly during initial stages where only cooling is required, leading to inadequate cooling and heating medium temperatures, which affects crystallization stability and productivity.
Innovation Solution
The method involves adjusting the temperature of the heating medium returned to the refrigerator before the crystallization step to be lower than the set temperature for the melting step, allowing for stable supply of cooling media during initial cooling-only phases and optimizing the cooling load on the refrigerator to ensure steady operation and efficient energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a refrigerator is operated during the initial crystallization period when only cooling is required, then cooling medium can be supplied to the crystallizer, but the refrigerator cannot sufficiently exhibit cooling capability and the temperature of cooling medium becomes higher than set temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-cooling the heating medium before it is supplied to the crystallizer during the initial crystallization period. This preliminary cooling of the heating medium creates a temperature differential that enables the refrigerator to operate efficiently even when only cooling is required, preventing the cooling medium temperature from rising above the set temperature and ensuring stable crystallization conditions.
2Reliability
If both crystallization and melting steps are carried out in parallel, then refrigerator can operate in steady state with both cooling and heating loads, but additional equipment and complex operation are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a system where a single heating medium circulation loop serves dual purposes: it provides heating during the melting step and simultaneously serves as a cooling medium during the crystallization step. This multi-functional design allows the refrigerator to operate in steady state with both cooling and heating loads without requiring separate equipment for each function, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining operational stability.
3Loss of energy
If cooling load on refrigerator is reduced during melting step, then efficient energy use is achieved, but heating medium temperature control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback control by continuously monitoring the temperature of the heating medium and adjusting the cooling load on the refrigerator accordingly. During the melting step, when the heating medium temperature approaches the set point, the system reduces the cooling load to prevent overheating. This feedback mechanism ensures energy-efficient operation while maintaining precise temperature control of the heating medium throughout the process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables stable crystallization and efficient production of (meth)acrylic acid by maintaining proper temperature conditions for both cooling and heating media, improving operational stability and productivity, especially during the initial stages of crystallization purification.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid refrigerant for a refrigerator is evaporated to obtain vaporization heat and a cooling medium is cooled using the vaporization heat
Implementation Method 2
The obtained refrigerant gas for a refrigerator is condensed to be devolatilized again, and a heating medium is heated by the condensation heat generated at the time
Implementation Method 3
crystallization of (meth)acrylic acid from a crude solution is carried out by cooling
Implementation Method 4
the obtained (meth)acrylic acid crystal is melted to be transported to the next step
Data Source
AI summary
The objective of the present invention is to provide a method for efficiently producing (meth) acrylic acid by crystallization using a plurality of crystallizer to purify (meth)acrylic acid and a refrigerator for supplying both of a cooling medium and a heating medium, while the refrigerator is stably operated for supplying media having a proper temperature and the temperature of the crystallizers is maintained. The method for producing (meth)acrylic acid according to the present invention is characterized in comprising the steps of at least crystallizing (meth)acrylic acid and melting the (meth)acrylic acid crystal obtained in the crystallization step; wherein two or more crystallizers are employed; when both of the crystallization step and the melting step are concurrently carried out in separate crystallizers, from a refrigerator, a cooling medium is supplied to a crystallizer for carrying out the crystallization step to crystallize (meth)acrylic acid and a heating medium is supplied to other crystallizer for carrying out the melting step to melt the (meth) acrylic acid crystal; and when only the crystallization step is carried out before the melting step is carried out, a temperature of a heating medium to be returned to the refrigerator is previously decreased to be lower than a set temperature for the melting step before only the crystallization step is carried out.