Dynamic controllability comparison of reactive distillation columns with single and double reactive sections for two-stage consecutive reactions

The purpose of this study is to compare the dynamic controllability of different reactive distillation column configurations including two stage consecutive reversible reactions. Comparison is done between two configurations; the conventional column with single reactive section (RDC-SRS) and the novel column with double reactive sections (RDC-DRS) using two illustrative examples; one ideal generic system and one real system which is the transesterification of dimethyl carbonate with ethanol to form diethyl carbonate. The dynamic results demonstrate that the control performance of RDC-SRS and RDC-DRS are quite similar for both case studies. Thus, the novel RDC-DRS is an acceptable alternative to the conventional RDC-SDR for the separation of two-stage consecutive reversible reactions in terms of both steady-state and control performances. (C) 2017 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.