Ethylene Monomer Dissolution Device for Alpha-Olefin Refrigerant Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The alpha-olefin production process requires a significant amount of refrigerant for cooling, which is economically inefficient due to the conventional method of supplying ethylene monomers at low temperatures to remove reaction heat.
Innovation Solution
Supplying gaseous ethylene monomers as a feed stream to a monomer dissolution device where they are dissolved in a solvent, forming a liquid phase that is then fed to a reactor, allowing heat of dissolution to be removed outside the reactor, thereby reducing the need for refrigerant and improving economic feasibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If ethylene monomer is supplied at low temperature to remove heat of reaction, then heat removal is improved, but refrigerant consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat removal function from the reactor system by supplying pre-cooled ethylene monomer. The cooling process is separated from the reaction process, allowing heat removal to occur in a dedicated heat exchanger before the monomer enters the reactor, thereby reducing refrigerant needs in the main reaction system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary cooling action by cooling the ethylene monomer to -50°C or lower before supplying it to the reactor. This preliminary temperature reduction allows the monomer to absorb reaction heat through sensible heat transfer, reducing the need for continuous refrigerant cooling during the reaction process.
2Loss of energy
If excessive amount of monomer is supplied at low temperature, then heat of reaction removal is improved, but process efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the ethylene monomer to -50°C or lower, which optimizes the balance between heat removal efficiency and process productivity. This specific temperature parameter allows sufficient heat absorption while avoiding excessive monomer consumption that would reduce process efficiency.
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 method decreases the refrigerant usage in the alpha-olefin production process by effectively removing heat of dissolution outside the reactor, enhancing the economic viability of the process while maintaining high dissolution rates of ethylene monomers in the solvent.
Implementation Method 1
supplying a feed stream including a gaseous ethylene monomer to a monomer dissolution device (300) to dissolve the feed stream in a solvent supplied to the monomer dissolution device (300)
Implementation Method 2
an ethylene monomer is supplied in a liquid phase to a reactor to remove heat of dissolution (latent heat) of the ethylene monomer outside of the reactor
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
Provided are a method for preparing an alpha-olefin and an apparatus for preparing an alpha-olefin, the method including: supplying a feed stream including a gaseous ethylene monomer to a monomer dissolution device to dissolve the feed stream in a solvent supplied to the monomer dissolution device and supplying a discharge stream to a reactor; oligomerizing the discharge stream from the monomer dissolution device which is supplied to the reactor; supplying a part of a first discharge stream from the reactor to a first separation device and supplying a second discharge stream from the reactor to a second separation device; and recovering the ethylene monomer from each of the first separation device and the second separation device as an upper discharge stream, wherein in the monomer dissolution device, a dissolution rate of the ethylene monomer included in the feed stream in the solvent is 50% or more.