Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Problem Statement Acetone is typically produced in commercial quantities as a by-product during the formation of phenol. However, acetone manufactured thus generally contains small amounts of the reactant benzene and the desired product phenol. In the past, these impurities were deemed to be within allowable limits. However, recent downward revisions of these limits by the US Food and Drug Administration has made alternative processes (which do not involve benzene) more attractive. We wish to design of one such alternative process to produce 45000 tons of 99.9 mol% pure acetone per year, using isopropyl alcohol as the reactant (via the dehydrogenation of isopropyl alcohol). Design a simplified chemical reactor for the production of acetone.
Group # 5
Page 1
1. Acetone Introduction
Acetone belongs to ketone family (dimethyl ketone) with scientific name 2Propanone. In 2010, the worldwide production capacity for acetone was estimated at 6.7 million tons per year. The United States had the highest production capacity with 1.56 million tons per year (2010) The second largest production is in Taiwan and followed by China (2010). It is a common building block in organic chemistry. 1.1 Product Description: Acetone is a clear, colorless, low-boiling, flammable and volatile liquid characterized by rapid evaporation and a faintly aromatic, sweetish odor. It readily mixes with most organic solvents and mixes completely with water. 1.2 Product Uses: Roughly 75% of the available acetone is used to produce other chemicals, and 12% is used as a solvent. Applications range from surface coatings, films and adhesives to cleaning fluids and pharmaceutical applications. Some consumer and commercial applications include Lacquers for automotive/furniture finishes. Cellulose acetate films and fibers. Photographic films and plates casting. Coatings and inks. Resin thinners and clean-up operations. General purpose cements. Degreasing and degumming agents. Paint, varnish, lacquer strippers. Nail polish removers. (Structural formula of acetone)
Group # 5
Page 2
1.3 Physical Hazard Information: Acetone is a highly flammable material in both the liquid and vapor forms, has a relatively high vapor pressure, and should be handled only with adequate ventilation and in areas where ignition sources have been removed (e.g. matches and unprotected light switches). The flash point for acetone is -4F /-20C. 1.4 Projected demand for acetone: There is about 7% increment in the requirement of the acetone worldwide. With this increasing demand the requirement of the acetone in some upcoming years is: Year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 1.5 Capacity: The capacity of the desired plant to produce acetone is 45000 tons per year. The capacity data of some previous years is: Project Demand (million Tones) 6.7 7.2 7.9 8.4 9.0 9.63 10.3 11.02
The term stems from isopropyl benzene or cumene (C6H5-CH(CH3)2), the intermediate material during the process. 2.2 By the direct oxidation of propylene using air: Acetone can also be produced by the direct oxidation of propylene using air. In this process the catalysis consists of a solution of copper chloride containing small quantities of palladium chloride. The reaction takes place under a moderate pressure and at 100C. It is exothermic by 61 kcal/mole of acetone produced. The overall reaction is as follows:
Propylene
Oxygen
Acetone
2.3 By the dehydrogenation of isopropyl alcohol: In this process, an aqueous solution of isopropyl alcohol is fed into the reactor, where the stream is vaporized and reacted over a solid catalyst. The reactions occurring within the reactor are as follows: Isopropyl alcohol acetone hydrogen
The primary advantage of this process is that the acetone produced is free from trace aromatic compounds, particularly benzene. For this reason, acetone produced from IPA is favored by the pharmaceutical industry.
Group # 5 (Ch.E-308) Chemical Reactor Design Page 4
Acetone
( )
( )
Hydrogen
At a temperature lower than 325 C the following reaction is more expected to occur, and ether (di-isopropyl ether) is obtained as the product instead of acetone.
Group # 5
Page 5
( )
( Di-isopropyl ether
()
Isopropyl alcohol
Water
At the higher temperature (>350 C), dehydration reaction is expected to be significant and propylene is formed.
