Crystallizer Buffer Tanks for Stable (Meth)Acrylic Acid Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The crystallization process for producing (meth)acrylic acid is destabilized due to temperature fluctuations in the cooling and heating media, leading to inefficient operation and increased energy consumption of the heat source device.
Innovation Solution
A process that involves using buffer tanks to maintain a constant temperature of the cooling and heating media by adjusting their flow through the crystallizer and heat source device, employing first and second adjustment operations for cooling media and third and fourth adjustment operations for heating media, respectively, to stabilize the operation of the heat source device and reduce energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cooling medium temperature discharged from the crystallizer is adjusted by a heat source device, then the crystallization process can be controlled, but the operation of the heat source device becomes destabilized and energy consumption increases due to temperature fluctuations of the returned cooling medium
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling medium is pre-cooled in the buffer tank before being supplied to the crystallizer. This preliminary cooling action stabilizes the temperature of the cooling medium entering the crystallizer, preventing temperature fluctuations that would otherwise destabilize the heat source device operation and increase energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
A buffer tank is introduced as an intermediary component between the heat source device and the crystallizer. The buffer tank acts as a thermal buffer that absorbs temperature fluctuations from the returned cooling medium, providing a stable cooling medium to the crystallizer while protecting the heat source device from destabilizing temperature variations.
2Reliability
If the cooling medium temperature discharged from the crystallizer is adjusted by a heat source device, then the crystallization process can be controlled, but the heat source device operation becomes destabilized
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling medium undergoes preliminary cooling in the buffer tank before supply to the crystallizer. This pre-cooling stabilizes the thermal conditions for crystallization while isolating the heat source device from temperature fluctuations in the returned cooling medium, maintaining operational stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer tank serves as a thermal intermediary that decouples the crystallizer from the heat source device. It absorbs temperature variations from the returned cooling medium and provides stable cooling conditions to the crystallizer, preventing destabilization of the heat source device operation.
3Device complexity
If conventional cooling and heating methods are used without buffer tanks, then the system is simpler, but temperature fluctuations increase leading to higher energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
A buffer tank is introduced as a simple intermediary component that provides thermal buffering. This single addition stabilizes cooling medium temperature without significantly increasing system complexity, while effectively reducing energy consumption by preventing temperature fluctuations that would require additional heating or cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer tank changes the thermal parameters of the cooling medium by maintaining a relatively constant temperature despite fluctuations in the returned cooling medium. This parameter stabilization prevents energy waste from excessive heating or cooling requirements while adding minimal system complexity.
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 stabilizes the crystallization and melting operations, reducing energy consumption by maintaining a consistent cooling and heating load on the heat source device, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the (meth)acrylic acid production process.
Implementation Method 1
supplying a cooling medium to a crystallizer from a heat source device, thereby crystallizing (meth)acrylic acid from a crude (meth)acrylic acid solution
Implementation Method 2
supplying a heating medium to a crystallizer from a heat source device, thereby melting crystallized (meth)acrylic acid
Implementation Method 3
maintaining a constant temperature of a cooling medium or a heating medium by using buffer tanks
Data Source
AI summary
A process for producing (meth)acrylic acid comprising the steps of: supplying a cooling medium to a crystallizer (1) from a heat source device (4A), thereby crystallizing (meth)acrylic acid from a crude (meth)acrylic acid solution; discharging the cooling medium from the crystallizer (1) and returning the cooling medium to the heat source device (4A); supplying a heating medium to the crystallizer (1) from a heat source device (4B), thereby melting the (meth)acrylic acid; and discharging the heating medium from the crystallizer (1) and returning the heating medium to the heat source device (4B); wherein temperature of the cooling medium returned to the heat source device (4A) is maintained constant by utilizing a first buffer tank (5); and temperature of the heating medium returned to the heat source device (4B) is maintained constant by utilizing a second buffer tank (6).