Deepening Internal Mass Integration in Design of Reactive Distillation Columns, 1: Principle and Procedure

For a reactive distillation column involving reactions with negligible or no thermal effect, the thermodynamic efficiency can be improved substantially through deepening internal mass integration between the reaction operation and the separation operation involved. Four strategies, including the superimposition of reactive section onto rectifying and stripping sections, relocation of feed stages, and redistribution of catalyst within the reactive section, can be used to intensify the internal mass integration. With a systematic application of these strategies, a sequential procedure is devised for the synthesis and design of reactive distillation columns involving reactions with negligible or no thermal effect. Four hypothetical ideal reactive distillation systems are used as examples to evaluate the philosophy proposed, and a substantial reduction of utility consumption is secured in addition to a further abatement in fixed investment. These striking results are evidence of the strong necessity and efficacy of deepening internal mass integration in the synthesis and design of reactive distillation columns involving reactions with negligible or no thermal effect.