Dividing Wall Column for High-Purity 2-Ethylhexyl Acrylate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional distillation processes for separating 2-ethylhexyl-acrylate suffer from thermal inefficiency due to remixing of medium boiling components, leading to increased energy consumption and equipment costs, particularly in the separation of high-purity products.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a dividing wall column, which integrates a pre-fractionator and main column, allowing for the separation of low, medium, and high boiling components within a single column, reducing energy consumption and equipment costs by minimizing remixing and optimizing thermodynamic efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a conventional 2-column distillation process is used to separate 2-ethylhexyl-acrylate, then the medium boiling component can be separated, but the medium boiling component is re-mixed and diluted in the first distillation column leading to thermal inefficiency and increased energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate distillation columns into a single integrated dividing wall column that performs the functions of both columns simultaneously. The dividing wall creates three distinct separation zones within one column body, allowing the medium boiling component (2-ethylhexyl-acrylate) to be separated without re-mixing while eliminating the need for a second column, thereby reducing energy consumption and improving separation efficiency
2Loss of energy
If a Petlyuk distillation column structure is used to improve separation efficiency and reduce energy consumption, then thermodynamic efficiency is improved, but the process design and operation become difficult and pressure balancing becomes particularly difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the dividing wall column into distinct zones (upper and lower sections) with different pressure conditions. The upper section operates at a higher pressure while the lower section operates at a lower pressure, allowing independent pressure control in each segment. This segmentation simplifies the pressure balancing problem compared to a fully coupled Petlyuk column while maintaining the thermodynamic efficiency benefits of integrated separation
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
The dividing wall column achieves high-purity 2-ethylhexyl-acrylate production with reduced energy consumption and investment costs, enhancing separation efficiency and productivity by mimicking the thermodynamic efficiency of a Petlyuk column while simplifying operation and pressure balancing.
Implementation Method 1
A method utilizing a dividing wall column, which integrates a pre-fractionator and main column, allowing for the separation of low, medium, and high boiling components within a single column
Implementation Method 2
a main column comprising: a condenser, a reboiler and a dividing wall
Implementation Method 3
a main column comprising: a condenser, a reboiler and a dividing wall
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a dividing wall column for preparing high-purity 2-ehylhexyl-acrylate, and a method for distilling 2-ethylhexyl-acrylate. The dividing wall column of the present invention provides an effect having two distillation columns through one distillation column, thereby having an effect of reducing energy compared to the conventional processing device in preparing high-purity 2-ehtylhexyl-acryalte and an effect of reducing equipment costs of the device.