管式反应器合成乙二醇单乙醚工艺的模拟研究

Simulation on Process of the Tubular Reactor for the Synthesis of Ethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether

为了开发新的乙氧基化工艺,提出和建立了三段管式反应器中试装置,用于乙醇乙氧基化反应合成乙二醇单乙醚(EGMEE)的模型开发和实验研究,并在Aspen Plus软件平台上开展了装置运行的模拟研究。考察了环氧乙烷(EO)加料位置、进料流量、醇烷比和换热方式等关键操作条件对环氧乙烷转化率、目标产物选择性及反应器热点温度的影响规律,得到优化的操作模式和操作参数。研究表明:管式反应器内反应和换热呈现复杂的耦合行为,沿管EO浓度分布是影响原料转化率、乙二醇单乙醚选择性、反应热移出和装置安全性的关键因素,采用EO多段加料和反应器多段冷却是提高装置稳定性和安全性的重要措施。

In order to develop the new model and experimental research of ethoxylation process, a pilot-scalethree-section tubular reactors was proposed and built for the synthesis of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether(EGMEE) from ethylene oxide (EO) and ethanol. Aspen Plus software platform was used to carry out thesimulation of the process. The key operation parameters including EO feed location, feed flow rate, molarfeed ratio of ethanol to EO and ways of heat exchange were examined to investigate their effects on EOconversion, the selectivity of EGMEE and hot point temperature so as to obtain the optimum operation modeand operation parameters. The simulation results showed that there exists a complex trade-off betweenreaction and heat transfer in tubular reactors. The profile of EO concentration along the tube was the keyfactor to EO conversion, selectivity of EGMEE, reaction heat removal and process safety. Using multistagecharge of EO and multistage cooling were important means to improve the stability and safety of theaddressed reactor process.