Gas/Liquid Double Distributor Reactor for Ethylene Breakthrough Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas/liquid reactors for olefin oligomerization face inefficiencies due to the phenomenon of ethylene breakthrough, leading to significant ethylene loss and reduced productivity and selectivity, particularly when managing the gas headspace in ethylene oligomerization processes.
Innovation Solution
A gas/liquid reactor design with specific gas and liquid injection devices that induce shear during ethylene injection, reducing bubble size and enhancing dissolution in the liquid phase, thereby minimizing breakthrough and improving conversion and selectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If gas/liquid reactor is used for olefin oligomerization, then the reaction can be performed with gaseous feedstock, but ethylene breakthrough occurs leading to significant ethylene loss
Solution Approach 1:
The gas injection device divides the gaseous ethylene feedstock into multiple smaller bubbles rather than a single large bubble, increasing the total surface area for mass transfer and reducing breakthrough
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of gas injection by controlling bubble size through specific injection device geometry and operating conditions, optimizing the balance between dissolution rate and breakthrough prevention
2Ease of operation
If gas headspace is bled to remove gaseous compounds, then the gas headspace can be managed, but ethylene is lost along with other gases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a feedback mechanism where the liquid phase is recirculated back into the gas headspace, allowing dissolved ethylene to be recovered and reused, thereby reducing ethylene loss while maintaining gas headspace management
3Speed
If large bubbles of gaseous ethylene are used, then the injection rate can be maintained, but the dissolution time increases leading to more breakthrough
Solution Approach 1:
The gas injection device segments the gas flow into numerous small bubbles, which have much higher surface area to volume ratio, enabling faster dissolution rates while maintaining the same overall gas injection rate
Solution Approach 2:
The invention addresses the dissolution time issue by changing the dimensional characteristics of gas bubbles from large to small, fundamentally altering the surface area to volume ratio and thus the dissolution kinetics
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 reactor design achieves higher ethylene saturation in the liquid phase, increasing conversion and selectivity for desired linear olefins, while reducing reactor volume and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
the injection of the liquid can bring about a reduction, by shear, of the bubble size during the injection of the gaseous olefinic feedstock
Implementation Method 2
The amount of gaseous ethylene dissolved per unit time is proportional to the area of contact between the gas and liquid phases
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a gas/liquid reactor for the oligomerization of gaseous ethylene, comprising a gaseous ethylene injection device and a liquid injection device, said injection devices advantageously being arranged so that the injection of the liquid can bring about a reduction, by shear, of the size of the ethylene bubbles, during the injection of the gaseous ethylene. The gas/liquid reactor according to the present invention may be used for any gaseous olefinic feedstock injected into a liquid phase.