Simulation and optimization of reactive distillation column for ethanolamine production considering different products selectivity

doi:10.11949/0438-1157.20191544

Abstract

Abstract:

A reactive distillation (RD) process for the production of ethanolamine from ethylene oxide (EO) and ammonia catalyzed by water was presented. The feasibility and maximum selectivity of different products selectivity in a reactive distillation column were discussed. Aspen Plus software package was used to simulate the process. The effects of operating pressure, water feed flow, molar feed ratio of NH₃ to EO, boilup ratio and EO feed location on the RD column performance were investigated and the optimal operating parameters considering different product selectivities were obtained. The results showed that MEA selectivity could be increased with a larger NH₃/EO ratio, water feed flow and boil up ratio, while DEA selectivity could be increased with a smaller NH₃/EO ratio, water feed flow and boil up ratio. Under optimum conditions, the selectivity of MEA and DEA could reach 70.30% and 41.89%, respectively. The studies indicated that the production of ethanolamine by RD had more operational flexibility and obvious advantages compared with the literature methods.

Key words: reactive distillation, ethanolamine, ethylene oxide, selectivity, simulation

摘要：

提出以环氧乙烷和液氨为原料，水为催化剂，反应精馏塔合成乙醇胺的工艺。分别以一乙醇胺（MEA）和二乙醇胺（DEA）的选择性最大为目标，探讨了在同一反应精馏塔中实现不同产物选择性目标的可行性和可达到的最大选择性。研究在Aspen Plus模拟软件上进行，通过考察操作压力、水进料量、进料氨烷比、再沸比、环氧乙烷进料位置等参数对反应精馏的影响规律，取得实现不同产物选择性目标的参数优化调节方法。研究表明，大的氨烷比、水进料量和再沸比有利于提高MEA选择性，小的氨烷比、水进料量和再沸比则有利于提高DEA选择性，在优化条件下，MEA选择性可达70.30%，DEA选择性可达41.89%。与文献方法比较，采用反应精馏合成乙醇胺具有明显的优越性和操作柔性。

关键词: 反应精馏, 乙醇胺, 环氧乙烷, 选择性, 模拟

CLC Number:

TQ 021.8

Dan LIU, Ran AN, Weizhong AN, Zixin LIN, Haiyan BIE. Simulation and optimization of reactive distillation column for ethanolamine production considering different products selectivity[J]. CIESC Journal, 2020, 71(3): 1202-1209.

刘丹, 安然, 安维中, 林子昕, 别海燕. 考虑不同产品选择性目标的乙醇胺反应精馏塔模拟与优化[J]. 化工学报, 2020, 71(3): 1202-1209.

Figures/Tables 11

Table 1 Reaction kinetics of ethanolamines

反应	k/(L·mol^-1·min^-1)	E_a/(J·mol^-1)
1	k₁=7845exp(-11500/RT)	48185
2	k₂=(8.151-1.051c_w)k₁
3	k₃=(14.181-0.196c_w)k₁

Fig.1 Schematic of RD column

Table 2 Parameter values for base case and range of study

基础设计参数	范围值	基础设计值
T_R/℃	40~60	40~60
T_B/℃	<180	<180
EO转化率/%	≥99.9	≥99.9
EO进料量/(kg·h^-1)	1000	1000
氨浓度/%	100	100
塔板数	26	26
氨进料位置	20	20
持液量/m³	0.7	0.7
操作压力/MPa	1.7~2.1	1.9
水进料量/(kg·h^-1)	60~140	100
进料氨烷比	0.9~1.3	1.3
再沸比	3~7	5
EO进料位置	4~20	4

Fig.2 Effects of pressure on products selectivity and number of reaction zone

Fig.3 Effects of water feed rate on products selectivity and reboiler temperature

Table 3 Effects of molar feed ratio of NH3 to EO on column performance

氨烷比	T_D/℃	T_R/℃	T_B/℃	$β N H 3 / E O$	$x R, N H 3$ /%	S_MEA/ %	S_DEA/ %	MR_MEA/DEA
0.9	47.5	51.9	257.1	43	92.04	66.86	28.55	4.68
1.0	47.5	51.6	237.8	46	92.47	68.63	27.36	5.02
1.1	47.5	51.6	215.5	47	92.59	69.01	27.13	5.09
1.2	47.5	51.8	193.6	45	92.16	67.55	28.08	4.81
1.3	47.5	51.9	175.6	43	92.03	66.89	28.52	4.69

Table 3 Effects of molar feed ratio of NH3 to EO on column performance

氨烷比	T_D/℃	T_R/℃	T_B/℃	$β N H 3 / E O$	$x R, N H 3$ /%	S_MEA/ %	S_DEA/ %	MR_MEA/DEA
0.9	47.5	51.9	257.1	43	92.04	66.86	28.55	4.68
1.0	47.5	51.6	237.8	46	92.47	68.63	27.36	5.02
1.1	47.5	51.6	215.5	47	92.59	69.01	27.13	5.09
1.2	47.5	51.8	193.6	45	92.16	67.55	28.08	4.81
1.3	47.5	51.9	175.6	43	92.03	66.89	28.52	4.69

Table 4 Effects of boilup ratio on column performance

再沸比	T_D/℃	T_R/℃	T_B/℃	N_R	$x R, N H 3$ /%	Q/kW	S_MEA/ %	S_DEA/ %	MR_MEA/DEA
3	47.5	54.4	159.5	9	89.02	844.3	52.36	36.67	2.86
4	47.5	53.0	169.0	13	90.61	1141.1	60.89	32.34	3.77
5	47.5	51.9	175.6	17	92.03	1445.9	66.89	28.52	4.69
6	47.5	51.2	179.9	23	93.16	1750.8	70.96	25.58	5.55
7	47.5	51.0	181.2	25	93.48	2034.1	72.68	23.60	6.05

Table 4 Effects of boilup ratio on column performance

再沸比	T_D/℃	T_R/℃	T_B/℃	N_R	$x R, N H 3$ /%	Q/kW	S_MEA/ %	S_DEA/ %	MR_MEA/DEA
3	47.5	54.4	159.5	9	89.02	844.3	52.36	36.67	2.86
4	47.5	53.0	169.0	13	90.61	1141.1	60.89	32.34	3.77
5	47.5	51.9	175.6	17	92.03	1445.9	66.89	28.52	4.69
6	47.5	51.2	179.9	23	93.16	1750.8	70.96	25.58	5.55
7	47.5	51.0	181.2	25	93.48	2034.1	72.68	23.60	6.05

Fig.4 Effects of EO feed location on products selectivity and reaction zone height

Fig.5 Design results of RD column considering MEA selectivity

Fig.6 Design results of RD column considering DEA selectivity

Fig.7 Temperature profiles along RD column

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