Multistage Distillation Column Inactive Region for Reversible Reaction Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods face challenges in efficiently separating compounds that reversibly react, such as active hydrogen-containing compounds and their reactants, due to undesired reversible reactions during distillation, leading to issues like increased viscosity or gel formation, especially in systems involving allophanation reactions.
Innovation Solution
A multistage distillation column method where the mixture is supplied to an inactive region with specific surface materials, such as those with low Fe, Ni, and Ti content, to minimize reaction rates and facilitate efficient separation of active hydrogen-containing compounds and their reactants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If distillation is performed at high temperature to improve separation efficiency, then the separation rate increases, but undesired reversible reactions occur more frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The distillation column is divided into different functional zones: a reaction promotion zone with catalyst and higher temperature for equilibrium conversion, and a separation zone with lower temperature to prevent undesired reactions during distillation. This local differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of high separation efficiency and reaction promotion without excessive overall temperature increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The distillation process is segmented into multiple stages with different functions: upper stages for separation at lower temperatures and lower stages for reaction promotion at higher temperatures. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both high separation efficiency and equilibrium conversion while avoiding undesired reactions that would occur at uniformly high temperatures.
2Productivity
If the temperature in the distillation column is increased to improve reaction efficiency, then the reaction rate increases, but the separation capability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The distillation column is divided into reaction promotion zones at the bottom with higher temperatures and separation zones at the top with lower temperatures. This vertical segmentation allows reaction efficiency to be improved in the lower stages while maintaining separation capability in the upper stages, resolving the trade-off between reaction rate and separation precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Different temperature conditions are applied locally to different parts of the column: higher temperatures in reaction zones to improve reaction efficiency and lower temperatures in separation zones to maintain separation capability. This local quality differentiation allows both requirements to be satisfied simultaneously.
3Stability of the object's composition
If reactive distillation is performed in a distillation column, then the equilibrium reaction is promoted, but the reaction rate decreases from bottom to top reducing overall efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
Catalyst is selectively placed in specific zones of the distillation column where reaction promotion is needed, and heating is concentrated in lower stages to maintain higher reaction rates. This local enhancement of reaction conditions allows equilibrium conversion to be promoted without the uniform temperature decrease from bottom to top that characterizes conventional reactive distillation.
Solution Approach 2:
A catalyst is introduced as an intermediary substance to promote the equilibrium reaction in specific zones of the column. The catalyst enables the reaction to proceed efficiently at lower temperatures in certain regions, compensating for the temperature gradient and maintaining overall reaction rate while achieving high equilibrium conversion.
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 allows for effective separation of active hydrogen-containing compounds and their reactants, preventing undesired reactions and maintaining the intended viscosity, thereby improving the efficiency and outcome of distillation processes.
Implementation Method 1
a step of separating at least either an active hydrogen-containing compound (A) or a compound (B) that reversibly reacts with (A) from a mixture containing (A) and (B) by distillation in a multistage distillation column
Implementation Method 2
Distillation is an operation of condensing a specific component of a mixture utilizing the difference in vapor pressure between the component substances
Implementation Method 3
supplying the mixture to an inactive region formed within the multistage distillation column... with low Fe, Ni, and Ti content, to minimize reaction rates
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a separation method of separating (A) and (B), comprising: a step of separating at least either an active hydrogen-containing compound (A) or a compound (B) that reversibly reacts with (A) from a mixture containing (A) and (B) by distillation in a multistage distillation column; and a step of supplying the mixture to an inactive region formed within the multistage distillation column.