Dividing Wall Column for tert-Butyl Acrylate Distillation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The distillation of pure tert-butyl (meth)acrylate from crude tert-butyl (meth)acrylate is challenging due to small differences in relative volatilities of components, requiring complex two-column circuits and sensitive handling to prevent polymerization, while existing methods are costly in terms of investment and energy.
Innovation Solution
A process using a dividing wall column with specific internal configurations, including a partition to form upper and lower common column areas, side feed and withdrawal points, and dual-flow trays, allowing distillation at uniform pressure and minimizing energy consumption and contamination risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional two-column distillation circuit is used, then separation purity is achieved, but investment costs and energy consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate distillation columns into a single dividing wall column, where the dividing wall creates two distinct separation zones within one column structure. This merging maintains the separation purity of two columns while reducing equipment investment and simplifying the overall process configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The dividing wall column is segmented into multiple functional sections by vertical partitions, creating distinct inlet parts, removal parts, and common column areas. This segmentation allows different separation tasks to occur simultaneously in different zones, achieving complex separation in a single column
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional two-column distillation is used, then pure acrylate is obtained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging two distillation processes into one dividing wall column, the patent eliminates redundant heating and cooling zones. The shared reboiler and condenser systems reduce overall energy consumption while maintaining the separation efficiency needed to achieve 99.5% acrylate purity
Solution Approach 2:
The dividing wall column enables continuous separation of different components (low boilers, acrylate, high boilers) in a single continuous process flow, eliminating the intermediate storage and reheating required in two-column systems, thereby reducing energy waste
3Manufacturing precision
If standard distillation columns are used, then separation is achieved, but polymerization risks increase due to sensitivity of acrylates
Solution Approach 1:
The column is divided into multiple sections with the dividing wall creating separate flow paths for different components. This segmentation reduces residence time in each section and allows for better temperature control, minimizing the conditions that promote polymerization while maintaining separation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the dividing wall column are optimized with specific internal configurations (dual-flow trays in inlet/removal parts, different packing arrangements) that create locally favorable conditions for separation while controlling temperature and flow patterns to prevent polymerization in sensitive zones
4Device complexity
If dividing wall column with optimized configuration is used, then investment costs are reduced, but operational precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for operation (liquid quantity ratios of 1:0.2 to 1:5, vapor stream ratios of 1:0.5 to 1:2.0, specific theoretical plate positions for feed and withdrawal points). These parameter specifications enable the simplified single-column design to achieve the required separation precision through optimized operational conditions
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 process achieves high purity tert-butyl (meth)acrylate with a minimum of 99.5% acrylate content while reducing investment and energy costs by 20% compared to conventional two-stage distillation, maintaining stable operation and minimizing polymerization risks.
Implementation Method 1
the distillation of pure tert-butyl (meth)acrylate from crude tert-butyl (meth)acrylate is challenging due to small differences in the relative volatilities of the components
Implementation Method 2
evaporator (7) is carried out in which a partition (8) is installed in the longitudinal direction of the column
Data Source
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Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for obtaining pure tert-butyl (methy)acrylate from raw tert-butyl (methy)acrylate by distillation, characterized in that the method is carried out in a dividing wall column (1) having dividing built-in components and an evaporator (7), in which dividing wall column a dividing wall (8) is arranged in the column longitudinal direction in such a way that an upper common column region (9), a lower common column region (14), a feed part (10, 12) having a side feed point (2) and a removal part (11, 13) having a side removal point (3) are formed, the column has a number of theoretical separating stages in the range of 20 to 80, wherein the number of theoretical separating stages of the dividing wall column (1) refers to the sum of the theoretical separating stages in the common upper column region (9), the common lower column region (14) and the feed part (10, 12), the side feed point (2) for the raw tert-butyl (meth)acrylate is arranged at a theoretical separating stage in the region beginning at least two theoretical separating stages above the bottommost theoretical separating stage and ending at least two theoretical separating stages below the topmost theoretical separating stage, the side removal point (3) for the pure tert-butyl (meth)acrylate is arranged at a theoretical separating stage in the region beginning at least two theoretical separating stages above the bottommost theoretical separating stage and ending at least two theoretical separating stages below the topmost theoretical separating stage, and the dividing wall (8) is arranged in the column in the region beginning at least one theoretical separating stage above the bottommost theoretical separating stage and ending at least one theoretical separating stage below the topmost theoretical separating stage, wherein the liquid amount ratio at the upper end of the dividing wall (8) to the enriching section (10) and to the stripping section (11) of the column is set in a range of 1:0.2 to 1:5.