( ) ( ) ( )
Isopropyl alcohol
Propylene
Water
So the suitable temperature conditions for the reaction is between 325 C to 350 C 4.3 Selection of catalyst: Trial and error experimentation and scientific analysis provide guidance for the selection of the catalyst. There are some categories of the catalyst which are suitable for some purpose. For example platinum, copper and related metals elements such as palladium are known to catalyze hydrocarbon oxidation and dehydrogenation. Since our desired reaction is the dehydrogenation reaction of hydrocarbon (isopropyl alcohol), so the catalyst used for the process belong to this category. One of the factors considered in the selection of catalyst is their turn over frequency (TOF). 4.3.1 Turn over frequency: Turn over frequency of the catalyst is defined as the amount of reactant converted into product by the catalyst in the unit time. For most relevant industrial applications, the turnover frequency is in the range of 102 - 102 s1 The turnover frequency of cu chromites catalyst is 0.026 per second The TOF of carbon supported copper is 0.052 per second double than that of the cu chromites catalyst. Platinum (with a turnover frequency of 0.66 per second) metal has the high TOF for this process but it is expensive. So the suitable catalyst for this process is carbon supported copper. 4.4 Reaction kinetics: The reaction to form acetone from isopropyl alcohol is endothermic with a standard heat of reaction 62.9 kJ/mol. The reaction is kinetically controlled and occurs in the vapor phase over a catalyst. The reaction kinetics for this reaction is first order with respect to the concentration of alcohol and can be estimated from the following equation: [ With Ea = 72.38 MJ/Kmol and
Group # 5
Molecular Weight(kg/kmol) Freezing Point(C) Boling Point(C) Critical Temperature (C) Critical Pressure (bar) Critical Volume (m3/min) Liquid Density(kg/m3)
Heat of Vaporization(J/mol) Standard Enthalpy of Formation at 298K(kJ/kmol)
18
58
0 100 647.3
220.5
47
47.6
13
0.056
0.209
0.220
0.065
998
790
786
71
40683
29140
39858
904
-242.0
20.43
-272.60
-228.77
62.76
-173.5
Group # 5
Page 7
7. Flow sheet:
7.1 Description of the process: 7.1.1 Feed drum: Feed drum is a kind of tank used for the mixing of the recycle stream and feed stream. Recycle stream concentration is assumed to be same with the feed stream. Feed stream is at room temperature (25 C) and at a pressure of 2 bars, which is assumed to be constant. The temperature of recycle stream calculated as 111.50 C from the energy balance around the isopropyl alcohol distillation column. The temperature of the leaving stream from the feed drum calculated as 32.890 C, by the energy balance around feed drum. 7.1.2 Vaporizer: In the vaporizer molten salt is used for heating. The temperature at the entrance of the unit is the temperature of the mixture leaving the feed drum, which is 32.890 C. And the leaving temperature is the bubble point temperature of the mixture, which is 109.50 C. The pressure is 2 bars, and assumed to be constant.
Group # 5 (Ch.E-308) Chemical Reactor Design Page 8
7.1.3 Heater: Since the temperature leaving the vaporizer is not enough for the reaction to carry out. Due to which a pre-heater is used to maintain the temperature of the feed stream to the reaction temperature of 350 C which is the reaction temperature. The unit is working at 2 bars, and assumed to be constant. The entrance and leaving temperatures are 109.50C and 350 C. 7.1.4 Reactor: The reactor is the starting point for the calculations. The temperature values for the entering and leaving streams is 350 C, (i-e the process is isothermal). The reaction takes place inside is endothermic, for this reason the reactor has to be heated. For heating, molten salt is used from the furnace. 7.1.5 Cooler: The entrance temperature of the cooler is 350 C and leaving temperature is 94.70 C. (Temperature is calculated by using energy balance). For cooling purpose water is used. By using refrigerant better results may be obtained. But since it costs too much, due to which it isnt chosen as the cooling material. From the temperature values its easily seen that the load is on the cooler not on the condenser, for this process. But in reality the unit cannot cool that much, and the load is mostly on the condenser. In this process, the mixture cooled down to its dew point. The pressure is 1.5 bars, and assumed to be constant. 7.1.6 Condenser: The temperature of the entering stream is the dew point and the leaving temperature is the bubble point of the mixture. In the condenser water is used as cooling material. 7.1.7 Flash unit: Flash unit is operating isothermally, for this reason temperature is not changed. It is 81 C in the entrance and exit. From trial and error method, (V / F) value is found to be 0.2. The entrance temperature of the unit is the bubble point of the mixture, but if it is its dew point the (V/F) value should be much higher. In the flash unit the hydrogen is flashed out from the mixture of isopropyl alcohol, water and acetone. Along with hydrogen some amount of acetone and isopropyl alcohol is also flashed out. In order to recover these, a scrubber unit is used. 7.1.8 Scrubber: Scrubber operated adiabatically. Water entering the unit is at atmospheric temperature (i-e 25 C). The temperature of the off gas, including hydrogen and a very little amount of acetone, is between 40-50 C. The temperature of the leaving stream (containing water, acetone and isopropyl alcohol) is found to be 28.10 C from the energy balance around the scrubber. The streams leaving the scrubber and flash unit are mixed together before entering the acetone column. The temperature leaving the flash unit and scrubber are 81 C and 28.10 C respectively. The temperature of the mixture is found to be 45.0 C. This result is obtained by using energy balance around the mixing point.
