HFO-1123 Production via Segmented Dehydrofluorination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current processes for producing trifluoroethylene (HFO-1123) from 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a) suffer from low productivity due to high nitrogen content in the reaction gas, leading to inefficient conversion and high utility costs.
Innovation Solution
A process involving two dehydrofluorination catalysts, where HFC-134a is first converted into HFO-1123 and then further converted with hydrogen fluoride removal, increasing the degree of conversion and selectivity for HFO-1123, and using a diluent gas to enhance productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a large amount of nitrogen is mixed with HFC-134a to increase the degree of conversion, then the degree of conversion of HFC-134a is improved, but the content of HFO-1123 in the formed gas becomes low and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The reaction process is divided into two separate stages: a first reaction step that achieves high conversion of HFC-134a, and a second reaction step that increases HFO-1123 content in the formed gas. This segmentation allows each step to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between conversion rate and productivity.
2Manufacturing precision
If a large amount of nitrogen is contained in the formed gas, then the degree of conversion is improved, but the load in subsequent purification and recovery processes increases and utility costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes hydrogen fluoride from the reaction product gas between the two reaction steps. This extraction prevents hydrogen fluoride from interfering with the second reaction step and from increasing the load on subsequent purification processes, while still achieving high overall conversion.
3Manufacturing precision
If nitrogen is contained in a large amount in the formed gas, then the degree of conversion is improved, but large facilities are required for purification and recovery
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the reaction into two steps with an intermediate hydrogen fluoride removal process, the invention achieves high conversion without requiring excessive nitrogen dilution. This reduces the volume of gas that needs to be processed in subsequent purification facilities, thereby reducing the size of required equipment.
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 productivity and selectivity for HFO-1123, reducing the load on subsequent purification and recovery processes, and utilizing HFC-134a as an inexpensive material.
Implementation Method 1
bringing a HFC-134a gas or a HFC-134a gas diluted with a diluent gas (provided that the proportion of HFC-134a based on the total amount of the diluent gas and HFC-134a is at least 50 mol%), into contact with a first dehydrofluorination catalyst in a first reactor to convert part of HFC-134a into HFO-1123
Implementation Method 2
bringing the reaction product gas from which hydrogen fluoride has been removed into contact with a second dehydrofluorination catalyst in a second reactor to convert at least part of HFC-134a into HFO-1123
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
To provide a production process with high degree of conversion of HFC-134a and selectivity for HFO-1123, with a high productivity of HFO-1123 and with a small load in process of purification and recovery. A process for producing HFO-1123, which comprises bringing a material gas having a proportion of HFC-134a based on the total amount of a diluent gas and HFC-134a of from 50 to 100 mol% into contact with a dehydrofluorination catalyst to convert part of HFC-134a into HFO-1123, then removing hydrogen fluoride in a reaction product gas, and then bringing the reaction product gas from which hydrogen fluoride has been removed into contact with a dehydrofluorination catalyst to convert at least part of unreacted HFC-134a into HFO-1123.