Group # 5
Page 9
7.1.9 Acetone distillation column: The acetone column is used to separate the acetone from the mixture. The entrance temperature is 45 C. The leaving temperatures for the top and bottom product are 102.3 C and 105 C, respectively, which are the bubble and dew points. Top product of the unit includes acetone (99wt% of acetone which is desired). From the bottom isopropyl alcohol, water and a very little amount of, 0.1 %, acetone is discharged. 7.1.10 Isopropyl alcohol column: In this distillation column, isopropyl alcohol and water are separated. The entrance temperature is 105 C. The leaving temperatures of the top and bottom products are both111.50 C. The top product is recycled to the feed drum. For this reason its assumed to have the same concentration with the feed stream. The bottom product is pure water and its thrown away. Since its temperature is very high it cannot be recycled to the scrubber. But if a cooler is used, a recycle can be used. 7.2 Description f the process in the reactor
The reaction occurring in the reactor is in vapor phase. So the isopropyl alcohol is first vaporized and then passed from the reactor. The process is continuous. Since the dehydrogenation of the isopropyl alcohol is the endothermic reaction, so heat has o be supplied to the reactor to maintain the temperature at 350 C. For heating purpose the molten salt is used. The molten salt is circulated through the small scale furnace where it is heated and its temperature is raised above the 350 C and this heated molten salt is used to provide the heat to the reaction during the process. In order to heat the molten salt in the furnace, natural gas is burned in the furnace in the limited amount and this amount of heat is used to heat the molten salt which in turn provides the heat to the reaction.
Group # 5
Page 10
bed and moving bed reactors. The energy requirement is also small because no amount of energy is needed as in fluidized bed and moving bed required to fluidize or move the bed. 8.2.2 Fluidized bed reactors: These are the reactors with a gas phase working fluid that requires gas flow around and across the fine particles at a rate sufficient to fluidize the particles suspended within the reactor. Since the catalyst bed has to be fluidized so the energy requirement in these reactors is large. Pressure drop is also large as compared to the fixed bed reactors because the pressure is dissipated to fluidize the bed. The volume of the reactor required is also large as compared to fixed bed reactor, because the void spaces between the fluidized beds occupy the more volume. 8.2.3 Moving bed reactor: These units are fluid reactors used where the fluid contain solid particles that can be separated from the suspension fluid. Mostly suitable for liquid phase reactions or where the slurry travels through the reactor. Moving bed reactors are not preferred for the gas phase reactions. In these reactors the pressure drop is the greater among all. From above points we see that the suitable reactor for our process is fixed bed plug flow reactor, with the reaction occurring in the tubes and the heat exchanging material flowing outside the tubes.
The design of the reactor must satisfy the following requirements: i. Chemical factors:
The design must provide sufficient residence time for the desired reaction to proceed to the required degree of conversion. ii. Mass transfer factors:
For example with heterogeneous reactions the reaction rate may be controlled by the rates of diffusion of the reacting species; rather than the chemical kinetics. iii. Heat transfer factors:
The confinement of hazardous reactants and products, and the control of the reaction and the process conditions.
Due to which we are using the 87 weight percent solution of isopropyl alcohol.
Group # 5
Page 13
Group # 5
Page 14
Mass of water in + Mass of IPA in = Mass of water out + Mass of IPA out + Mass of acetone out + Mass of hydrogen out 6000 + 896.5 6896.5 kg/hr So the material balance is justified. = = 5220 + 180 + 600 + 896.5 6896.5 kg/hr
Component
Number of moles leaving from reactor 90 kgmol/hr 90 kgmol/hr 10 kgmol/hr 49.8 kgmol/hr
Mass of component leaving from reactor 5220 kg/hr 180 kg/hr 600 kg/hr 896.5 kg/hr
From the 100 kmol/hr of the isopropyl alcohol entering in the reactor the amount of the acetone produced per year is 45700 tons, which is very close to the desired amount of the product. So we are not applying the material balance again, but using these calculations in the process. So, By using 100 moles of the isopropyl alcohol per hour the amount of acetone produced is 45700 ton per year.
Group # 5
Page 15
Number of moles leaving from reactor 90 kgmol/hr 90 kgmol/hr 10 kgmol/hr 49.8 kgmol/hr
12.1 Calculations at the inlet of reactor Reference temperature = 25 C Inlet temperature = 350 C Sensible heat at inlet ( )
Group # 5
Page 16
Components In
Moles In ni
( )
IPA Water
KJ
12.2 Calculations at the outlet of reactor Reference temperature = 25 C Outlet temperature = 350 C Sensible heat at outlet ( )
( )
Group # 5
Page 17
( )
kgmol 90 10 90 49.8
KJ
Here kinetic and potential energies are neglect able with no work done and no accumulation of heat. So the general energy balance equation becomes:
This shows that in order to carry out the reaction we have to supply the 6.3111 106 KJ of heat on the basis of 100 kg-mol of isopropyl alcohol entering in the reactor. 12.3 Supply of the heat: From the energy balance calculations, it is also seen that the reaction is endothermic and we have to supply the heat to the process. This heat is supplied by the use of the molten salt:
Group # 5
Page 18
From energy balance Energy supplied by the molten salt = Energy absorbed by the reacting fluid
The mass flow rate and the temperature are selected and optimized and that values of the flow rate and temperature are selected which makes the process most efficient at minimum cost. From this relation we see that the inverse relation exist between the mass flow rate of the salt and the inlet temperature of the salt. By increasing the inlet temperature of the salt, mass flow rate has to be decreased to exchange 6.3111 106 KJ of heat. Similarly if we decrease the inlet temperature of the salt then mass flow rate has to be increased to exchange this amount of heat. So a suitable value of both temperature and mass flow rate has to be selected to make the process optimum.
( Where [ ]
By putting the values of conversion from 0 to 1 in rate equation we obtain the values of . From this we find the values of 1/ . Plot the graph between and 1/ , the weight of catalyst can be calculated. 13.2 Table of and From the rate equation: 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 0.0061 0.004990909 0.004066667 0.003284615 0.002614286 0.002033333 0.001525 0.001076471 0.000677778 0.000321053 163.9344 200.3643 245.9016 304.4496 382.5137 491.8033 655.7377 928.9617 1475.41 3114.754 and
Group # 5
Page 20
and
and
3500
3000
2500
2000
(1/-rA)
1500 1000 500 0 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Conversion (XA)
From this the area under the curve = 730 So 13.4 Weight of catalyst Weight of catalyst = W = 730 = 100 730 = 73000 kg
Group # 5
Page 21
From the general gas equation the concentration of IPA = 13.6 Space time The time needed to treat the one reactor volume is called the space time.
13.7 Catalyst particles size The following shapes of catalyst are frequently used in applications: 20-100 m diameter spheres for fluidized-bed reactors. 0.3-0.7 mm diameter spheres for fixed-bed reactors. 0.3-1.3 cm diameter cylinders with a length-to-diameter ratio of 3-4. Up to 2.5 cm diameter hollow cylinders or rings. The void fractions for the spherical particles is between 0.4 to 0.41 The diameter of the copper particles selected (from the literature) = 0.3 mm with the void fractions (Porosity = ) of 0.4 13.8 Volume of reactor
13.9 Number of tubes The preferred lengths of the tubes (according to the TEMA standard) should be is 6ft, 8ft, 12ft, 16ft, 20ft and 24ft (7.32 m). So
Group # 5
To calculate tube diameter As we know that to prevent deviation from plug flow assumption
13.10 Height of reactor (Shell) Allowance of the reactor height is 20% - 50% of the shell height. For our system assuming the allowance for shell is 20% of the tube height. So ( 13.11 Diameter of reactor Diameter of the shell is calculated by using the Harvey equation. Harvey equation is: [( ) ] ( ( ) Where )( ) )
Group # 5
Page 23
13.12 Verification of the assumptions All the values assumed can be verified from the length to diameter ratio of the given reactor and the pressure drop calculations. If the value of length to diameter ratio and pressure drop lies within the limit of the fixed bed plug flow reactor then the design is accepted, otherwise we have to perform the calculations again with the different assumptions. 13.12.1 Length to diameter ratio For the plug flow reactor the length to diameter ratio lies between 3-5. For the desired reactor Length = 10.248 m Diameter = 2.15 m Length to diameter ratio for desired reactor = = 4.766 For the desired reactor the length to diameter ratio is 4.766 lies between the allowable limit. So the design is satisfactory. 13.12.2 Pressure drop calculation For the fixed bed reactor to operate economically the pressure drop along the length of the reactor should be less than the 10% of the operating pressure. The pressure drop along the length of the packed bed is calculated by using the Ergun equation. The Ergun equation is: ( ) ( )
Where
Group # 5
Page 24
The operating pressure is 2 bars. The pressure drop along the length of the reactor is less than the 10% of the operating pressure. So the design is accepted. 13.12.3 Volume of tubes In plug flow reactor where the reacting fluid is inside the tubes, the volume of tubes should be greater than the volume of the reactor. So In the desired reactor
This is greater than the reactor volume. So all the conditions are satisfied and design is accepted.
Group # 5
Page 25
Since the diameter of the vessel is 2.15 m, so from the above table the thickness of the shell is 9mm. Thickness of the reactor shell = 9mm 14.2 Head selection and design The ends of a cylindrical vessel are closed by heads of various shapes. The principal types used are: 1. Flat plates and formed flat heads 2. Hemispherical head 3. Ellipsoidal head 4. Torispherical head
Group # 5
Page 26
Torispherical head Used up to the operating pressure of 15 bar Above 10 bars their cost should be compared with that of an equivalent ellipsoidal head
Ellipsoidal head Above 15 bars ellipsoidal head is used Economical within pressure limits
Hemispherical head Used for very high pressures Capital cost is high
So the right choice of head is Torispherical head. Thickness of head is calculated by: ( Where )
( (
) )
So by putting the values of all the variables the value of thickness of head is:
14.3 Vessel Supports: The method used to support a vessel will depend on the size, shape, and weight of the vessel; the design temperature and pressure and the vessel location and arrangement. Types of supports: Saddle support (for horizontal vessels) Brackets support (for vertical vessels)
Group # 5 (Ch.E-308) Chemical Reactor Design Page 27
Skirt support (for vertical vessels, particularly where the length is high and effect of wind is prominent) For the desired reactor Bracket supports are used.
Bracket Support 15. Specification Sheet Equipment Type of reactor Operating temperature Operating pressure Volume of reactor Volume of catalyst Weight of catalyst Number of tubes Shell height Diameter of shell Thickness of shell Head type Support type
Group # 5
Reactor Multi-tubular fixed bed reactor 350 C 2 bar 13.6 m3 8.16 m3 73000 Kg 485 10.248 m 2.15 m 9 mm Torispherical head Bracket support
(Ch.E-308) Chemical Reactor Design Page 28
16. References www.che.cemr.wvu.edu/publications/projects/acetone/acetone-a.PDF http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~ceng403/gr1998/acetone.html http://www.scribd.com/doc/30134032/Isopropyl-Alcohol www.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/.../annurev.matsci.35.100303.12073 www.jbrwww.che.wisc.edu/home/jbraw/chemreacfun/.../slides-masswrxn.p Gael D. Ulrich P. T. Vasudevan A Guide to Chemical Engineering Process Design and Economics 2nd ed, Process publishing, 1993 Plant design and economics for chemical engineers by Timmerhaus 5th edition Chemical engineering design by Coulson and Richardsons volume 6, 4th edition
Group # 5
Page 29